This is the first piece of my story that I have written so far.

When the Bough Breaks, The Young Ones Will Fall

It was just another typical day as Henry sat inside watching TV. He had recently been introduced to Star Trek: The Next Generation by his Dad, and was almost through the 1^st season already. He loved watching the closeness of the crew, and their gentle way with the other civilizations they encountered. It gave him hope that maybe someday this world might be just as civilized.

In the midst of watching the episode, Henry glanced outside longingly. Unlike some of the younger children, he still remembered playing outside. He remembered running through the sprinklers on the front lawn during the summer time, and throwing a football with his dad in the fall. He remembered most of all when kids could be carefree outside, and not have to worry about UV radiation or skin cancer. It had only been a few years ago when parents began being encouraged to keep their children out of the sun and outdoors as much as possible, but he was shocked at how fast it had taken hold. Now, almost no one went outside for extended periods of time. Even when you were heading out to get in the car, people ran to it.

Henry sighed and turned his attention back towards the TV. This episode was entitled “When the Bough Breaks”, and centered around a planet, Aldea, that had hidden itself for thousands of years. As the Enterprise and its crew were sailing by, it revealed itself to them, asking for their children on board. Unfortunately, due to an unknown factor, the people on the planet were unable to have children of their own anymore, and therefore their culture was in danger of dying. When the Enterprise refused to hand over its children, the civilization stole the children from them. At this part of the episode, the crew was struggling to find a way to get the children back without disrupting the civilization’s way of life, and also determine the cause of their infertility.

Suddenly, something in the episode really drew Henry in. Lt. Data and Dr. Crusher were explaining to Captain Piccard what the cause of the of the Aldean’s infertility was. It was in fact radiation poisoning, due to a weakened ozone layer.

“It is quite similar to what happened to Earth in the 21^st Century.” Data informed the crew.

Henry choked on his drink. “What?” he thought to himself.

He looked back outside, then back to the screen. Had we known all along this was going to happen? Had we known for decades that this was a possibility? How is it that even a TV series from the 80s predicted what was going to come to fruition, but no one did anything about it?

Henry grew angrier and angrier. Ever since the fear of going outside had been passed around, he had felt a low bubbling anger for what could have been done to prevent this. He glared around the room, seething at the sofa he sat on, that could have been the grass beneath him, if only something had been done. How could they have let this happen?

“Henry, are you okay?” Henry’s mother Anne stepped into the room, looking at him cautiously.

“How could you do this?! How could you let this happen?!” Henry exploded at her.

“Sweetie, what are you talking about?” she asked, startled by her teenage son’s unusual angry outburst.

He swung his arm towards the window and pointed angrily outside, “How could you take that away from us? You knew the ozone layer was weakening, but you guys kept polluting the atmosphere, and now we can’t go outside. You guys always talk about going on picnics or walking along the beach, and we can’t do that! It’s your fault! Where was your generation when it was most needed??”

Anne stared at Henry, wide eyed, unsure of how to respond. Henry threw the remote down on the sofa, and angrily thumped up the stairs to his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Anne stood there processing what had just happened. Henry was usually so measured and kind; she’d almost never seen him that angry. However after thinking about it for a moment, she realized to some degree, Henry had some legitimate thoughts about what was happening with the ozone layer. How had she let her children grow up in a life where going outside was discouraged and feared? Where was her generation indeed?

She glanced outside, reflecting on countless memories of being outside in just a few moments. She realized some of her fondest memories had been while outside, playing with her younger sister Carrie in the summertime, spending hours outside. Anne teared up; how had she taken this piece of life away from her children? Why hadn’t she spoken up when she had the chance?