A picture-perfect sight! Fertile soils, colorful butterflies, thick forests and the cool breeze that swept through them, carrying with it the charming fragrances of plumerias, roses and lavenders. Her nostrils enthusiastically danced with the fragrant breeze, hardly distinguishing one fragrance from the other.

“Kia! Kia! Wake up!” Grandma Nulo called angrily. “You still have work to do and you are there lazing around!” she yelled —her face frowning. “But grandma, there are no rains, what’s the use in planting? We did it last year, the other year and the year before, all to no avail!” retorted Kia. She knew she had work to do but she couldn’t help but fall asleep, dreaming about her grandmother’s stories of a once beautiful Malala land.

It was farming season again. There had been little rain in the past years, and nothing at all in the recent three years. Most of the trees had been cut down for timber and charcoal. The once loamy soil was all dry and flaky, revealing signs of desperation, sucking in every little drop of water that fell to the ground.

A hot dry wind stirred up small whirlwinds of dust and sand, forcing Kia to squint. The once golden beauty was way too harsh to be regarded as beauty any longer; it had sucked the life out of every living creature. Animal skeletons and carcasses laid around, dried up streams and muddy rivers were all that could meet the eye. For Kia and the other children, grandma Nulo’s perfect description of Malala land was a mere fantasy — too good to be true.

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Fuji
Fuji(@fuji)
1 year ago

The picture that accompanies your story is breathtakingly beautiful, Jedidiah. What a tragedy for Kia to wake up to the reality, which is so different from her dreams. Great first story! Welcome to Voice Club – it’s a friendly, supportive place here.

Christer Norrlof
Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
1 year ago

Welcome to Voice club, Jedidiah! I like your story about Kia and her grandmother. Just like it opens up with Kia’s dream about the past and the grandmother’s wake up call to the present, the story works well as a symbolic wake up call from the dream that humanity has been having for a hundred years: that we can go on draining our planet from resources for ever without causing problems. Good… Read more »

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
1 year ago

Welcome to Voice club, Jedidiah. I love your story. The picture you drew in my mind is tearful. It is very realistic. And your approach is very nice, which is a dream in the past and a wake-up call for the future (as Christer describes it). Great story. Nicely done.

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
Reply to  Jedidiah Nana
1 year ago

You’re most welcome, Jedidiah.

Julie Harris
Julie Harris(@julie-harris)
1 year ago

So sad. Beautifully written, providing a stark contrast to what was (and still is for many of us who are so lucky) and what will be if we don’t change our ways quickly. Do you happen to know where that picture was taken? I love the yellows, in the foreground field of flowers and also in the background hills and even the cloud. It’s a masterpiece photo, and a good match for… Read more »

Warren Mwaba
Warren Mwaba(@warren-mwaba)
1 year ago

Wow this story is breathtaking. Hope it makes more people aware about the dangers of climate change.

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