“Now, these did not fly,” the guide said. “They would roll the individual along the ground, which took time and used large amounts of fossil fuels, which polluted the environment…”
“God, these field trips are boring”, she whispered to her friend. “I’ve been to this planet every year since 3rd grade, and it’s always lame!”
Her friend giggled, “I know! I hate this place. I bet the humans died off out of sheer boredom! Plus it smells sooo bad!”
“You may notice the air is toxic, this is due to pollutants from the various fossil fuels,” the guide said.
The girls plugged their noses.
The guide went on, “It’s a perfect lesson on the importance of taking care of your environment. Now let’s visit a waste dump.”
The girls collectively rolled their eyes.
Friday Fictioneers: 100 word stories inspired by a photo that Rochelle Wisoff Fields posts every week. This week’s photo courtesy of Ted Strutz .
Mostly Words 
I think they’re going to get the message.
I think so too, Sandra!
Thank You!
Field trips are so lame. Nothing to learn from, I’m sure. 😉
Ha!!
Thanks, Alice! 🙂
-Rachel
How sad that Earth should be left as a boring waste dump. But we show no sign of stopping it from happening.
Lovely technique, Rachel, using the story of a school field trip by aliens to tell the story of the end of humanity on earth. Super-ambitious for 100 words, but you accomplished it perfectly. Kudos!
Not subtle, the guide, but he gets his point across.
As you do so well here, Rachel.
Sounds like the field trip from hell to me..
Jeez, not Earth again. Booooring!
Clever story, and so true. Whether the field trip is to a wasted earth in the future, or to Auschwitz or Hiroshima today–very little is learned.
I’ve seen that collective eye-roll! Good stuff.
Earth again? How lame! And how they stupidly destroyed their planet so a few rich people could have more short term profits – they deserved to die. I hope the next field trip is to that cool planet over in the Ursae Majoris neighborhood…
And in history we will learn that those who do not learn history are apt to repeat it.
Very nice piece of writing! In just 100 words you have put forth a very important lesson to ponder about – our mindless pursuit of so-called ‘development’ is destroying the environment that supports us!
Kudos!!
Sometime in a future date, earth has become an intergalactic tourist attraction for things that should not be done. Nice message.
I like the idea of visiting Earth from elsewhere: but what fuel did they use.
Fun read.
An ambitious story, Rachel, competently delivered with a central message we should all sit up and listen to without being preachy (unlike my comment!). Nice one.
That is one scary future…I wonder if it will be so…Powerful message.
Ha! Ha! Looks like teens will be the same, no matter which planet they are from.
Very convincing. I taught high school for 20 years and I’ve conducted a few field trips that had much the same feeling as yours. I was squirming as I read it.
Ouch… if we could have that fieldtrip to the future before it’s too late
A waste dump. That always makes me think of soiled paper diapers.
Brilliant stuff, who knows, this may be a prophecy for the future the way things are going
Great concept.
Excellent, I am impressed. I’m glad I read this story.