Lam Yip’s Amulet

In this story from her 2019 collection The Four Seasons of Lam Yip, Hong Kong author Wong Yi introduces readers to the delightful world of Lam Yip, a ten-year-old boy who is terrified of germs and obsessed with cleanliness. The story captures his struggle with this fear, particularly in germ-ridden environments such as school bathrooms. Central to his coping strategy is a protective charm, infused with "magic" he's learned from his mother, a supermarket worker whose job it is to clean and package fresh produce. "Lam Yip's Amulet" poignantly explores themes of anxiety, a cultural fixation with sanitation and hygiene, and the bond between mother and child, displaying a child-like wonder that transforms the quotidian into the extraordinary.