As The World Burns

[Star Man]

“Is there any way to get the baby to stop crying?

“I don't think so. It's so hot. I'm giving her water and wiping her with a cool washcloth.”

“This is fucked. The electricity went out all over, and now we don't have AC.”

“You think it will come back on?”

“No. It was so hot today the asphalt was melting in the parking lot. My sister called to say they closed the restaurant and sent everybody home. Did you see that all flights were canceled out of the airport because it's too hot to fly.”

“What!? How can that be?”

“When the air's this hot there's not enough lift for a plane to take off.”

“That's a thing? I did not know that. Shit!”

“I'm worried this could be the start of it.”

“Of what?”

“What the enviros have been calling the sixth extinction.”

“C'mon. You don't believe that.”

“Well, what I believe is this is the fifth day in a row it's been over 120. Here in Sacramento. The smog is so thick I can't see the next block. It hurts to breathe. The electricity is down and work is canceled. That's what I believe.”

“What are we going to do, Billy? It's always cooled off before.”

“We could go over to my folks.”

“Check it out. It's been 125 in Folsom all week. They're not answering the phone. I'm worried about them.”

“Text them. My mom will answer.”

“Not if she can't charge her phone. At least the baby's stopped crying.”

“She's burning up, Billy. I think she's too hot to cry.”
_________________________________________
What is the appropriate response of the author in time of global climate chaos? The reality is that the planet is heating and the politicians and corporations are doing nothing. The people have feel helpless and hopeless. I wrote a book, "Requiem for a Dying World," that has had no effect whatsoever. The conflagration in Brazil beyond a warning sign. It's like when a patient's cancer reaches the pancreas. It means we've entered the death process. No resuscitation is possible. We're in the denial phase of the grief process. I am publishing these dialogue pieces in hopes that they will help people break through that denial. Let us take to the streets. Let us have a massive work stoppage. The religion of capitalism has failed. There will be no Rapture. Let us at least die with awareness of what we have done. Let us make amends with offerings of songs and prayers of contrition to the plants and animals and to Our Mother the Earth for destroying our home. Star Man

[rossmen]

Damn, the internet is down.
That's the last straw, how will we get news?
Try the radio.
Ohh, this isn't good, services are out for probably days,
Fire season, the new normal.
I hate this, what are we supposed to do?
Well at least we have plenty of melting food to eat.
Fuck that, I want to get out of here.
Which direction would you like to go?
You know my dad still has power.
Ok let's head for alamo.
Wow, why is traffic so bad? Who the hell would go out in weather like this?
Us.
We need to get more gas.
I think we can make it. The prius doesn't burn anything stopped like this.
We need to get off, and figure out what to do, this isn't working.
Yes dear.