“So you’re training to be a what…?”
“An architect… designing stuff.”
Harold thoughtfully rubs his stubble.
“You designed that?”
Justin grins. “Won an award for it an’ all.”
“So what is it?”
“You don’t know?”
“Nope”
“It’s a symbol of our time, man. Our world, the glow of global warming, the vivid dying sun… ya don’t see it?”
Harold steps back, narrows his eyes.
“What’s it made of?”
“Umm… double-skin ultra heat-treated polyethylene, laminated with flame retardants and, er … stuff”
“That stuff grow naturally?”
“I dunno, I just design stuff.”
“What are they like…” mutters Harold, shambling away.
Thanks to Dale Rogerson for this week’s photo prompt and to Rochelle for her leadership of Friday Fictioneers.
castelsarrasin 
What an acid portrayal of tokenism, Sandra
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Aunt Acid, if you don’t mind. 🙂
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Acidic and sarcasm laden to teh core. Loved this, Sandra.
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Thanks for reading Neil.
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It is true, many architects have a lot to answer for
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You’ve only to look around… Thanks for reading.
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Now just need to take the “ants” off “retardants” and it explains a lot 😀. Great story though.
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Clever! Thanks for reading.
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Dear Sandra,
Love the tongue in cheek humor in this. Another nail in the environment’s coffin.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How many more can it take. It’s already leaking like a sieve. Thanks for reading.
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Great story. I looked into this building as well. It seems the quintessential American roadside attraction, but it’s actually in Montreal. Probably safe from planes crashing into it, though.
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That’s a super clever take on the big orange ball. Love it!
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Hey! are you hinting my story was a bad idea! Lol
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Thanks for reading, Josh.
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I have a friend who’s an architect and while I’m not sure this particular building would be his bag, the enthusiasm is spot on!
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It’s good to love your chosen career. Thanks for reading Jen.
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Amen to that
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Love this Sandra! And FYI… it’s made out of the same stuff as pools are 😉
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Lovely pic, Dale. Well, not lovely, but very inspiring. 🙂
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I know what you mean. There is nothing lovely about a big-ass fiberglass orange dome… but I am glad it has sparked some imaginative stories!
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Can’t see the forest for the trees… Your story is one good example. Let’s hope some of the youngsters can.
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Like the ones who go on the XR protests clutching the plastic water bottles to which they appear to be surgically attached.
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Great story for waking people up to the need to consider the whole picture. With global warming, it can be terribly difficult to calculate the carbon footprint of “Stuff”, but we have to try.
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We do indeed. Thanks for reading, Penny.
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Well said, Sandra!
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Thanks Liz.
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A perfect symbol of a messed up world
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Indeed. Thanks for reading.
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Sandra,
You more than make your point! Brava.
pax,
dora
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Thanks Dora.
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Good point! A story of our times indeed
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Thanks for reading!
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Hollow statements will get us nowhere. Excellent use of subtly, as always.
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Thanks for reading.
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What a great portrayal of a slice of life, interaction between the generations, youthful blind enthusiasm and older gentle questioning to get…nowhere! The final sentence – so few words, says so much.
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Thanks for reading, Jenne.
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I know, I know, every climate change activist has a mobile phone and drives. (well the ones I know).
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Not to mention the obligatory plastic water bottle.
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Nice idea, shame about the execution 🙂
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ps I meant the guy’s construct in your story, not your story :-o, which was great 🙂
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🙂 🙂 You covered yourself very quickly there!
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🙂
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The perfect picture. Who can’t see the red sun in it reminding us of the heat… and the material used in this masterpiece shows how we got there, doesn’t it? (Ducks and hides). Great story, puts the finger where it hurts.
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Thanks for reading!
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it’s not something what frank lloyd would consider but what the hell. to each its own. 🙂
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Spice of life, and all that…
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Perfect! I love this one, Sandra 🙂
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Thanks for reading, Linda.
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Good one, Sandra. I thought about ex-president Orange Hair serving his Kool-Aid, but it was just too easy and more sad than funny. I like your take much better.
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🙂 Thanks for reading Russell.
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I like it… the designer is definitely a thinker.. guffaw!
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Aren’t they all? 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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If concerns for the planet were truly his inspiration, maybe he could have come up with something a little smaller? A very witty and clever story! The orange ball is a pretty awful monstrosity. But, interesting as a story prompt.
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Thanks for reading Brenda. Yes, the prompt brought a wide array of inspiration.
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Another architectural blunder, commenting on global warming by contributing to it.
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Indeed. Thanks for reading.
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Great story. I love the ‘stuff.’
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Thanks for reading.
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I feel like I’ve had similar conversations in real life way too often. The “wait, so you did this why again?” type conversation. I learned long ago that sometimes the best thing you can do is shake your head and walk away. Gives one a nicely cathartic feeling to read it in fiction.
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Great handling of the photo! Very believable conversation! 🙂
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