Unceremonious Arrival

Their discussion was interrupted by an unceremonious arrival. Father Sun burst into the room. Sizzling steam and heat arrived with him, filling the air with humidity. His red, white and black garments scintillated with flashing rays.  

His demeanor was startling. He clutched golden spikes in his hands, as if fixing to hurl them. A wrathful fury possessed him, coloring his face a burnt red. He blazed with light.   

A piercing bright beam emanated from his forehead, nearly blinding Meredith. She covered her eyes and turned her head. Startled, the Soul Child jumped into Meredith's lap and clung to her neck. The Kokopelli seemed unperturbed. 

Nine Billion Babies

Father Sun's deep voice boomed in alarm, "She's expecting again! Mother Earth is expecting! Nine Billion Babies! In the next generation! It's too much! It's just too much!" He quivered with fury.  

"They'll consume us out of existence." He raised the golden spikes over his head and shook them in frustration. "Every one of them will discharge tons of gases into the air. It's more than than heaven and earth can absorb.  

"Now the tundra is melting!" He waved his arms about. "It's releasing methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Creating more greenhouse gases. Then more babies, more people, more consumption, more discharge, more gases, more heat.

"When will it stop? It must stop now!" He collapsed full length on the carpet of clouds.

Crisis Near

Father Sun lay with his face in the clouds, then sat up. Recalling his recent behavior, he said, "I'm sorry, I was carried away." He put his arm around his daughter's shoulder.  "Did I hurt you?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine." She smiled at him. The Soul Child came to stand by Meredith's side. "You saw Mother, how was she?"  

Her father spoke in his normal voice, but with urgency, "Your mother is still alive, Meredith, but the situation is grave. The crisis is near. We must solve the problem now before it is too late."