Friday, January 31, 2025

January 30

 

I am on an island with several others living in a rustic community that we’ve built. We’ve been placed there by the British army (Redcoats) who are on the mainland. There are only 2 women on the island - we are outnumbered by several men. We feel safe among them but somewhat invisible. It’s unclear why any of us are on the island but it is clear that we have to earn our way to the mainland. The latest challenge is an ice fishing contest. The one who catches the biggest fish is the winner, and the winner gets to move ashore. Anyone who wants to can compete. As women we are allowed to participate but only after we cajole the others into letting us do so. The eventual reaction is that since we are ‘only women’ we have no chance at winning anyhow so what’s the harm in letting us ice fish. Meanwhile, I and the other female hatch a plan. We go to the fish market on the island, buy the biggest fish available, wrap them in newspaper, and shove them under our skirts. Our plan is to ‘catch’ them when no one is looking so we can be declared the winner. We have to get to the mainland to speak to the ‘Crown’ about an idea we have. We don’t want to share it with any of the other islanders since we fear they will claim the idea as their own.

 

 

 

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