By Clay Fulghum
Milesy and Katrul had been talking. “Dad, we want one of the new two-legged animals for a pet. Please, please!”
“What?” Xymul exclaimed. “They’re barely better than bots, just automata that can’t feel.”
“No!” the kids protested. “They bleed and scream and cry! We see them in the fields”
“Now kids, don’t think I’m not grateful for them. They’re tasty, especially when cooked rare. And very useful in our research labs—by the millions. In fact, it was the best thing we ever did, conquering that pale blue dot we see in the night sky, that little planet called the Earth.”
LOVE! Very creative Clay. Great story and loved the ending. 🙂
Thank you, Pattyann. But actually, I think my role reversal idea didn’t quite work. I was trying to suggest how it might feel to be treated as we treat our animals!
“They bleed and scream and cry!” Why do I like that line so much? Loved the story!
Great story.