Do You Want to Be like Your Sister Venus?
I can arrange that
Dear Earth:
About you and your sister, Venus. I realize that when the two of you were young, she was a goddess and you adored her. She was full of vitality and teemed with life, and you wanted to be just like her.
Yet, now what? She’s a fiery, gassy little orb with a hellscape for a surface, that’s what.
It’s time we talk.
When I brought you two into this universe, I told you that you must maintain the balance of nature, manage the housekeeping, and such.
Then, Venus flaked on me.
And now, you. Do you not appreciate all the work I do for you? Do you know just how difficult it was for me to get you into a Goldilocks zone? And in this solar system? Prime real estate, nothing else like it for light years.
And what thanks did I get for my efforts? A shrug, an eye roll. Look at Venus and where that got her. She did not hold up her end of the bargain. It hurt to take her out. I miss her too. Dammit.
Earth, WTF are you doing?
It’s your kids. OMG. They are running amok. Do you have no control over them? You keep giving and giving, and they keep taking and taking. What are they giving back? They are enjoying the ride on your dime, and they don’t seem to care that it is going to kill them before it kills you.
And, eight billion of them?
Where were you when this was happening? I’ve done my best to help you so far. I’ve sent your kids warnings, a few degrees here, a flood there, that sort of thing. How about more earthquakes? More pestilence perhaps? Do you think they are going to listen to me? I don’t think so. Your sister’s kids didn’t.
Now, just like Venus eons ago, no help from you.
You are not my only creation, I have a lot of things to manage. My to-do list is infinite. Some assistance here would be good. Delegate the housekeeping chores, the kids can do them. Press upon them that this is in their best interest, they might surprise us and save themselves.
Make sure they know that you will go on without them should they continue misbehaving. Just like Venus, a hot mess, but still orbiting the sun. Alone and lifeless.
You might want to check with your Aunt Science and Uncle Common Sense, I think they saved your cousin’s ass in Alpha Centauri a while back. You might learn something from them.
Get on this ASAP.
Remember, I brought you into this universe, and I can take you out. Venus found this out the hard way.
Sincerely, Your Mother, Nature
More from Ellen Anne Chong