Are You Sure?

Frieda unloads about her niece to her friend Helen. 300-word flash

Are You Sure?

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!”
Helen looked at Frieda when she spoke over her folded newspaper.
“What are you talking about?”
“It seems that schools at all levels are trying to encourage more girls to go into sciences!”
“What’s ridiculous about that?”
“It’s not a job for decent females of any age!”

Helen stopped and turned to face her friend.
“When were you born? The Middle Ages? What is indecent about being a female scientist? What about Madame Curie?”
“Oh, she was married! Women who aren’t married should not even consider becoming a scientist!”
“Where is this all coming from?” Helen asked.
“My niece is going to study some kind of science in college. At that rate, she’ll never find a man!”
“Does she want one?”
Frieda looked aghast at the idea of not wanting a man in your life.
“Since most scientists are still men, she might definitely meet ‘the one’ while studying the sciences,” Helen commented.

Frieda made an ‘eww’ face.
“Scientists are very clean because of what they do. What was that face for?”
“What if he decides to study agricultural science? Doesn’t that involve all kinds of animal excretions?”
“Not necessarily, you can study plants, soil or insects to improve food that would feed the world.”
“Still, science has always sounded very messy to me!”
“Any and all jobs can be messy at times! Scientists can make six figures depending on which branch they study.”
“Really? Maybe I would be okay with my niece marrying a scientist…”
“Wouldn’t you rather the money she earned was hers, and not some man’s?”
Frieda’s face got a stubborn look. She opened her mouth to speak. Helen waved gaily at a figure crossing the street toward them.
“Isn’t that her now? Let’s ask her!”