Quick Take On Children of Time Series

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time series (or trilogy? Not sure if there is any indication that it’s meant to be a trilogy considering the open-ended conclusion in the third book so I am just going to call it a series. The following are thoughts based on the first three published books) is no lean meat but a massive dystopia science fiction that sees humans leaving a devastated Earth in search of life elsewhere through terraforming. Completing all three books will take a significant amount of time but I am proud to say I have done it!

The first book can be read as a standalone, whilst the second and third have references to the previous books.

The first, Children of Time, where the series got its namesake, is a refreshing take on terraforming where humans share the same limelight and play protagonists together with arachnids.

The second book, Children of Ruin, pretty much reminds us of the first but this time with octopuses. Things do spice up and there is a touch of horror in the second half when another entity appears…

Children of Memory, wrapping up the series for now, however, starts off just fine but the storytelling style that moves forward (now) and backwards (recently) in the timeline makes it (although intentional) confusing. While the first two books feel epic, the third instalment reminds me of an episode of Star Trek. It did not feel quite like a saga. I would refer to it as more of a novella or a 2.5 of the second book instead of being a third book except that it is a super duper novel by itself.

The Children of Time series makes a good read especially the first two books. Keeping up the momentum is no mean feat. Although the third book does not measure up to its siblings, it still makes for a good read, especially if you want to complete the series.

Growing a Tree

Photo by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash

"George, be careful," the father said. "Don't swallow the seeds, all right?"

"Why, Dad?" George asked. He was eating an apple.

"It will cause indigestion. You will feel sick. And," the father replied. He moved closer, a sinister look on his face, "a tree will grow out of your head."

"I'm not a baby anymore, Dad! I'm already six! You can’t trick me!”

"Just go ahead and try it, boy. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” the father said with a wink.

For a brief moment, George saw a shadow pass through his father’s eyes. It happened so quickly George thought he must have imagined it. His father strolled out of the kitchen, humming a tune. Alone, George looked at the half-eaten apple in his hand. Doubt flashed through his mind but pride prevailed so he chomped down and swallowed the rest of the fruit - skin, flesh, core and seeds. The stem was the only part left.

******

The family were asleep, in fact, the whole world was. George, however, was having a fitful one. He felt movement on the top of his head. Subconsciously, reached up to give it a scratch and fell back to sleep. The top of his head started to throb, as though something was pushing his scalp from the inside.

A nightmare began to form. He was in class and his teacher had put him in a spot.

“Spell ‘agriculture’,” she said, glaring at him, “or else...”

George was perspiring. Sweat poured from the top of his head, trickling down the back of his neck. That was the source of the itch. He reached up and scratched. There was no way he knew how to spell it. He had just started school!

Then, his fingers felt something sharp protruding out of his head. A shoot had pierced through his scalp. He looked at his fingers and stood frozen. There was blood.

“What’s happening to me!?”

The twig grew. He looked at his teacher, who stared back without emotion. Slowly, her lips twisted into an eerie smile.

“You swallowed the seeds, didn’t you?”

His teacher laughed and his classmates joined in. Soon, the combined laughter echoed beyond the class, so loud it could drown out the sound of thunder.

George woke with a start, soaked in cold perspiration. He realised he was in his bed, in the dark. His father’s snoring in the other room gave a strange assurance that it was all just a nightmare.

But the pain remained. He reached up and felt it. The twig had grown thicker, almost like... a young plant.

He felt something else. It felt like folds under his scalp — he realised they were the roots. The roots reached deeper, compressing his skull. He thought he heard a crack, a sound he associated with Humpty Dumpty. His goosebumps rose as he stood up and grabbed the plant by its trunk.

He tried to yank it out of his head but the pain was unbearable. And then, he lost sensations in his legs. He fell. The bed frame kept him sitting upright on the floor. In a matter of seconds, he could not feel his hands, too. He no longer had control of his body.

His voice rose to his throat. He wanted to scream but no sound came out. The roots were feeding off his brain. Instead of flashing before him, his memories faded away as his brain matter became fertiliser. He started to lose consciousness. His world faded away like sand being blown away in a storm as he was transported into a grassland. The plant grew and became a tree. The tree began the conquest of its host, to become one with it, to stay rooted to the ground and immobile, swaying only with the wind in a slow dance.

In a matter of minutes, the human host in a room had disappeared and in its place, a lone tree in a vast grassland.

End

If you are looking for a happy ending, continue here...

