all the labor required to keep the shade in its self-sufficient state is done by the humans born out of generations of humans loyal to the work they were given on this island . '' i wanted to answer , but my mouth did n't want to move . `` you already did when you dressed me after our dip in the pond , remember ? '' i ask and plant my hands on my hips . they tell us things about ourselves that have as much meaning today as they did then . 