Her Catalyst: Part 23 of 25

In Part 23, Angelisa is excited to talk language theory with a university professor then demonstrates her language learning abilities to other professors. Rebeka is forced to acknowledge the quality of her drawings when she draws the same subject as many other students. Although they expected college to provide them with new experiences, they are totally unprepared for what comes their way.

A peek inside:

Rebeka almost chokes on her drink as she hears that. While she’s trying to regain her breathing, Angelisa asks for her, “Why would people ask that after what men did to her? It took her long enough to just be able to hug a safe old teddy bear like George. . . . When I was young, I made a vow that I wouldn’t let a man touch me who wasn’t as gentle and as caring as my Papa was. That really upset Mama because she knew there wasn’t anyone else in the culture who could hold a candle to Papa. I know Sharlene made a big deal out of not wanting to start a relationship with any man until she felt she could totally trust him and be comfortable with him.”

“Good for you, Angelisa, but very few women make those sorts of conscious decisions and fewer yet stick to them when they’re feeling a little lonely and some pretty boy gives them some attention.”

Rebeka is able to rejoin the conversation and says, “Even to encourage those sorts of logical decisions isn’t enough because I’ve seen girls with stars in their eyes claim they totally trusted a man when everyone else knew he was a slime ball.”

Sharlene suggests, “Some of the better emoters have posted on the Emotique online site some of their own suggestions of what qualities to look for in an intimate partner. They may not be applicable to the situations of other people, but it might give them some ideas to think about.”

“That might be helpful for some people, but as I’ve thought back over my own life and the bad decisions I made, I’m inclined to tell young women to forget about finding a man and to do what they need to do to take care of themselves. Maybe it was important years ago for a woman to find a man to take care of her, but with many more jobs open to women and the Emotique recordings to help with the, um, more personal sides of a relationship, there’s not as much reason for a woman to submit herself to a man and the risks that involves.”

“Well said, Rebeka.”

Paula exclaims, “George!”

“What? I’m glad you’re happy with Paul and I’m thrilled Sharlene wants to be in a relationship with me, but does she need me as a man to take care of her? No. She could be quite successful on her own and as safe as she insists she is with me, she would be safer without me, particularly at the start of our relationship when she didn’t know me. Yes, all relationships have risks, but why should the woman bear the brunt of those risks?

“If a man is abusive, few women are able to adequately defend themselves. If the woman relies on the man to support her and he leaves her for whatever reason, what happens to her? If she ends up pregnant and he isn’t interested in raising kids, she’s stuck. Rebeka is right, encourage the young women to take care of themselves and when they can confidently stand on their own two feet, if she happens to develop a friendship with a man and they mutually agree to form more of a relationship, then more power to them.”

Paula admits, “Okay, that may be the ideal, but how many will be able to reach it?”

George agrees, “Maybe not many, but without a goal, how many will even start out on a reasonable path? Nobody can stop people from making their own mistakes or even from suffering from the mistakes and illnesses of others, but the idea of encouraging young women to take care of themselves may reach a few who can encourage others and, hopefully, over time, more women will be able to lead safer lives. Maybe at the same time, some young men will learn to treat women with respect and help stop the cycle of abuse committed against women.”