text: People who knew Lilah often wondered how such a poised, demure, girly girl had held down a job as a construction worker for five entire years now. It was the subject of much gossip and speculation amongst her girlfriends. This was a girl who spent two hours getting ready to go out, kept up with the latest fashions and trends, and whose hobbies included reading poetry and making impressive oil paintings of nature. More mysterious still, she professed to love her job. They would have been flabbergasted to observe her at work. This sweet, well spoken woman had completely adopted the vernacular of her rough-around-the-edges coworkers, and was known to be perfectly capable of defending herself with fiery and course wit when deserved. Her coworkers accepted her as a competent worker who fit in. As the smallest worker, she was frequently tasked with crawling into small spaces no man could ever access to complete construction of electric or plumbing. Sometimes, she wasn’t sure what they would have done without her. This, and her good work ethic, did not go unnoticed, and she was offered as many hours as she wanted to work. Meanwhile, her friends were beginning to face the reality of taking out massive student loans to pay for useless degrees in a city with a stagnant economy. “Can I move in with you?” Asked Yuri, a recently graduated Singing major who thought she’d have her big break by now. “I have a full-time unpaid internship that will make me connections, and my parents are willing to help me out a little, but I have to find a place to live in the city, and my family lives too far away.” “No,” said Lilah, a complete sentence. She was introduced to a young architect, and began dating him. He was just as intrigued by her career choice as everyone else, but she kept details to a minimum. They saw eye to eye on nearly everything and enjoyed each other’s company, going out to try Ethiopian food and having a Bob Ross date where they drank wine and painted happy trees and clouds. Regularly, they would go have a beer with friends at the bar of a centrally located restaurant. Everyone in their friend group had outgrown any youthful desire to consume alcohol in excess, so it was strange when Ettie began to slur her words following a trip to the bathroom. “Did you take something?” Lilah asked, fearing that Ettie might have been prescribed some kind of medication that mixed poorly with alcohol. Ettie confusedly shook her head, leaning on the bar. A man came up and attempted to lead Ettie away by the arm, saying things to indicate that it had been agreed upon previously that she would leave with him. Lilah summoned all her construction worker powers and cursed the air blue. She yelled such a foul stream of creative obscenities at him that even the crowded bar became silent except for the now out of place music. The creep recoiled in shock, and attempted to walk away. The crowd hemmed him in, however. The bartended immediately dialed 911. The police and an ambulance came, and the attempted kidnapper was arrested. Ettie was taken to the hospital, where she tested positive for date rape drugs. Her family and friends helped her through her difficult time, glad that it wasn’t worse. The next day, Lilah’s boyfriend, who had been thoughtfully quiet, finally said, “You were amazing. I have never heard anyone curse like that, but it was totally appropriate for the circumstances. I think I see this relationship becoming serious. Anyone who is so composed and ladylike all the time who can still stand up for their friend like that is someone I want to get to know better.” They married three years later. Lilah could have easily gotten a bachelor’s degree at this point, but instead, she became an electrician.