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Jen Choi

Jen Choi’s work has appeared in Lucky Peachthe Atlantic online, and elsewhere. She is currently writing a memoir about her Korean mother’s sudden relocation to the Alaska Panhandle.

Author

Illustrations by Jen Renninger

Total Loss

Winter 2016 | Essays

Fire does not abide by reason. In its destructive trail, there are empty bank accounts, unreturned voice mails, FedExed checks, hours upon hours of smooth-jazz hold music, fine print written in inscrutable jargon, and the summary Laurie learned to say for expediency’s sake: “My house exploded in a catastrophic fire. Can you please help me?”