Minerva (noun): a woman of great wisdom

  The first son was a brilliant lawyer.

  The second son dominated the financial world as a banker.

  The third son impressed the entire world with his revolutionary paintings.

  The fourth son founded international health programs, offering services and care to all who needed assistance.

  Respectful, intelligent, and compassionate, these brothers were the role models of the entire country. News headlines and billboard titles religiously broadcasted the names of these “gods among men.”

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  Today, the four of them joined their mother for tea.

  And they were absolutely destroyed with criticism.

  Over the elegant plates of pastries and desserts, a loud, scathing voice condemned them one after another of the mistakes they had made in the past year: they failed to respond professionally to a crisis, they didn’t take responsibility for certain groups of people, they forgot to take care of themselves…

  Onlookers were startled by the noise coming from the usually-peaceful cafe and scooted closer to take a look.

  Instantly, they were chased off.

  A refined and elderly woman shouted after them, fearlessly expressing her disappointment in their eavesdropping.

  The four brothers shared a laugh. Their mother was as sharp as ever. If she wasn’t so hardworking, so warmhearted, so unafraid to speak her mind, would they have been able to get where they were today?