“That’s because you’re now unfi t.” Long spoke the truth, then encouraged mother, “You’ll do better next time.”
“Yes but no. As people like to complicate things, they have zigzagged the steps on purpose around the hill, so that it took longer than it should. That’s why.” I poured out my thought.
“A city is a city. Even a simple step is a symbol of civilization.” Mother talked in a deeper sense, as though making a conclusion, “Whereas no mountain has steps in our home village, this is a big diff erence.”