In Thomas King's "Borders," the narrator's mother is heading to Salt Lake City and must cross the border between America and Canada. As she feels the need to protect her identity from the guards, the protagonist encounters the battle of man vs society. She questions why people fight for something they believe in even if it means risking their lives. The story takes place in the late 19th century and centers on the Border War between Canada and America over ownership of the land that now comprises both countries. The protagonist's mother works as a maid in a hotel near the border where she meets American soldiers who come across the line for fun. One day, an officer tells her that there will be a war soon and she should not go back home because it is not safe anymore. Hearing this, her mother decides to move forward with her trip despite being scared by the news that soldiers are going to fight each other. Just before she leaves, the protagonist sees her mother kiss one of the officers goodbye. This is just one of the many conflicts that arise in the story. There is also the conflict between good and evil, right and wrong that arises when the main character finds out that her mother has been kissing some of the officers. She also faces conflicts within herself such as whether or not to tell the truth about her mother's actions to the officers. Ultimately, she decides not to say anything bad about her mother and lets her go free.