The starting chapters for The Antelope Wife are possibly startling, yet seem to prove if you want something hard enough and keep having faith it will come to you. The story starts with, "a dog bearing upon its back a frame-board tikinagun enclosing a child in moss...a cavalry soldier, spurred to human response by the sight of the dog, the strapped on child, vanishing into the distance, followed them and did not return" :(pg. 1). Over time the man is able to convenience the dog and child to come close to him. While caring for the child he is unable to figure out how to take care of the child's basic need, food. One day seemingly giving up the man brings the baby to his chest, the child takes to it although no food is produced. The man is happy he is able to help the child, but unhappy he is unable to provide nutrients for the child. Over time though and by a seeming miracle his body produces the child's necessity for survival.
This is quit a role reversal and not one I had expected. Usually when the roles of gender are being reversed it is a female becoming a male. She becomes strong, capable, and dominating. To have a male take on the gentle and paternal piece of a female is rather unusual. Its more unusual for me since the author of the story is a female. I say this because female empowerment usually doesn't involve making a male female.
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