Grey
to Grey
By
Debra Ollerhead
The year was 2124 and
there had been three years of constant rain and grey clouds. The last century
had been difficult for the planet with two pandemics and a rising of the ocean
by two hundred feet.
Governments had tried
their best to resolve these problems but to very little effect. Education had
changed to accommodate the future including climate change and science
development, but it all happened too late. Many children were forced to learn
how to swim and how to survive the outdoors.
The continual rain
came in different strengths, sometimes with strong gusts of wind making huge
drumming noises with loud swooshing of the waves against the small areas of
higher ground. If the rain was light drizzle it sounded like a pitter patter on
the ground and earth. Pools of water gathered everywhere where water would fall
offering at times a gentle beat. The water drums gathering water for drinking
was the only means of comfort in this awful damp world.
Kenzo was a lone
figure standing lean with a thin, bearded face and sunken eyes, with long,
grey, silver strands of matted hair covering his damp, torn clothes.
His face was withdrawn
and his forehead frowned with despair, showing the signs of fear and anxiety.
Standing on a small piece of land that he had self-cultivated, he contemplated
how would he survive the coming years. Just a few yards away was Thurstaston
Common and a small community of people. Everyone in the world was now weary of
others and no-one felt at ease. Kenzo had never been in a proper relationship.
Although he was often
alone, he would remember his gran Kylie advising and encouraging him to join
the rest of the community but he often felt shy and timid, finding socialising
difficult. He put it down to his feelings of hopelessness and anxiety.
Kenzo stared into the
sea which blended well with the sky with no horizon visible. There was nothing
but grey to grey.
The population had
declined over the century with fertility rates dropping with no apparent
reason. The population of Wirral was less than a thousand with the two
pandemics taking most. Communities had set up on higher ground namely
Thurstaston, Oxton and Heswall and they grew vegetables for survival. Some
apartment flats were visible from the higher levels where communes of people
had gathered to live in New Brighton, Moreton and Woodchurch. Water was
plentiful with rain offering drinking water and the sea with fish.
Kenzo had been brought
up by his grandmother Kylie who had been a nurse and taught him all she knew
about treating himself however she had died along with his father in the second
wave of the pandemic. His father had been a small farmer and passed on the
knowledge to grow foodstuff in the earth in this difficult environment.
If needed, Kenzo would
row his small boat with a canvas tent on top to Arrowe Park Hospital where
doctors lived with their families on the top floor and kept a science
laboratory functioning.
Kenzo would shake with
fear if the sea changed direction and he would check daily on the rocks at
Thurstaston to see if there was any change in the sea level.
The aristocracy and
super rich had left earth and were circulating the planet in a spaceship until
the sea levels had withdrawn. Those who were rich booked onto cruise ships that
occasionally came into the area that was previously known as Liverpool. Kenzo
often observed these ships sailing slowly and wondered how the people on board
viewed the planet and earth. The ships would arrive on a regular basis to check
if they could see more than just the Liver Birds before sailing off where they
knew the depth of the waters. Kenzo watched them sail in and out again,
noticing the security on the promenade decks ensuring nobody attempted to
board.
He would often row on
the dangerous sea to meet friends on Poll Hill in Heswall to keep him motivated
and stimulated; as his gran Kylie would often say, ‘it’s good to talk.’ A small
sandstone peak was always visible – there had been no change to the sea levels
in the last year.
The damp grey humid
atmosphere had a negative effect on Kenzo and all seemed lost.
One day, Kenzo was
awakened with heat on his face; something he had not felt for a long time.
There was a sudden feeling of silence - no more rain pouring from the skies. He
opened his eyes and lifted open the canvas he was under. He felt like it was
alight with bright yellow sunshine. He opened his eyes a little more and they
hurt with so much pain had to squint. He
popped his head out of the canvas sheet and, for the first time in years, felt
no rain on his face.
The warmth from the
sun was a great comfort. The bright blue sky showed a few white clouds that
were slowly drifting away in a gentle breeze. The earth around him had mist
rising from the plants and vegetables and he suddenly could smell nature at its
best. The foodstuff growing looked bright in colour; everything looked
brighter, more beautiful and in pure technicolour. Memories came flooding back
of his childhood and happier times. He got up and could hear the cheering from
the small group of people he shared the ground with. As he stepped out of his
boat a small bird landed in front of him. The bird chirped and fluttered its
wings; was this a sign of change Kenzo thought.
He walked towards the
cheering from the crowd with hope in his heart. Whilst walking, he passed the
rock which he had been monitoring for over three years and found that more of
it was protruding from the earth. The rock felt dry, this was something he had
not felt in a long time. It felt warm and comforting. All of a sudden he felt
the anxiety and fear lift away from him, he felt his warm body dry and full of
hope. He now had a sense of happiness. Kenzo looked closer at the rock and he
could now read some of the engraving and he cocked his head back and smiled as
he read:
Kylie
woz here 2024
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