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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>All I need is the air that I breathe<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>© Brad Corallo <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>word count 539<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The year is 2040. Seventy-four-year-old grandmother, Angie Miano calls to her grandchildren to “put on their ESARP suits and hurry up or they will be late for school.” As the API (air pollution index) is under 250 today, school will actually take place onsite. For the last six days it has been virtual.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Angie is remembering when there was no need for “ESARP (environmental skin and respiratory protection) suits. She is having a vivid recollection of a picnic at the beautiful beach on Fire Island fifty years ago. She and Vinnie, her beloved husband to be, sipped chilled Long Island Rose wine and enjoyed cold barbequed chicken as the warm sun caressed them and the fresh sea air was like an intoxicant. She crosses herself and whispers” rest in peace my dear, sweet Vinnie.” Angie has lost so many loved ones; especially in the initial days of the environmental collapse.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In addition to Vinnie, there was her delightfully irreverent son in law Tony and Tony’s beloved wife, her dear, dear daughter Marie. Tears come to her eyes as she dons her own ESARP suit and pictures her beautiful grandbaby Lorenzo gasping for breath as his little lungs could not extract enough oxygen from the tainted atmosphere to sustain him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Quickly, she dries her tears and puts on a placid face for her two grandchildren, Joey and Mary. All three, now dressed in their ESARP suits head out through the Dura-Glass air filtered walkway to their electric, zero emission vehicle. When they are all inside and secured in their safety harnesses, Angie activates the active air processing system (AAPS), depresses the starter button and heads off into the hazy early morning rush hour. The bleared orange sun shines dimly. As she drives carefully toward their school, Joey points out an advertisement for vacation packages for one week stays in the blooming Antarctic paradise “Lost American Dreams.” He asks “have you ever been there grandma?” “No,” she replies. “It is new. When I was young no one went there for vacations.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They finally arrived at the Charles Koch Memorial Grammar School and Angie pulled up to the air filtered walkway which led to the school’s entrance. Patting each of them on the shoulder, the suits made kissing impossible, she watched as they entered the building. Not for the first time she wondered “what will the world be like for Joey’s and Mary’s children? Better not to think about it” she thought. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On her way home, Angie decided to give herself a treat. She made her way to the “Free Air Oxygen and Memory Bar. She entered and made her selection at the “happy choice” kiosk. After swiping her currency card, she entered a small but comfortable cubicle. She doffed her ESARP suit and sat in the luxurious, contour recliner and activated the high oxygen protocol and the virtual reality imaginarium. Suddenly, Angie found herself back in that glorious day of the beach picnic with Vinnie. She breathed deeply and smiled. For at least a half hour, she could once again, feel a sense of freedom and joy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NOTE: The title is a line from a song by the Hollies.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>jamesstarfire@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>