The First Ever Feminist

by Lola-Mae O’Leary

*Wildcard Entry*

Olga, the world's first ever Feminist lived in pre-historic Ireland, a place of magic and mystery, full of wonder and excitement, although sadly not for her. Olga inhabited a world of monotony and relentless drudgery.

The feisty red-head was the older sibling to her brother Gob. A quiet and compliant boy, Gob really didn't do much apart from what he was told. The pair were loved equally by their family but pre-historic Ireland was a world in which girls and boys were treated very differently. Gob had the opportunities and excitement Olga so desperately craved. She longed to hunt and prove her worth but Olga was a girl and that meant only one thing, a dull and dreary existence, the only threat to her life being deadly boredom.

She spent her days picking berries and washing endless piles of smelly socks, whilst her annoying brother had all the fun. She begged to join the hunt but her mum refused to let her, she was as stubborn as a saber tooth mule. Until one day, her world would change forever.

Another humdrum day at home was almost over. Olga, setting the fire for their free range feast, heard him before she saw him; a deafening roar from the gob of Gob, which made her chuckle. He suddenly came into view screaming like a TRex that had stubbed its toe. She sniggered, then came the biggest guffaw Ireland had ever heard. The sight of Gob, hanging from his impaled Impala hide pants with his human hide displayed to the world rendered Olga completely breathless, she gasped as her lungs emptied of air, escaping in eruptions of glee. This was priceless stuff, if only her slate pad could take video!

Gob dangled from the tusk of an incensed mammoth. Outraged, the beautiful beast tried to shake off the screaming nuisance. Focused as the now sadly slain leopard skin she wore, Olga was ready, ill prepared but naturally equipped for the challenge, she launched her rescue. It was the opportunity she'd been waiting for.

Her patience was stretched like a criminal in Tudor times as she waited for the moment to strike. The mammoth teased and twirled Gob, payback for his murderous intent. Olga ran straight into the path of the rushing assailant. The mammoth charged, Olga stood firm, knife in hand with her speechless family scrutinising her next move.

Olga swung her blade. Gob, a ball of shrieking snot and gob, was released. Their eyes locked in a Paso Doble dual, the beast versus the girl wielding her power with defiance and immeasurable bravery. But then a pause, in the midst of battle, silence and understanding. This was not their fight.

These two women, different but the same, both ahead of their time were fighting the same battle. Olga's family urged her to slay the beast but instead she chose to let her go. Simultaneously securing freedom for the beast and herself, her fight for fairness had just begun.