SHADES
‘Why have
you bought these horrid black curtains, Mum?’
‘They’re
shades, darling, to keep out the sun.’
‘What’s
wrong with the sun?’
‘Let’s do a
jigsaw puzzle,’ Helen suggested, and he was distracted, but she knew the
question would be repeated many times. How could she explain to a
three-year-old that sunshine would harm him? She remembered advertisements
promoting a ‘healthy tan’, summers spent on the beach in a skimpy bikini. Now
everyone wore long sleeves, hats and sun-glasses.
There’s
nothing wrong with the sun, she thought – it’s the way we’ve ruined the
atmosphere that used to protect us.
……………………………………………………………………………
Anyone
over a certain age remembers those days spent lying in the sun, slathered in
minimal protection cream, acquiring a tan. I am fortunate enough to have been
too busy to lie out all day, and too skint to afford Mediterranean holidays, so
I have - touch wood – avoided skin cancer.
Thanks to
Roger Bultot for the image that prompts this week's stories and to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on
her blog https://rochellewisoff.com/ where you can find a link to other writers' stories.
AND in a
total change of subject: the minute the word ‘shades’ popped into my head, so
did the first line of a song - 'The shades of night were falling fast'. Naturally I couldn’t recall the rest without the
aid of Google, so here it is in its entirety – a sad song about a young man who
seems to have embarked on a completely futile quest, ignoring all advice to the
contrary. Remind you of anyone?
https://www.lieder.net/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=38630
One day soon, all our houses will have to be covered in reflective paint
ReplyDeleteThat's a scary thought.
DeleteWe probably should do this just now. Certainly felt that way in the last few weeks here, constant, blazing sunshine!
ReplyDeleteI'm already leaving my curtains drawn.
DeleteSo difficult to explain to the young why the sun is harmful and also try to protect them from what gives us life but can also take it away from us.
ReplyDeleteExactly my point.
Deletethecontemplativecat here. Excellent writing.
ReplyDeleteThank you TCC!
DeleteNice story. There must be some balance between protection from the sun and toughening up. I remember when my kids were young, it was all about antibacterial sprays, cleaning every surface. I was heavily into the kids eating germs :) They managed to avoid all the allergies that many of their friends hooked into.
ReplyDeleteI washed my hands once a day - maybe - when I was growing up. I was a little more careful with my own children, but not obsessive.
DeleteI hope she lets her son outside every now and again, possibly covered from head to toe. Alicia
ReplyDeleteEven now children are swimming in body suits.
DeleteHow true! If only he knew.
ReplyDeleteHe'll learn soon enough.
DeleteSpeaking of shades, we just tinted our windows. Those rays were killing our eyes, and the AC was running nonstop! Too true!
ReplyDeleteWill tint keep out the heat?
DeleteThat was me.
ReplyDeleteHàving to be Anon is Anonoying!
DeleteIt's almost here now!
ReplyDeleteSci fi, so close to true. Good story.
ReplyDeleteHardly fiction now!
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteSad and appallingly true. Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle