Rika, from Yatipaya

I’m a hawker. I sell deep fried crickets from my cart in downtown Yatipaya. It’s not a job that will ever make me rich, but it’s a living. Not enough that I’d be able to afford babies on my own, but I’ll surely find a nice girl yet. I’m still young, I’m a hard worker, and pushing my cart up and down the streets is giving me very nice muscles, if I do say so myself.

I love this job because I get to meet new people all the time. Also, no two days are alike. There’s always something different on the street. I get tourists from all over. Even galactics, sometimes. I always tell them that’s because the crickets of Yatipaya are the best in three worlds. But seriously, the reason I serve so many tourists is because I park my cart hard by Yatipaya Castle. That’s what the tourists want to see. The old things, the history. And I’m right there when they need a quick lunch or snack. I don’t think anybody would really travel to another city just for the food. Although my crickets really are very good.

Like all the other hawkers, I wear an eye-catching hat. I think simple is best, so my hat is your basic conical peasant hat, with a big gold-coloured cricket on top. You can tell from a long way away what I have on offer.

Yeah, I also wear an apron. It is kinda hot and sweaty, yes. But remember, I’m working with hot oil here. A deep fryer full of hot oil. You don’t want hot oil on your skin. Back in the old days, when we had queens in Yatipaya Castle, they would pour boiling oil on their enemies from the castle battlements. Trust me, that’s a nasty way to die.