Excellent modern version of the fairy tale MULAN by Genevieve Cooper <–PDF
Mulan Challenge by Genevieve Cooper (2013)
Miranda never did anything that was easy. Perhaps it was because she liked the challenge or perhaps because she always went after things that required intellect, not the
ability to cheer or dance or cook. Throughout school, she always excelled in academics, a leader among her peers as student government president, president of the debate team and consistent winner of both the science fair and spelling bees. In doing so, her peers were often boys; she learned that aggressiveness, a competitive spirit and critical thinking skills were all necessary characteristics in the hobbies she enjoyed, but also in her interactions with her male peers. In middle school, she ignored gossip about who was wearing what and instead debated who built a better volcano. In high school, she avoided the talk of who was sleeping with whom and instead debated the need to add a recycling program to the campus. In college, she avoided sorority rushes and instead wrote an honors thesis on human rights, equality and international law. By the time she reached corporate America as recent law graduate, she fully new the people who surrounded her—men.
Looking into the mirror, Miranda saw a young woman stare back decked out in an Ann Taylor suit she found at the outlet mall; she would say that it was a black suit but
most women would categorize it as charcoal. Her dark hair was long enough for her to push behind her ears; only a few strands fell forward into her face. Most women would
complain about how flat and boring their hair was with Miranda’s do, but she loved the convenience of only having to brush through the strands to complete her look. Her beauty routine consisted of applying mascara, which often resulted in her poking her eyes and using a generous amount of chapstick that she usually ate off five minutes later. Mac Cosmetics, Smashbox and Lo’real were all words never used in her vocabulary, much less hair dryer, smoothing serum, or moisturizer. If she could wear crocks to the law firm without being laughed out, she would have a closet full of them in every color.
So, when it came down to getting ready in the morning, Miranda puts her focus on finding a decent breakfast in under five minutes, scoring a sit on the subway and
making it into the first elevator upon arriving at the firm. Once getting to the fourteenth floor of the firm, avoiding the disappointed fashion stares of the receptionist and
secretaries required much more of her attention than whether or not she was swishing her hips enough to appease her male colleagues. While she was one of the hardest working, if not the hardest working partner at the firm, she had to work significantly harder to prove herself to her peers and her clients. And because of this, Miranda has a tendency to isolate herself in her work, put on a harsh exterior, and become quick witted and savvy in her speech. Bitch, dyke, spinster, lesbian, ugly, honestly, the list goes on to the names given to her because of her passion for her work—but why? Because in a male dominated world, once a woman challenges the norm and enters it, she declares war.
The ultimate battle in the war that Miranda fought each day she entered the firm, occurred when her increasingly growing stomach gained some unwarranted attention.
Skeptical glances, whispers out of the corner of mouths, hidden points to her stretched stomach became more common with each day. However, the hardest tactic to decide
was wear does a professional woman finds professional pregnancy pants? Because this concept is virtually nonexistent, Miranda’s Ann Taylor suits became tighter and tighter, and her collared shirts no longer had a slight intake at the waist and her pants often could not button. In attempts to maintain her professionalism, larger male button downs became her only option, covered by an equally large male blazer draped over her ever-growing stomach.
Once her stomach could no longer be ignored, one of the partners sat Miranda down to discuss the complications of her arriving child.
“Miranda, you are clearly pregnant. When did you plan on telling us?” He addressed. Miranda stared blankly back and replied, “I had no intention on making an
announcement to you or anyone else in this firm. The condition of my body, my sex life, or family conditions have nothing to do with my work.” While he considered this for a moment, Miranda took in a sharp breath and continued, “well, actually…now that you mention it. With the arrival of my child, my financial responsibilities will in fact grow; so perhaps, we should consider the possibility of a raise.” Now this was a statement that caught her partner off guard even more so then the first declaration by his peer. Yet, after he let that set in, he couldn’t ignore the fact that the other two partners, and even himself, did in fact get a raise with the growth of their families. “While I am a single mother to this child, I still have a family to take care of. This war on women can only stop once we acknowledge the injustice between genders….its your move,” Miranda explained and left her partner once again, speechless.
Secrets of the Fairies 