red natives
would eventually be?

The cured natives said they felt fine, but they might have been lying.
And who was fool enough to trust an outsider, a stranger, rather than
the familiar witch doctor, who cursed those who took the cure because
they rejected his medicines as false and pernicious? The cured natives
said that a commitment must be made to trust the Eastern doctor; this
was too difficult or uncertain a step for many, especially in the face
of the social pressure around them. A decision accompanied by fear,
decried by the important, and rejected by society could not be made
by everyone.

After the time of his stay was over, the Eastern doctor showed the
cured natives how to compound the medicine and then left. As
generations passed, most of the natives remained loyal to the
dunghill, but a few took the cure.

Love

Otto and his girlfriend Brissa were driving merrily down the middle
of the road one rainy night on their way to a party when they
approached a little old lady trying vainly to change a flat tire.

"Gee, that's too bad," said Brissa.

"Yeah," agreed Otto.

"Maybe we should help her," added Brissa.

"We? You mean me. I'm not going to get wet. Besides, what good
would it do me to help her? I don't even know who she is, and she
probably doesn't have any money, or at least not enough to make
getting wet worthwhile."

"But it would make you feel good to do a good deed," Brissa offered.

"Well, it makes me feel good to stay in here and keep dry,"
snapped Otto.

"It would make me happy, Otto," said Brissa, in her softest, most
feminine voice.

"You? Boy, you're awfully selfish. Always thinking about yourself.
You know, I wasn't put here just to cater to your stupid, idle
whims." As his anger rose, Otto sped up a little, just in time to
hit a large puddle near the little old lady, drenching her in a sheet
of muddy water.

"Stop, Otto!" Brissa cried, exasperated. "I'll help her."

"Aw shut up," Otto snarled. "Do you think I'm going to walk into the
party with a girl who's all wet and disheveled, looking like a
drowned rat? You want people to laugh at me? Think of somebody
besides yourself for a change. Now fix your makeup and keep your
mouth shut."

Indecision

Once upon a time a dozen or so curious travelers rented a boat for a
cruise out to an enchanted island, where, it was said, Athena sat on
her throne dispensing rich gifts to all. The trip was smooth