A fluorescent blue bird with a patch of yellow perched on George the Tree. It built a nest and generations lived there. One day, a young descendant started pecking on the trunk, no doubt looking for food.

Peck, peck, peck...

And it slowly turns to tap, tap, tap...

"Wake up, George!"

His mother was tapping him on the shoulder.

"You're late for school!"

End

The Glass Half Full/Empty/Something Else

A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I found myself in the mood to snap a photo and post it on Instagram together with some silly captions...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Adrian Tan (@ionbuck)

A Prelude to Rabbit’s Year

A weary Tiger feels the weight of a year of triumph. He is eager to pass the torch to his tame little friend, Rabbit. After several hours of searching, he stumbles upon his trail. Tiny, brown spherical litter. A natural hunter, Tiger follows Rabbit’s poo. He snickers at his friend’s consistent bowel movement.

Too much fibre from eating all those, Tiger winces, vegetation. 

Tiger smiles in anticipation of meeting Rabbit again. It has been twelve years since they met. A big hug is at the top of his mind. But as he picks up the scent of his cuddly friend, dark, violent thoughts start to invade his mind. The sweet, delicious meat under the cover of those soft fur makes his stomach growl. Unconsciously, Tiger starts to drool.

The friendly smile turns into a snarl. Tiger bares his rows of sharp teeth. He quickens his pace.

Should I start with the head? Tiger ponders which part to devour first. No. It’s got to be the ears. I hate those pointy things. Yes, yesss. Those will have to go first. No, no, no, I will just eat that fellow whole!

Tiger’s eyes turn crimson. A fire born of hunger burns in those eyes. His muscles tense and he sprints forward. It has been a while since he last flexed his muscles. He was so busy the past year parading in events, being a good vegetarian tiger (it is bad publicity to have a tiger gnawing at flesh during his year, you know) he longs for fresh meat.

Rabbit did not notice Tiger because he is hopping around a patch of carrots. A ritual he likes to perform before he burrows down and frees the juicy vegetables from the ground. He finds his ideal spot. He shakes his bum a couple of times and starts to dig. 

Lunch awaits! Rabbit says to himself.

Meanwhile, just tenths of metres away, Tiger sprints. His striped golden and black fur ripples through the air. He is so fast that his fur is charged from friction with the air. He bursts into a brilliant fireball, a hurrying carnivore on fire. A million demons possess him as he leaps into the air.

Oblivious to his impending doom, Rabbit continues to burrow. His furry round tail wriggles as if taunting Tiger.

Tiger lets out a loud roar as he opens his mouth wide. Razor-sharp teeth wet with dripping saliva glisten in the sun.

Only inches away from his prey, time slows down. A quick thought passes through Tiger, Why must things move in slow motion during these critical moments? Growl!

Just as the moment comes, mouth wide ready to swallow his prey in a single gulp, a plume of Rabbit’s fart envelops Tiger.

He takes a deep breath, ready to release a final roar of victory before his anger escapes him. He gags and freezes in the air before falling flat a few feet from Rabbit. Tiger manages a soft yelp. The evil that has taken over him dissipates with the flame. The violent, voracious Tiger morphs into a cute kitty-like form.

By the time he gets up, he is a tame and loving tiger, just as cuddly as Rabbit who is hopping towards him.

“Tiger! So good to see you! Hope you’re not hurt,” Rabbit says with an embarrassed look complete with batting eyelashes. “I, uh, well, you know, too much vegetables give you gas.”

“I’m fine, buddy!” Tiger smiles. “Just here to wish you a great bunny year!”

Their paws touch and the passing of the torch is complete.

Have a great Year of the Rabbit, folks!

Writing Prompt “Try the prawns…”

My first writing prompt for you, whoever you are:

“Try the prawns. Let me know if they’re fresh.”

“Prawns? What prawns? I don’t see any prawns.”

Medium

I have been blogging for ages since creating Ionbuck’s Blog in January 2007 up until the more recent Random Shuffles in July 2018. IonBuck’s Blog is inspired by all the news aggregating sites out there. Random Shuffles exists because of my passion to write, especially stories, and to fulfil my dream to achieve financial independence as a writer.

Unfortunately, a decade and a half later, I have yet to achieve any of my blogging goals. The news that I shared and the short stories that I wrote hardly earned more than a few cents. Demotivated, my posts suffered but I soldiered on. And then, someone created Medium, an online publishing platform that allows writers to focus on creating content. If the content is popular and monetised, the money gushes in. Or so, I read. Needless to say, I tried it.

