This morning I got back from aerobics just in time to watch live as the Marines helped that crowd of Iraqis pull down the Saddam statue in that Baghdad square. Shortly afterward, we saw a group of Iraqis jubilantly dragging the head of the statue along the street, using the chain that had pulled it down. Several photographers were running around and alongside, getting the shots.

"Look, there's a girl photographer," said my mom.

"Yup. Looks like fun," I said.

"So dangerous. I'm glad you didn't decide to do that," she said.

"I'm not," I thought. It would have been too much bother if I'd said it out loud.

copyright 2003 carrie lynn king.