32
The beginnings
Thessaloniki, May 1972
Leonora’s mother had finally agreed to come and look after the baby, but only for a couple of weeks, she had warned her. This time of year was always busy in the fields.
Leonora was now expected to go back to work. She had, to start with, taken two weeks of sick leave and she knew at the time that she was being optimistic. She hadn’t even been pregnant, but even if she had been, it would not have made much difference. She knew from experience how women employees who kept taking time off to look after their children were seen: as a nuisance and as cheats. She had heard it often mumbled at management-team meetings. So-and-so had to decide, did she want to be an emancipated working woman or a stay-at-home mother? She couldn’t have both, it was not