I am not having much success with Medium either but at least it generates enough income for a cup of coffee every year. You read it correctly. On average, I managed a few cents a month. Hahaha, but I’m still trying. I have managed to join a few publications for my short fiction so let’s see how it goes from there.

As a result, I have been reducing my content in Random Shuffles. Besides that, I have not been writing content for IonBuck’s Blog for years now other than the occasional post). At this moment, I am focused to publish my fiction on Medium. Given a choice, I would post my stories here, too, but due to the terms and conditions, I am not supposed to publish elsewhere.

The following are my latest short stories (in publishing order) on Medium. Do feel free to visit!

1. I’m Who’s Boss? 

It mocks the higher echelons on how they bully their subordinates but still have to submit to their customers. My original title was “Who’s Boss?” but somehow, when The Creative Cafe published it, they’ve changed it to the above. Doesn’t sound right but still, it was my first story posted via a Medium publisher. 

2. Yellow, Yellow 
A self-centred guy tries to impress his girlfriend but in the process, drags his friends along.

3. Danger in the Woods
A family goes back to nature but the city kids are not too keen until they discover what lies within the forest.

4. Rotten Baker
A baker drives away a hungry boy and gets what he deserves.

5. Breakfast for Granted
A kid takes his parents for granted his whole life until they decided to teach him a lesson.

6. Magic Seed
A lonely child visits his grandparents and brings back an unusual seed with magic that goes beyond his wildest dreams.

More to come. Stay tuned!

Thoughts: Your Name

Ever since watching Weathering with You a couple of years ago in the cinema, I've been trying to look for the movie that it was linked to, Your Name. It received massive success during its time, three years ago in 2016 before Weathering with You. Alas, I finally found it through streaming service Netflix.

I've not been able to find time to watch it until three hours ago. The anime movie starts off simple enough in a complicated way. The beginning reveals it was built on the body swapping storyline that most of us have come across time and again. It does not attempt to hide the fact that it will eventually build up to a climatic romance but it is interesting to learn that the movie has a really unexpected twist to it.

The animation is top notch Japanese anime and it has great visuals incorporating a suburban town and an apocalyptic event that involves a comet. It is a great two hours spent on watching this movie that is magical in its own way.

#Onward, My #Soul

I rarely miss any Pixar movies but the pandemic left me little choice. Cinemas are closed most of the time, what more with a recent resurgence of the COVID-19 virus with new variants. I have missed Onward, Soul and the recent Luca (for some reason, I have also skipped Inside Out and hope to watch it soon). Fortunately, Disney+ has just become available in my part of the world in the form of Disney+ Hotstar. Since then, I have managed to play catch-up with Onward which stars the voices of Marvel superheroes Tom Holland and Chris Pratt; and Soul voiced by Jamie Fox.

Set in a fantasy world of elves, wizards, manticore, and other mystical sentient beings, Onward explores the tale of two elven brothers’ misadventures in their quest to correct a spell gone wrong so that they can spend the day (or what is left of it) with their deceased father. This world has lost its magic in the name of development and modernisation, something we can all relate to. This is a neat premise that I would love to explore if I ever become a writer.

The younger sibling, Ian (Holland) is obsessed to meet his father because he was too little when his dad passed away. Unfortunately, while casting a spell to bring him back, something went awry - only the legs appeared, so Ian sets off to find a way to bring his father back as a whole. Inadvertently, his bumbling brother, Barley (Pratt) joins the party. Initially more trouble than help, you can expect Barley to play a significant role in the movie.

Meanwhile, Soul brings us back to Earth where a struggling music teacher, Joe (Foxx), lands a gig of a lifetime to play opposite his jazz idol, only to, literally, fall dead moments later. He becomes a spirit who refuses to accept his fate and vows to return to his body. In the afterlife, he impersonates a mentor tasked to prep a soul for life on Earth. The fun part is, this is a pessimistic soul filled with so much negativity about being human that it has overstayed its due. So the two makes a deal - when the soul is ready, it is supposed to switch places with Joe so that he can return to Earth while the soul remains.

So it is going to be a win-win situation right? Of course not. As with everything that happens in our lives, some things go wrong and some things turn out fine. This is the premise of the movie.

Told in true Pixar fashion, both movies make great family entertainment with important life lessons weaved into the storylines. The animation is always top-notch with fabulous palettes and gentle doses of cuteness. On top of that, the voice talents bring the characters to life and then some. Although I have lots of great things to say about these movies, they do tend to fall into typical and predictable territories. Despite that, the movies have enough elements in them to keep the audience rooted in their seats. Highly recommended for the whole family. The adults will find it just as appealing as the kids.

