"Hey mom! Look what they are saying on the news!" said Kevin, an eight year old. "Yes, what is it?"said his mom. "Look!" said Kevin excitedly.
"The war is over, its time to celebrate! With only 3491 robots destroyed, we have successfully won the war. The bad news is that the gases released have affected the trees in that area and the trees have started making small grunts. Hopefully they will be cut down soon and the problem will be solved. Now we shall see the weather report by Sunny Richards."said the news anchor.
"Mom, will they cut down trees?"asked Kevin. "Yes, they probably will. They take up so much space, and now they are making weird sounds. It sounds like a good plan to me." said his mom. "But, our science teacher says that we should plant more trees instead of cutting them down,"said Kevin. "Rubbish. Trees are useless." said his mom, with a tone of finality in her voice. She didn't want her only son to become a crazy environmentalist.
5 YEARS LATER
"Lets go talk to Olive!"said Kevin, to his friends. "You are so boring, Kevin. All you want to do is talk to those stupid trees. The new Trees vs Aliens 2 game just released today! We are going to my house to play it, my dad bought it for me."said Tim,Kevin's friend, and ran off to his house with Jimmy and John, the twins. Kevin sighed and walked towards Olive, the olive tree. "Hello, Kevin." said Olive, in her deep voice. "Hi, Olive. said Kevin. "I have to tell you something. The trees have decided to go on a hunger strike. We are very angry at how humans have treated us, and now we wont supply them with oxygen. We may die ourselves, but they shall pay for their actions unless they fulfill our needs." said Olive. "But, how will we survive? Humans can stay without oxygen for about a minute or so. When the oxygen gets used up, what will we do? We will all die before anyone gets to know what you want!" Kevin said. "That is why I need your help. Tell anyone with authority what we are going to do. When they come to investigate, we shall tell them our plan and wants. Hopefully, they shall agree, as no one wants to die, right?" said Olive. "Okay, I will be right back. But if they don't listen.....?" asked Kevin. "Then we will proceed with our hunger strike. I am sorry Kevin, but, you will die too if that happens. You need to convince them, or the Earth will become a barren wasteland!" said Olive. Kevin nodded and ran off to his mom.
"Mom! Listen! The trees are going on a hunger strike! We have to tell everyone to listen to what they have to say!" cried Kevin. "Enough of your non sense, its time for dinner." said his mom firmly. "No! You have to listen to me! They will stop performing photosynthesis! We will all die!" said Kevin impatiently. His mom gave him a death stare. "Sit down, its time for dinner." Suddenly the TV switched on and the emblem of the nation flashed across the screen. "A national message-this must be very important! Turn up the volume!"said Kevin.
"Secret spy agencies had revealed months ago that the trees had planned a conspiracy against us- they are planning to go on a hunger strike unless we fulfill their needs. Our scientists developed special oxygen creating tubes and artificially developed food. Do not fear the upcoming hunger strike. We are prepared. Workbots shall arrive at your house immediately after this message to install the above mentioned items. Precautions to take- NEVER GO OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE. Everything shall be provided at your doorstep. On a happier note, I think this hunger strike has made our lives much easier." said the voice of the President. The national anthem played and the TV switched off.
The door opened and 6 Workbots marched into the house. In a few minutes their work was done and the exited as quickly as they entered. Next, purple tomatoes, green carrots, square shaped onions, blue flatbread, a dozen dino-shaped eggs, pink oranges and 2 packets of red potato chips and black apple juice entered the house from a huge tube the workbots had installed- the artificial food. A disembodied voice said,"This is your food for the week. Use it well."
After about a month of living like this, almost all the small trees had perished. Only very big trees had survived, but wouldn't be able to for long without food. Inside their homes, everyone was getting irritated. No one was happy living in their homes, and not to mention all the tasteless food they had to eat. New diseases started spreading that doctors had no idea how to cure. People were dying. They were getting restless. The President too couldn't manage to live like this, and soon gave another message on TV.
"We have decided to ask the trees if they can stop the hunger strike. Everyone is dying. The animals in their specially controlled sanctuaries are killing each other. We are dying of new diseases. We ask for the help of anyone who thinks that the trees will listen to them. Oxygen masks are being provided to everyone so that they can talk to the trees."
Kevin was very happy. He was tired of being stuck in the house. A few oxygen masks were being ejected from another large tube. He strapped one on to his face and ran to Olive. "Olive," he said breathlessly. "Please stop the hunger strike. We are all suffering. Even you are very close to dying." "Yes, that is what the trees have been discussing," said Olive in a very tired voice. Just then, a helicopter landed. It was the president. "Please, trees, forgive us. We have messed up the balance of nature. Please stop this strike. We shall never treat you badly again." Soon the trees declared that they were in agreement. They would stop the strike. In 24 hours, everyone took off their oxygen masks. They all planted a tree, as they had learnt the importance of trees. Kevin hugged Olive. It was the best day of his life.
