THE WORLD AS IT USED TO BE

THE WORLD AS IT USED TO BE

         “Ladies and gentleman, if you would don your protective gear quickly, we can proceed to final exhibit of the Global Warming Museum. We call this room ‘The World As It Used to Be.’ The protection suits, hand and foot gear located directly behind you are designed for your safety as well as comfort. This last exhibit in the Global Warming Museum features the outside world as it was in the early 21st century.”

         “Mom, I’m hot. I’m sweating.”

         “Young man, these suits are for your protection. Earlier exhibits showed you the events and inventions that caused Global Warming in the late 20th century: cars and factories emitting deadly CO2 gasses, aerosol sprays, and the burning leaves. Society did not listen to the warnings of environmental scientists. Today, the average temperature on Earth never drops below 40 degrees.

         “Through these doors the temperature registers approximately 20 degrees below zero. Remember, please do not touch anything in the exhibit. Your body heat raises the temperature of the room and could potentially destroy the exhibit, so we will remain in this room for only a short time. Enter quickly, please.”

         The guide held the door open while the clamoring group obeyed her command. As they paused to view the exhibit, their teeth chattered and their insides shivered. The last snowflake on Earth glistened in front of them.

         “It’s awesome, Harold.”

         “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

         Each visitor was in awe of what their ancestors had destroyed.

         “Quickly, please. The room’s temperature is getting too warm. We don’t want to spoil the exhibit for others.”

         In the lobby, the visitors struggled out of the protective suits.

         “Wow, grandpa, was the world really like that?”

         “That’s the way my grandpa used to describe it.”