No Job for a Lady by Carol McCleary Page A

an ancient site because so little attention has been given to its colorful history.”
    I can’t blame Roger for liking Gertrude and giving her a big smile. One that, I might add, he’s never offered me. But admittedly, I’ve never been that pleasant to him—for good reason. I am a bit surprised that he is studying history. I never attended college, of course, but I tend to think of students in general as more mild-mannered and bookish than how Roger strikes me.
    “I’m hoping that one of my experiences with history will be climbing a pyramid.” He looks at me just as he is finishing the comment.
    Uh-huh.
    “That tops my agenda, too.” Gertrude grabs my hand. “Nellie, you must join us! It would be wonderful. I think not only that you’ll enjoy yourself, but also that it might provide interesting material to send to your newspaper.”
    “Yes, why don’t you, Nellie?” Roger says.
    I concede that I’ll consider it and resist the temptation of saying that I’d jump at the opportunity to go to the top of a pyramid with him if it gave me a chance to push him off.
    Don Antonio raises his crystal champagne glass.
    “A toast. Thank you for joining me and my niece tonight. And may I say, it’s not often I’ve dined with two university scholars and a female newspaper reporter.”
    I notice he emphasizes the word female. One day, I hope being a reporter and going to college will be considered the norm for women.
    “I also admire you for traveling alone, Nellie. Few women would travel unescorted, let alone to a foreign country where most people don’t speak their language. Gertrude also made the trip from London to El Paso by herself, over the objections of her family. I suspect you two are the harbingers of a new age of independent women. Not that all men would agree with the advent of women who are decisively independent. Roger, being young yourself, I would be most interested in your opinion on the subject. How do you feel about it?”
    “I wouldn’t dare venture any negative opinion about independent womanhood, lest one of these young ladies scalp me with a steak knife. Besides, I am all in favor of women realizing their full potential.”
    Gertrude and her uncle think his reply is clever, but I think he’s hiding his true feelings—no doubt he feels a woman’s realm shouldn’t extend beyond the kitchen and bedroom.
    “I was raised by a single mother who showed me what a woman is capable of doing and taught me to respect a woman’s ability to achieve many of the things that are reserved for men.” Roger then addresses me. “Certainly going from a factory girl to a news reporter is a great accomplishment.”
    How does he know I had worked in a factory? I give him a smile and a nod. “Thank you. As far as traveling alone, I believe that if you are polite, respectful, and considerate of a country’s customs, no matter where you go, or what the language, people will reciprocate kindly. Respect and kindness are a universal language.”
    “Well said, Nellie.” Don Antonio smiles at me. “You will find my people most helpful and considerate to strangers, especially señoritas.”
    I need to divert the conversation away from myself before a can of worms opens. “I’m sure I will. Now, Don Antonio, for my readers, I would really like to hear your evaluation of the tension between the United States and Mexico that is being reported.”
    “Mexico wants to be a good neighbor and trading partner with your country. That is the goal,” he replies.
    It is an intentionally diplomatic statement and gives little insight into the real problems. I let it pass, knowing he would not want to be quoted as saying anything controversial, especially about the war between the two countries. In addition to the United States taking undisputed control of Texas, which had already broken away from Mexico several years before the war, we took nearly 900,000 square miles from Mexico, which now makes up a lot of America’s West