Чужак в чужой стране

           AfterallthosecenturiesittookRodintoseethatthiswasworktooheavyforagirl.Buthedidn’tsimplysay,‘Look,youjerks,ifyoumustdesignthisway,makeitabrawnymalefigure.’No,heshowedit?andgeneralizedthesymbol.Hereisthispoorlittlecaryatidwhohastried–andfailed,fallenundertheload.She’sagoodgirl–lookatherface.Serious,unhappyatherfailure,butnotblaminganyoneelse,noteventhegods?andstilltryingtoshoulderherload,aftershe’scrumpledunderit.

           "Butshe’smorethangoodartdenouncingsomeverybadart;she’sasymbolforeverywomanwhohasevertriedtoshoulderaloadthatwastooheavyforher–overhalfthefemalepopulationofthisplanet,livinganddead,Iwouldguess.Butnotalonewomen–thissymbolissexless.Itmeanseverymanandeverywomanwhoeverlivedwhosweatedoutlifeinuncomplainingfortitude,whosecouragewasn’tevennoticeduntiltheycrumpledundertheirloads.It’scourage,Ben,andvictory."

           "‘Victory?’"

           "Victoryindefeat,thereisnonehigher.Shedidn’tgiveup,Ben;she’sstilltryingtoliftthatstoneafterithascrushedher.She’safathergoingdowntoadullofficejobwhilecancerispainfullyeatingawayhisinsides,soastobringhomeonemorepaycheckforthekids.She’satwelve-yearoldgirltryingtomotherherbabybrothersandsistersbecauseMamahadtogotoHeaven.She’saswitchboardoperatorstickingtoherjobwhilesmokeischokingherandthefireiscuttingoffherescape.