Introduction
This collection is a collection of seventy stories, each 280 words. They were inspired by the first picture seen on my Twitter feed on a given day.
There were still papers on the desks from yesterday's meeting. The chairs were undamaged. If you tucked your trousers into them you could still get into the office without getting wet. The smell was off-putting though. Had the sewers overflowed? It was most likely a health hazard. Best not to go there.
In this very room the arguments had been fierce the day before. There were more than two sides, it seemed, and every single person was convinced they were right. As always.
"Climate change is natural. It has happened all the time. Just look at the history books."
"This planet would be better off without us on it."
"People will go mad if they're not allowed their red meat."
"The oil industry and the car industry have a lot to answer for."
"Electric cars are all very well but we don't yet have the infrastructure to support them."
They'd held the vote whether to accept the Union's proposals on how to tackle climate change and those against it had won by a very narrow margin.
Marco watched the workers beginning the clean-up operation. It involved a huge pump. As areas cleared of water the workers began to rip up the damaged floors.
"Have you ever seen anything like this before?" Marco asked a gentleman who looked about as old as his own father.
"No, never." He sounded bitter. "It's an act of God. Because people won't listen. They're too selfish. They just carry on, not caring about the planet." The man stopped working and looked straight at Marco. "So, what are you going to do about it young man? Well?"
Marco guessed it was time to call another meeting.
About the author
Gill James is published by The Red Telephone, Butterfly and Chapeltown.
She edits CafeLit and writes for the online community news magazine: Talking About My Generation.
She teaches Creative Writing and has an MA in Writing for Children and PhD in Creative and Critical Writing.
http://www.gilljameswriter.com
https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE
https://www.facebook.com/gilljameswriter
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