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June 05, 2003
Boy
"That's what boys are for."
It was overheard in reference to errand boy. It's true that we send our sons to fetch things. It occurs to me that this is deeply embedded in our culture. We send boys, sometimes to do a man's job, but always away for something. We expect them to come back with something, and doing so successfully we reward them with a nickel, or a pat on the head.
We want them not to get lost or wander off. We expect them to tell the truth and a story about their trip if they take too long. We expect them to use their wits if something goes awry on the trip. We expect them to bring back the correct change.
If he comes back with a bloody nose or a dirty shirt, we admire him if he delivered and rebuke him if he did not. Such is life as a boy.
We don't send girls as readily to the store for a loaf of bread or a box of nails. They stay in the house.
Posted by mbowen at June 5, 2003 04:36 PM
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