A Passing Breeze

" I like this story, lots of good imagery, like endowing the synthetic Cheesey with "the light scent of summer sneakers never washed." I'm reading this as a parable for the continuity of our social environment even in times of radical change, such as a reversal of gender roles. In the world of 2045 America, Fort is preparing for his role as nurturer and protector, recording his thoughts as a message to the baby he and his wife will soon bear. He must interrupt his dictation when he comes upon a band of young girls taunting an equally young boy. He intervenes, somewhat matter of factly, then resumes his message and concludes that his social standing, his fatherhood, will require not only vigilance, but also understanding and forbearance. In the world of 2025 America, we cope with a new and radical change in politics. Ten years prior, Americans took for granted our unity and shared goals for all members of society--liberty and the pursuit of happiness--with confidence that by working together we will all benefit. Now Americans recognize that our traditional social order is bending in the opposite direction, toward disunity. Will today's Americans stand with Fort, in his sanguine patience and clear-eyed resolve to protect our social progress? If I'm wrong about Passing Breeze as a parable, then the story is dystopian, depicting a future in which the genders never achieve parity and instead struggle, cyclically and unrelentingly, for dominance. I'm rooting for parable over hopelessness."