A Sparkle in the Rain - A Short Story

A follow up to the short story here. A girl did not think her parents’ advice were worth the trouble but ended up splashed by water. But perhaps, things might turn up well, after all…

******

A Sparkle in the Rain

Oh, dear! I didn’t mean to! Joshua thought.

He had stopped his car by the roadside and was looking through his rearview mirror at the girl at the bus stop. Moments before, he had driven over a large puddle of water and caused a huge wave of water to splash onto her. She was cursing so loud that even the sound of rain could not muffle her swearing.

Clutching his umbrella, Joshua got out of the car and ran towards her.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to-“

Splash!

Before Joshua could finish his sentence, another car passed by and drenched both of them. The profanities doubled now that two people were expressing their displeasures. 

When they calmed down (and ran out of expletives), they began to realise their foolishness. Soaked to the bone, they stared at each other and burst out laughing.

“We better get out here,” Joshua gestured. “Unless you want to get drenched again! Come on, I’ll give you a lift to wherever you’re going.”

Well, that’s sweet, the girl thought. Not such a bad day after all.

“Thanks. I was going to a party but under the circumstances, it’s not going to happen. I guess you can buy me a cup of hot coffee instead.”

End

The Metals - A Short Story

No man’s land - a vast stretch of destruction caused by two warring factions - split a once peaceful country in half. It started with a government that was not willing to relinquish its century-old rule despite the opposition’s overwhelming majority in a democratic election. Sounds familiar? It could happen to your country but let’s focus on this fictional one.

The war had ravaged the country’s economy and taken a toll on her divided citizens. Everyone just wanted it to end but the fire was being fuelled by two leaders who refused to back down. They began as a loving couple but they were not able to contain their domestic quarrels. The arguments extended beyond their professional lives. Eventually, they split and joined opposite factions. The husband, now known as Admiral Teak continued to lead the ruling coalition while the wife, commonly known as Lady Iron, joined the opposition. Through clever manipulation of their divorce by positioning herself as the victim, she led the opposition to a landslide victory in the elections.

When words were no longer sufficient, both parties took to violence as the only solution. Initial underground tactics became a full-scale war that went on for years and without any signs of either side winning. The country’s once rich reserves continued to dwindle.

******

“You have one month to figure it out,” Admiral Teak said to his chief scientist.

“Admiral, there is not enough time! Our team would need at least two years to-“ the chief scientist was cut off before she could finish her sentence.

“ONE MONTH!” the admiral reiterated with his index finger before he strode out of the room.

"The only thing that managed to get past security are flies. Anything bigger gets fried by those damn lasers! There is just no way to send anything past that rat-infested, godforsaken wasteland,” an assistant mumbled.

Then there was silence. When the assistant looked at the chief, all he saw was a grin. The lab laboured during the cold winter month to design and mass-produce robotic metal mice.

******

While Teak’s faction was busy with the master plan, spies - there will always be espionage involved - alerted the Lady’s faction.

“We have to counteract immediately! We cannot wait for their mice to come and attack us!” the advisor said.

“We don’t know that they will come and attack. Perhaps they are created to infiltrate,” said his deputy.

“Fools! If they can penetrate our defences, they can do anything! They can bring in explosives and blow all of us apart!” The Lady admonished them. “I want a plan and I want it now!”

“We can create our own rodents and-“

“Is there no originality in you, advisor?” the assistant interrupted the first advisor. “Instead of something smaller, I propose something larger, much larger so that it can carry enough explosives and give it a bigger bang.”

The advisor’s face was impassive but he felt the sting. His ambitious young deputy was getting impatient to replace him. Chosen among a pool of genius strategists, she was the most compatible with him. Perhaps too compatible - they shared the same hunger for power. She was doing unto him what he did to his predecessor. He had framed and kicked him out in a power struggle.

“What do you have in mind?” the Iron Lady asked, eager for a solution.

“I would suggest a horse, My Lady.”

“A brilliant idea indeed!” the advisor jumped in. “But a horse might prove difficult to create. The agility, the speed, might require additional time to figure out. I feel we should go for something more common in these parts. The ox is more appropriate. All brute and strength, it can stomp those rats flat and then some.”

The Iron Lady’s eyes narrowed. Her advisor might still prove useful after all.

