bus in the middle of the desert. As she sat there gazing at the
distant mountains, conscious of little more than the rising heat,
she heard herself say, "I don't know what to do."
"Whatever you do will be foolish," said a voice from behind her.
"What?" the girl asked with some surprise, not sure whether she was
listening to a person or a hallucination. The voice was that of an
old woman with bony hands.
"Good decisions come from good values," continued the old woman, as
she watched her knitting rather than the girl. "You have thrown
your values away and so your decisions are poor."
"But I wanted to be free," the girl answered.
"There is no freedom without rules," the woman said. "Without rules
there is only slavery."
"You know nothing about me," said the girl, her anger rising. "I'm
not a slave to anyone. And I can do anything I want to. So just
be quiet."
As she got on the bus to yet one more destination, the girl turned
back to the old woman and said, "I'm sorry I got mad. The truth is,
I'd do anything to be happy for one hour."
"That pretty well sums up your entire problem," the old woman said.
Two Conversations on Direction
"And then you turn here to the right."
"Really? No, I don't think so. The left path must be the way.
It's more attractive, and it somehow just feels right."
"I'm sorry, but you have to take the fork to the right. See the
little sign pointing the way?"
"Yes, but something just tells me the left fork is the one to
take. The ground looks better, and that tree up ahead seems
so persuasive."
"Well, I ought to know the way to my own house. There is only one
way, along the right path."
"Uh uh. The right path looks bad. I just can't believe it leads to
your house. You probably don't remember correctly."
"You'll get lost if you don't come this way. The other fork dead
ends. The only thing there is a swamp, a pit, and a snake."
"It can't be. It looks so well traveled. And I have such a feeling
that it will take me to your house; I've got to try it."
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