FF – Second Chance?
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo comes from – ooh, I just checked, Rochelle as well!
I’m afraid I’ve gone eco-warrior again. You know, one of those ones who pontificates from their armchair before roaring off in their 6 litre 3 miles to the gallon pimp-mobile.
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
“Wow, Mum! This virtual reality headset you got me’s great! The sky’s all blue!”
“That’s the colour it was on Old Earth, apparently.”
“Is it like that still?”
“No. That’s one thing everyone agrees on. Nobody can live on Old Earth now. It’s all destroyed.”
“How, Mum?”
“We’re not sure. The record tapes were damaged when the first refugees arrived here and nobody remembers. It must have been quite the disaster, though. Now, come inside, quickly. It’s looking like rain and with the wind coming from the Factory District we don’t want another of your t-shirts dissolving, do we?”
Speak to me - I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Click for a random post!
Woohoo!
I totally didn't win!
Share Your World
Friday Fictioneers
draliman on life 
Very well written… sort of a warning to all of us. Excellent tale Ali!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Let’s hope we pay heed 🙂
LikeLike
Glad it’s just the t-shirt that might dissolve! How did you resist the temptation?
LikeLike
Ha, yeah, I could have put “remember what happened to your brother” 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
I like your eco-warrior stories, they always strike a cord. This one had a touch of horror with that dissolving t-shirt. Great writing, Ali.
LikeLike
Thanks, it is a pretty grim picture. I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
New Earth doesn’t sound great, best start taking better care of this one! Nice take.
LikeLike
Yes, it’s already on the brink I think. I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another serious one this week. 😉 Good thing I also enjoy your apocalyptic tales! ☺
LikeLike
🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Humour will return one day…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking forward to future funnies! 😁
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thankfully this new planet was accepting refugees.
LikeLike
Yes – we’ve just got to try not to muck it up!
LikeLike
At least, it seems that skin has become more resistant than fabric. Thank goodness for tiny post-apocalyptic miracles…
LikeLike
It appears we’ve evolved a little bit. Getting rid of the pollution would probably be a better step forward, though 🙂
LikeLike
I’m trying really hard not to go off on a rant about the current political situation in the US and my disgust over the pending destruction of our Environment Protection Agency, (I’m not a fan of the Orange Overlord) so I’ll just say – Nice story, Ali. Alas, Old Earth, I knew thee well. 😉
LikeLike
Yes, I read about that and couldn’t believe it. I had to double-check the source. And at a time when all other developed countries are trying desperately to clean things up…
I’m glad you enjoyed the story, anyway!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh… I don’t like that rain! Dissolving t-shirt? No thanks! Then again, if the Old World is gone, what choice have we? Good one!
LikeLike
Looks like we screwed up another planet… 😦
I’m glad you liked the story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like humanity hasn’t learnt a thing… another planet to be lost.
LikeLike
Humanity – ravaging its way across the galaxy, one planet at a time…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, the acid washed clothing trend might come back some day!
I hope you don’t mind the shameless self promotion (since I would NEVER do that!), but it reminded me of this comic I did long before many people were reading me:..
https://evilsquirrelsnest.com/2012/12/06/evil-squirrels-nest-comic-32-12612/
LikeLike
Streaks and holes are very “in” 🙂
Fun comic (before my time). Promote away!
LikeLike
That’s what I’ve long suspected. We’ll take our destructive ways with us to ruin other planets. Good writing, Ali. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLike
Sadly I can’t believe we’ll change our ways 😦
I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
Dear Ali,
That’s a rain to avoid. Loved your intro this week. 😉 A great read all the way around.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Dear Rochelle,
I figured labelling myself an “eco-warrior” would be a tad hypocritical (though in reality my car is only 1.6l, not 6!).
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Ali
LikeLike
Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Great story!
LikeLike
For sure – they’ll make the same mistakes again 😦
LikeLike
Sadly, that is true.
LikeLike
History repeats itself nice job.
LikeLike
Unfortunately I bet this would happen 😦
I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
What a horrible thought!
LikeLike
Yep 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
The last line made me laugh – I hope that’s O.K.