“Good. We shall have our metal oxen. With their strength and large bodies, they will crush the rodents and for the last time, destroy our enemies once and for all. Victory is ours!”

******

One month later, late into the night, the Teak factions unleashed thousands of metal mice into the wasteland. Covered with artificial skin and equipped with tiny speakers, the mice were virtually indistinguishable from real rodents. Most of the metal mice were loaded with explosives but some were designed to squeeze through border control.

It was questionable why they chose to release the metal rodents all at the same time because it was this mistake that alerted the Lady’s faction.

“Lady Iron, the other side is pouring out their mice. They are on their way!” the military chief said.

“Very well. Let loose our very own metal oxen!” Lady Iron commanded.

The military chief punched his fist into a huge red button. Alarms blaring, thick metal doors cranked open. Behind those doors, hundreds of glowing red eyes turned on. Unlike her husband, the lady did not bother to disguise her oxen. The red flashing lights reflected off their metallic bodies. The ground shook as the creatures stormed out. They left behind a trail of dust as they rushed out of the gateway to no man’s land.

From a bird’s eye view, it could be seen thousands of tiny rodents swarm toward a large herd of oxen. The robot mice moved fluidly, consuming anything that was in their way. The oxen took a different approach. They crashed and stomped on all the obstacles to clear their path.

When the mighty clashed with the tiny, sparks flew. The sound of crashing metal followed by explosions echoed through the night. The oxen crashed head-on into the rodents. Some rodents exploded but the oxen were unscathed. Those mice that the oxen missed jumped on the giant bodies. They hung on and covered the metal beasts. In a coordinated effort, these mice exploded at the same time. The suicidal attempts took the oxen with them.

What looked like a victory to the mice quickly shifted to a win for the oxen. When the oxen fell, their own explosives took out a big group of mice. In the end, when all had perished, only metallic carcasses remained. Thick, black smoke billowed up from the smouldering, convoluted mess. The wreckages merely added to the landscape of the wasteland.

With all their resources used up for the creation of the beasts and the rodents, both factions were penniless. Both Admiral Teak and Lady Iron were weary but they were not able to rest. The guilt of plunging their broken country into poverty overwhelmed their consciousness. A thought came to them. A thought that should have come sooner.

******

“A truce?” Lady Iron tried to sound surprised.

“Yes, and you very well know that is the only option.”

They agreed to meet at dawn. They were shocked at how the years of anger and hatred had consumed their physical forms. All skin and bones, they looked so fragile that a feather might lay waste to their bodies. Still, their minds were sharp as tacks.

“You’ve lost quite a lot of weight,” Teak said, showing concern on his wizened face.

“So did you,” replied the lady, her eyes filled with sympathy.

Suddenly, memories of their early, love-filled years came flooding back. It felt like just yesterday that they had split up and started the war.

“You know, we could end this right here and now,” Teak reached out and took Lady Iron’s hand. She retreated at first but he held fast.

“What has become of us?” she asked as her armour crumbled.

They both felt guilty over the years of violence and lives sacrificed just to satisfy their whims.

“We will have to take things one step at a time. We started this. Now we have to fix it,” Teak said.

No longer alone, they felt confident they will be able to rebuild the nation together. They held hands as the sun rose, its warm rays burning through the cold, dark ruins of war.

End.

Since 2020

This is a fictional short story about a cafe and its struggling owners in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The newly opened cafe was situated among a row of shops along a cobblestone walkway lined with trees. It had a simple peach-coloured brickwork facade with full height glazings and a glass door. A blue and white canopy topped the building. It faced a river with flowing crystal clear water that glistened even during the night. Willows growing on the riverside strained for a dip. In the evenings, a sunset that set the skies on fire welcomed customers seating on the outside - a warm and relaxing moment for those winding down after a stressful day.

“You know I’ve always been impressed by shops that persevered over the decades. They are not there for a quick buck but are serious to build their business to last a long time. There is nothing but respect when I see on their signage their origin years... ‘since 1950’, ‘since 1990’, ‘since 2000’,” Joe said to his wife, Jane.

They were standing across the street admiring their shop. Aptly named Since 2020, Joe made sure customers will be awed by the longevity of the cafe decades down the road. He had the ambition to make it the most popular sidewalk cafe in his suburb town. He even dreamt of it being the destination for city dwellers seeking solace.

Business was brisk. Customers flooded in for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The momentum was relentless even during low peak hours when Joe and Jane thought they would have a breather. On the first few days, food and beverages ran out quickly but were restocked rapidly, thanks to their efficient staff and suppliers.

