“No, put that through there.” My mom demonstrated the move to me for the thousandth time that day, but the information just wasn’t sinking in. Mom droned on about how much of a shame I was to the woman of our tribe, blah, blah, blah.

I tried again. When the scarf I’d been working on for the past hour unraveled, I threw it down in disgust.

“I’ll never get this!” I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Why can’t I just go hunting instead? I can actually do that!”

Mom swatted me, hard. “Now, Andrea Shimizu! You know that that is men’s work, and this is women’s work. Try again.”

“No!” I screamed. “I want to hunt! I’ve done it before. Hunting’s something I can actually do!”

“Your father should’ve never taken you hunting. It’s put ideas in your head.”

“In the city women can do anything men can.”

Mom swatted me again, harder. “This tribe is not the city, in case you haven’t noticed. We are much more refined.”

I pouted. I knew I was acting like a child, but it just wasn’t fair! I should be able to hunt, same as the men. I know I can; I’ve caught a rabbit before! Those were so fleet, so they were hard to catch. Even Dad had said so!

“Now, go to bed. I’ve had enough of your complaining.”

I stomped to my little room with my bed. This tribe was so unfair! I’d run away if I could actually fend for myself, but the things that Mom teaches me wouldn’t help. Cooking wouldn’t fend off a bear. Sewing couldn’t help me hide from other tribes. Fetching water couldn’t teach me swimming.

I flopped down in my bed and faced the wall. Maybe I could go to Phelix’s tribe. Women were allowed to hunt there, right?

I decided that one day, I would go to a place that had equality for both women and men. But for now, I was tired.