Children Playing

by Sophia Lyu

August 2052
My grandfather had told me about how this day would come.
He told me about the disappointment and the regret I would feel. He told me about how the birds would eventually stop singing and the leaves would forever stop rustling. He reminded me often of the abrupt ending of the rushing water under the bridges and the howling winds outside my window. He warned me to listen to the cows that groaned and the dogs that barked. He advised me to be careful of my corporate choices and to appreciate my surroundings.
My grandfather told me everything, and I ignored him.
I can’t help but feel the same sense of regret he had foreshadowed so many years ago. His words were always nothing more than a trail of soldiers who marched through one ear and came out the other. Losing him affected more than just me. He had seemed to be the balance in this misfortunate world and the only person who had cared for more than himself.
My grandfather taught environmental science at a nearby community college but I always knew that his teachings went beyond his classroom and beyond their campus. His lessons were meant for the world to understand and act upon, but no one ever showed enough interest. Eventually, his classes had so little attendance that the college had to cut his class completely. After that, he began telling me all his teachings and prophecies that I found so silly at the time. I always dreaded spending time with him because he pestered me about the millions of things I always did wrong. He would tell me to stop driving everywhere when I could walk, or how I never turned off the light. I remember him telling me how it was a waste of gas and energy. I remember his favorite saying being “there is only one earth”. Looking back, those actions I committed would affect a lot more than just me. He never truly meant to put the weight of his words upon me. He wanted for the world to hear, which, I now realize, he had hoped to achieve through me. I did not understand that back then.
I understand now. I’m sorry.

August 2042
Recently, I bought myself a new car. This new car is supposed to be all electric meaning that it does not use any fossil fuel. I remember once when my grandfather had told me about fossil fuel. He said that it was water for the devil and the assassin of earth’s “natural beauty”. I don’t really believe him though. I, personally, do not see the difference when I drive around my old car compared to my new one. However, the smell of petrol has disappeared which can only account for a bonus.
I live in downtown New York. I had always dreamed of moving to a large city when I was older. The people, the shows, the environment is everything I desire. My apartment that I live in is small, but manageable and I no longer have to deal with the sounds of animals when I wake up like I did at the farm back home. The only thing that bothers me is the smell in the city. The government announced that all citizens have to wear masks now since the air is so bad along the streets. My grandfather had told me before that it was from the large corporations and factories that pollute carelessly into the air we share. I’m sure that this mask mandate will disappear soon. This is just a phase.

August 2032
I recently, about two months ago, graduated from grad school with a masters degree in technology. I find it ironic because of the contrast between my upbringing and what my life seems to have grown into now. My grandfather had always hoped that I would stay with him and eventually work the farm with him. However, I know myself and I know that life would have never been able to fulfill me. To be completely honest, I don’t remember the last time I had seen him. I think that I was caught up in the city life and the university freedom it exerted upon me. I moderately remember when I last called him which was last December during Christmas. The phone call wasn’t very long though. I remember this because I was rushing to get to some big Christmas party with all my friends which was held at this bar across town. I should probably call him again some time soon, but for some reason, I’m dreading it. This is not because I hate my grandfather or anything of that matter. It is more because of the difference in our lives. He’s a very nature and earth orientated person and I had always seemed to be the complete opposite. While during his free time he would go out to protest the ban of deforestation for the animals, I was busy driving around in our big tractor for “fun”. After this, he would shame me about wasting gas and its huge impact it had on the earth’s ozone.
Our relationship was odd and that was no doubt. But my grandfather had raised me so I cannot help but feel guilty for not having called him. I should probably go and call him again.

August 2022
Yesterday, I finally went out and got my first job!! I am more than excited about this because my grandfather does not give me an allowance so I rarely get to buy anything for myself. He says that things are tight at the farm and that I should not feed into the marketing of huge factories. He says that all they do is create useless things for profit by destroying our earth and that we should not give into their ways. My grandfather also says that consumers are just as bad as the corporations themselves since they encourage this waste of natural material, especially when the recycling system that we have today is less than 10% efficient. The thing he hates the most is plastic water bottles and plastic bags. He says he doesn't understand why we use them when we have reusable ones and then after, he will always tell me about how “there is only one earth”. I don’t really understand what all the stuff he is saying has to do with me because I am just a young girl in highschool. It is not like I can ever change anything. I am just a child playing.
My first job is at the local grocery store near the farm. I could never let my grandfather know about this though because he would disapprove of their use of plastic bags. When I am working within the grocery store, it is actually surprising how many bags they use each day. There are at least a thousand in the back getting ready to be used up. Anyways, this job is good because it means I can finally buy myself the new phone I had been wanting for years. The job is hard work and it is difficult to lie straight to my grandfather, but I like to believe it is for a good cause. There are much more important things in my life right now than the trivial use of plastic bags.
I hope my grandfather will understand in the future.