The Bird King

by G. Willow Wilson

“They taste awful,” he said cheerfully, spitting out a pit. “A raw olive is a different animal from a cured one, apparently. God bless the man who first taught the world how to cure olives. He and the man who invented cheese are two unsung pillars of civilization.” “They were probably women,” muttered Fatima, fanning her face with the sleeve of her robe. “If they were men, we would remember their names.”

“Yes, you were taught to waste your anger. It’s convenient for girls to be angry about nothing. Girls who are angry about something are dangerous. If you want

to live, you must learn to use your anger for your own benefit, not the benefit of those who would turn it against you.”