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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Science Fiction
- Subject: Science / Science Fiction
- Published: 10/28/2018
“That’s it! That is the last straw. Doggone it Earthlings…just STOP IT. “
It didn’t matter where you were on Earth, or what your First Language was, you heard it (or whatever comes closest in your language) just like everyone else on Earth. Even Deaf folks saw hands flying in front of them, as if by Magic - but saying the same things the words were saying. Oh, and you could see it too. Don’t ask me how they got clouds to spell out "Just Stop!" in a thousand languages; because I don’t know how they did it either. Sight, sound, sign, for 24 hours it was all anyone heard, saw, or thought. JUST STOP IT.
Then…silence.
*****
It was eerie that Silence. For it was silence in all Caps. No birds. No wind. No waves crashing (or even lapping gently against the shore). No bugs. No sounds of Nature of any kind. Just stillness. Absolute stillness. And that lasted for a day and a night.
Then…scenes.
*****
The Scenes started. Everyone saw them. The sky was your theater, or if you were indoors, the scenes appeared in front of you like with those fancy 3d Headsets, or Google Glasses, except you weren’t wearing anything. You couldn’t look away. If you closed your eyes you still saw them. Scene after scene played out in front of your eyes- with captions. Scenes like these:
A Mother putting her baby to sleep- hungry. Another Mother shows up with a small bowl of rice and some milk. The baby falls asleep - full- as the two mothers share the rice.
The Caption underneath said simply: This is You, Earthlings.
A raging torrent is carrying a car tumbling down what used to be a city street. The car gets pinned against a bridge in the raging waters. A woman and three small children scramble to get out and onto the roof of the car. Forty brave men, some old, some young, some Black, or White, or Asian, and ten strong young women join in. They make a human chain to the car- risking their lives (they could be washed away at any moment) not caring about anything except the woman and her children. Arm links with arm. Some have to fight to stay upright, but they find a will, and a way. Like a link of courage they anchor themselves to life. The woman and the children crawl across the living bridge that curls up behind them.
Exhausted and laughing fifty four of you humans lay on slightly dryer and safer ground. Proud of each other, proud of what you did. Glad of the outcome.
The Caption underneath said simply:
Who is the Democrat? Who is the Republican? This is YOU Earthlings.
Two young people sit on a blanket. It is their first True Love- maybe one that will last them the rest of their lives. It is obvious they have nothing but each other. But that is enough. They lean into each other and talk about the future. They will make it happen. They have to make it better. She kisses him. He kisses her back. Hand in hand they get up from the blanket and walk in the night air. You hear him say: “It will be alright as long as we have each other.” You hear her say: “We’ll be fine. It might be rough for a while, but we are both tough.” And they laugh.
The Caption Underneath said simply:
Remember your youth? This is You Earthlings.
It is Christmas Time during the First of our World Wars on Earth. Commanding Officers decide to call a Truce so the Troops can play a game of Football. Uniforms come off, teams are picked, beer and cheers seem to be everywhere. At night, under the stars, surrounded by the scars that war leaves on soil and soul, they sing together…songs they learned as children.
The Caption Underneath said simply:
This is YOU. Earthlings.
The Scenes were endless. Every single scene showing us Earthlings at our best: kind, caring, tough, daring, heroic, loving, and laughing…and forgiving.
And under each scene from all over the Word; The Caption:
This is YOU Earthlings.
*****
The third day, the Aliens spoke to everyone. And everyone heard their simple speech.
"That’s it. We can’t stand by and watch you wage war, breed hate and contempt, and kill each other anymore. You won’t see us. But we are here now. No more weapons will work from now on. If you try to attack another Human, you will simply faint. War is over. When you become who you really are, we will show ourselves. Fix your planet. Finish your arguments. Begin your future. We know you can.“
Everyone saw the last scene, because it stayed in the sky. In fact, it is still there. It is our blueprint given to us by the Aliens. It changes a bit every day. As we make the lakes and rivers cleaner, clearer, safer, it shows us plans that work, or where we are on the right track. As we develop ways to use internet thinking to design our cities to work for people, not cars- we see the way up in the sky. And at the end of each day, we see the same scene: the Earth healthy, clean and green. Humans without sickness, frailty or age. And underneath we see a simple Caption:
This is YOU Earthlings.
Just stop.(Kevin Hughes)
“That’s it! That is the last straw. Doggone it Earthlings…just STOP IT. “
It didn’t matter where you were on Earth, or what your First Language was, you heard it (or whatever comes closest in your language) just like everyone else on Earth. Even Deaf folks saw hands flying in front of them, as if by Magic - but saying the same things the words were saying. Oh, and you could see it too. Don’t ask me how they got clouds to spell out "Just Stop!" in a thousand languages; because I don’t know how they did it either. Sight, sound, sign, for 24 hours it was all anyone heard, saw, or thought. JUST STOP IT.
