A Real Man? (Short Story)
“Who here is a real man?”
The Steward’s voice echoed through The Marble Hall.
12 men stepped forward.
Three of them yelled indistinctive, wild rally cries.
One marched right up to The Steward and tried to grab The Master Staff.
The Steward dodged and flipped the man to the ground.
“Some of you seem to think being a real man is all about aggression and dominance…” The Steward spoke. “Very shortsighted.”
The man on the ground got up, burdened by shame, and slunk into the line of others who had stepped forward.
All looked downward now, questioning their entire existence as men.
“Now,” The Steward said. “Who here is NOT a real man?”
Seven men awkwardly raised their hands. They were almost too timid to even be there. Yet here they were, somehow, in The Marble Hall.
The Steward barely spared these men a glance. Instead, his vision turned to one man, the only one who had not moved in response to either question.
The man’s eyes met The Steward’s with mutual respect.
“Saneh. Why have you not moved?”
Saneh smiled and replied, “Well, what is a real man?”
The Steward chuckled heartily. “Yes. A real man is humble enough to not assume he knows. Yet confident enough to patiently stand alone.”
The words echoed and swirled around the hall as the other men blinked in surprise.
“Saneh,” The Steward continued. “I invite you to be The Steward of our next meeting.”
Reflection
What does it mean to be a “real man?”
That’s something to contemplate.
Also, feel free to leave a comment and share what you think.
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