Both husband and wife were on the floor serving and clearing tables. They met and interviewed customers for feedback and comments so that they could improve.

“How did you like your meal?”

“Did you enjoy yourself?”

The answers were very encouraging. Most customers praised the great atmosphere, good food and memorable experience. Joe and Jane were relieved and saw their future to be rather bright. Unfortunately, a great barrier laid ahead. Barely a month had passed when the World Health Organisation declared a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. While the graphs of infections started to rise, sales figures plunged. When a lockdown was implemented, revenue plummeted to a catastrophic level.

Customers were not allowed to dine in. Outdoor activities were discouraged except for essential services. The cafe’s brief existence was not enough to drag customers over to takeaway food and drinks. Joe and Jane were forced to temporarily halt their business.

“I’m sure it’s only for a short while, dear. Things will blow over,” Jane tried to comfort her husband but both knew the words lacked conviction.

“Whatever it is, we need to look after our two staffs, too. Letting them go must be the last resort,” Joe said.

The global outlook was not good. Every day, negative news populated the headlines. World economies were devastated. Mega companies started to shrink and employees were the first to go. Smaller businesses began to close.

Joe and Jane invested a significant portion of their savings in their cafe. The rental was high for such strategic real estate. The renovation, although simple, cost an arm and a leg because they opted for quality finishes, furniture and equipment. They were there for the long haul but they were not so sure anymore.

For the first fourteen days of the lockdown, they sustained with the profits from the first month. On the next fourteen days, the rent, loans and bills piled up. Still, they persevered. Their worst nightmare came when the government extended the lockdown for another month.

They could pay the utility bills but had to start digging into their reserves to serve the rent and loans.

Like most food businesses, Joe and Jane signed up with third-party delivery services. The commission was high so they were forced to build the cost in. Business was lukewarm at best. Although the dining experience was pleasant, customers quickly forgot about the cafe. In difficult times, people went for common and cheaper food instead.

Joe decided that they had to tell their story in social media and hoped that people will notice and sympathise. Both of them talked briefly about how they got started. They had a one-year-old baby so they decided to quit their jobs and start their own business. They needed the flexibility to balance between family and work. Their journey was not unlike many other entrepreneurs but worth sharing, nonetheless.

A week went by without any improvement. Then, with a stroke of luck, one of their customers shared their plight and, miraculously, others started spreading their posts. People started to notice. Delivery orders increased, just enough to settle monthly commitments. Their landlord came to her senses and decided to grant them rental relief.

Since 2020 endured one month after another. When the number of infections greatly reduced, the lockdown was replaced with a less stringent control order. Dining in was allowed but seating had to be reduced so that social distancing of at least a metre could be observed. As a result, the dine-in business was halved from before but delivery sales managed to supplement their income so that they just broke even.

Eventually, customers returned and so did their reviews. One particular comment attracted Jane’s interest when she was flipping through the responses on social media platforms.

“I love the sunset view of this wonderful cafe. Their service is top-notch. The food is good and accompanied by a cup of coffee, it’s one of life’s greatest pleasures,” Jane read to her husband. “But, life is never going to be the same again. Something is missing but I can’t quite place what it is.”

“Ditto!” Joe had a sympathetic look. “So many changes in such a short time. No one was prepared for this. It’s going to take some time to adjust.”

“We had a close call. I’d count our blessings. We are so new but thankfully we got noticed.”

“You got that right. So many others had to close down permanently.”

They leaned against each other and held hands. They stood by the doorway and looked beyond the horizon as the sun started to set. They only had a brief moment before a customer interrupted to ask for a spoon but it was a couple of minutes well spent.

“Yes sir, one spoon on the way, “ Joe said.

In the months that followed, they managed a small profit. Festive seasons came and went. It could not have been sooner, but they were on the eve of a new year. When they first opened, Joe and Jane had their minds set for a big new year’s eve bash. Unfortunately, it was still not possible. They closed early and the day ended on a quiet note.

“This is no more than a stumbling block,” Jane assured her husband. “Things will be better in 2021.”

Faint sounds of fireworks in the distant signalled a new year had begun. They went outside to catch a glimpse. Trees covered most of the night sky. Occasionally, a missile flew high enough before it burst into a display of light like a time-lapse of a blooming flower.

“Happy New Year, darling,” Jane leaned on her husband.

“May the year ahead be filled with greatness,” Joe wished.

-End-