After Dinner Conversation

Volume 4, Issue 3, March 2023

David Rich
Pages 75-96

The Crate

Is it better for people to be free, or made equal? In this philosophical dystopian short story, society is divided into two groups: the American Political Union (APU) and the Old American Republic (OAR). The narrator, a highly intelligent young woman, lives in the APU, a society where it is impossible to judge someone based on their race, gender, occupation, or ability. Although she enjoys living in a world where everyone is equal, she yearns to be recognized for her academic talents. Her best friend, BLE, is not as gifted in academics. Together, they decide to cross the border and live in the OAR, where they can be more appreciated for their abilities. They succeed but find that being judged is not always as pleasant or fair as they expected. The narrator is eventually recruited for her academic abilities to help bring down the wall that separates the two societies, allowing for the free flow of people across borders. This story is a part of our legacy-of-excellence program, first printed in After Dinner Conversation - December, 2020 issue.