Trees, While They're Still Here

  A short story that could be our future, if we don't....

It was a bright sunny morning, perfect for the kids to look at some remarkable antiques and old stuff owned by people in the early 20th century. They always found creatures like dogs, cats and others pretty fascinating, since they were nowhere to be seen nowadays. Other things were planes and ships, which were used for "travelling" according to some historians. Ships fascinated them the most, as the people still hadn't found out how humans used them. Like there are some theories that "water" was used as a medium of transport, but they couldn't be sure, as there was so little of it.

The young guide took the school kids through the gates of the National Museum. She asked them their names, to which the eldest said - "I'm US234, survivor from the Americas. This is IN2245, from south India and that is BZ567 from Brazil. We would like to go down the Greens Sector."

They followed her through the area, already getting bugged by their Oxy-Cylinders, which could run out any minute. The guide gave them refills, and they went through the Greens Sector doors. First, they saw the basic stuff. Like dogs, tigers, lions, mice, rabbits, squirrels, and other such wild animal replica models. Then, there was the Ecosystem area. It was basically an artificial area designed to look like how a jungle would've looked like. The people of the present age were oblivious to the forests and greenery, so the scientists did the best they could.

Once they were done with the normal stuff and were about to leave, the guide asked them "Would you like to see the tree reserve? It's open for all kids today. But it closes in an hour."

The boys were shocked and couldn't believe their ears. They were given an opportunity to see the tree!

"Why not! Let's go!"

They went down the dark corridor and saw the humongous green structure, the last of its kind. Everybody wanted to see it, but it is considered that the Tree should be protected as it was worth millions. Anyone could want to do anything to or with it, so they had to protect the endangered conifer. The kids were spellbound. They asked the guide "What did it do back then? Why is it so endangered?"

The guide grimly replied, ''They used to provide us oxygen for free, and were cut down by humans to provide them shelter. Now this is the last one of it's kind, the only one left. Back then, they were everywhere. We wouldn't have to use Oxy-Cylinders to breathe. We could inhale with confidence that we were breathing Oxygen. There were no limits, everything would have been perfect, but our earlier generations selfishly cut them down, not thinking about their future. And after the war? Earth became the wasteland we live in today."

As they were speaking, the tree suddenly made a low creaking noise, paused, and started bending sideways. And then, just as suddenly, a huge crack emerged from the roots of the gigantic green being, and tore through its thick bark. The guide frantically rushed to hit the alarm signal, but she already knew it was too late. The tree fully separated from the soil, which was followed by a short moment of silence; it thrashed onto the ground with a sickening crushing sound. The kids helplessly saw the colour leave the once angelic structure, escaping into the air to disappear forever.

By the time all the scientists arrived at the scene, all that was left to save were the remains of the once beautiful and kindred species that had ever graced this ungrateful planet.

The last tree lay dead.

We can STILL stop this from becoming the next generation's future. All that we have to do is to use and promote eco-friendly alternatives for paper, discourage the chopping down of trees, do our part in reducing environmental pollution, and I'm sure you know the rest. Most of ya'll will probably finish reading this article and continue living by your old ways. But, to those of you who are responsible enough for being the change that this world needs, know that the rest of the world won't respect you now. But know that the very reason they'll even have the choice to do so in the future, is because your actions will have kept them alive.

-Armaan Kothare