Then…silence.
*****
It was eerie that Silence. For it was silence in all Caps. No birds. No wind. No waves crashing (or even lapping gently against the shore). No bugs. No sounds of Nature of any kind. Just stillness. Absolute stillness. And that lasted for a day and a night.
Then…scenes.
*****
The Scenes started. Everyone saw them. The sky was your theater, or if you were indoors, the scenes appeared in front of you like with those fancy 3d Headsets, or Google Glasses, except you weren’t wearing anything. You couldn’t look away. If you closed your eyes you still saw them. Scene after scene played out in front of your eyes- with captions. Scenes like these:
A Mother putting her baby to sleep- hungry. Another Mother shows up with a small bowl of rice and some milk. The baby falls asleep - full- as the two mothers share the rice.
The Caption underneath said simply: This is You, Earthlings.
A raging torrent is carrying a car tumbling down what used to be a city street. The car gets pinned against a bridge in the raging waters. A woman and three small children scramble to get out and onto the roof of the car. Forty brave men, some old, some young, some Black, or White, or Asian, and ten strong young women join in. They make a human chain to the car- risking their lives (they could be washed away at any moment) not caring about anything except the woman and her children. Arm links with arm. Some have to fight to stay upright, but they find a will, and a way. Like a link of courage they anchor themselves to life. The woman and the children crawl across the living bridge that curls up behind them.
Exhausted and laughing fifty four of you humans lay on slightly dryer and safer ground. Proud of each other, proud of what you did. Glad of the outcome.
The Caption underneath said simply:
Who is the Democrat? Who is the Republican? This is YOU Earthlings.
Two young people sit on a blanket. It is their first True Love- maybe one that will last them the rest of their lives. It is obvious they have nothing but each other. But that is enough. They lean into each other and talk about the future. They will make it happen. They have to make it better. She kisses him. He kisses her back. Hand in hand they get up from the blanket and walk in the night air. You hear him say: “It will be alright as long as we have each other.” You hear her say: “We’ll be fine. It might be rough for a while, but we are both tough.” And they laugh.
The Caption Underneath said simply:
Remember your youth? This is You Earthlings.
It is Christmas Time during the First of our World Wars on Earth. Commanding Officers decide to call a Truce so the Troops can play a game of Football. Uniforms come off, teams are picked, beer and cheers seem to be everywhere. At night, under the stars, surrounded by the scars that war leaves on soil and soul, they sing together…songs they learned as children.
The Caption Underneath said simply:
This is YOU. Earthlings.
The Scenes were endless. Every single scene showing us Earthlings at our best: kind, caring, tough, daring, heroic, loving, and laughing…and forgiving.
And under each scene from all over the Word; The Caption:
This is YOU Earthlings.
*****
The third day, the Aliens spoke to everyone. And everyone heard their simple speech.
"That’s it. We can’t stand by and watch you wage war, breed hate and contempt, and kill each other anymore. You won’t see us. But we are here now. No more weapons will work from now on. If you try to attack another Human, you will simply faint. War is over. When you become who you really are, we will show ourselves. Fix your planet. Finish your arguments. Begin your future. We know you can.“
Everyone saw the last scene, because it stayed in the sky. In fact, it is still there. It is our blueprint given to us by the Aliens. It changes a bit every day. As we make the lakes and rivers cleaner, clearer, safer, it shows us plans that work, or where we are on the right track. As we develop ways to use internet thinking to design our cities to work for people, not cars- we see the way up in the sky. And at the end of each day, we see the same scene: the Earth healthy, clean and green. Humans without sickness, frailty or age. And underneath we see a simple Caption:
This is YOU Earthlings.
JD
10/31/2018If only there were some divine/alien being to remind us of the capacity for good we human beings possess, as a gentle admonishment that we should all 'just stop' with the fighting and violence and absurdity that seems all too prevalent on earth these days. But wait... there is such a being... his name is Kevin Hughes! Thanks for the lovely reminder in the form of a science fiction story, Kevin! Well done! :-)
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
11/04/2018Hey Jd,
I was just about to sign off when I got your note. I am trying to reach Five Hundred Stories. I think that is a pretty good number. I might have a party when I reach 500 stories. (Me, and Kathy) and splurge on two maple donuts and a glaze donut. LOL (With chocolate milk - of course!)
Smiles, Kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
JD
11/04/2018I'm glad I could provide you with a small measure of 'feel good' as a thank you for all the outstanding stories you have so generously shared with us all! Thanks Kevin!
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