“Old Earth” made me cringe. Well done.
LikeLike
Laugh away! It’s quite a funny image, the poor lad coming home one day with his t-shirt all burnt through 🙂
LikeLike
Hm, it sounds like our descendants didn’t learn from our mistakes. I’m certainly glad we haven’t progressed to t-shirt dissolving rain here on old Earth yet!
LikeLike
Give it time…
LikeLike
I like the grimness mixed with humor. And yeah, good thing it’s only the t-shirt that dissolves…
LikeLike
Possibly they’ve evolved tough acid-proof skin. I hope so, the way things are going on their new world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would definitely be a useful adaptation. Let’s hope for nictitating membranes protecting our eyes, while we’re at it.
LikeLike
Hmm, tougher skin, nictitating membranes – they’re lizard people!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Although maybe evolving into cockroaches would be a better long-term solution. 😉
LikeLike
Meep 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
it looks like it’s happening again in the new planet. when will we ever learn from our mistakes?
LikeLike
Not anytime soon, I fear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some things will change, others disappear, But at least we’ll still be wearing tee shirts
My 100 words
LikeLike
Yes, that’s the main thing. I’ve never liked the look of those unflattering sci-fi B-movie skin-tight jumpsuits.
LikeLike
A story with a warning, I suppose. Well written.
LikeLike
Indeed, thanks!
LikeLike
The humans do not change …. they destroyed the New Earth too. Nice take.
LikeLike
Once a human, always a human…
I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
History repeats itself, that’s a reminder we all need these days. I love the humour in the horror though, and a dedicated armchair environmental warrior is 1000x better than some people who are in charge these days.
LikeLike
Mentioning no names… 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I expect before long a new set of refugees will be leaving their planet in search of number three.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that’s a goooooood one! Maybe they’re on that new planet in that new solar system they discovered a week or so ago. Heard about it on the news.
LikeLike
I heard about that too. I think they said there are several planets there that they can ruin 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe it’s good that it would take generations to get there.
LikeLike
Give us a chance to have a good long think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those poor refugee fleeing to a planet that is also being destroyed. I loved the dark twist in this, although I am afraid it is all too true.
LikeLike
I’m afraid of that too. Maybe it’s best if we just stay home and try to fix this planet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If those humans ruined the Old Earth, no doubt they will do the same with the New Earth 😦
(retreating slowly back into the ocean….)
LikeLike
I’m sure they will. It’s what we do 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our future on New Earth doesn’t look too great in your little tale! T-shirts that dissolve on contact with the polluted air and a sky that isn’t blue…! Perhaps our descendants will be confined to ‘biospheres’ after all – so someone should take good care of the design plans for the Eden Project.
An excellent bit of sci-fi, as well as a reminder of the way this planet is heading.
LikeLike
Biospheres sound like a good idea. Not to protect us from the environment, but to protect the environment from us…
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, we try to keep the kids out of that nasty t-shirt dissolving weather! :o)
LikeLike
It’s very expensive on the clothes bill. Maybe some form of acid-proof umbrella…
LikeLike
I’m seeing an upstart!
There is money to be made!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Good God! To think it could actually come true is quite scary! Good one!
LikeLike
If we survive long enough to develop interstellar travel, just think of the the planets out there we could ruin.
I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
Sounds like they’ll need another planet soon, will we never learn?
LikeLike
I may be a bit pessimistic but no, I don’t think we’ll ever learn.
LikeLike
Wow, it is what happens when we don’t learn from the past ( which is usually the case with us humans). This is not only a well written story, but a powerful message.
LikeLike
Yes, history is full of us not learning from other history.
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always enjoy your writings xx
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Acid and Factories- sounds bad, great story.
LikeLike
Thanks. Yep, real bad.
LikeLike
The dissolving T Shirt made me laugh. Great take on the prompt.
LikeLike
A fun image, not so great if you’re wearing it at the time 🙂
I’m glad you liked my story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a lovely usage of picture to put that message! Greatly done.. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the dissolving t-shirt!
LikeLike
It’s a dangerous time to be clothing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahaa!
LikeLike