Short story: The Soda Can

It was early morning, still dark outside when I first saw the can sitting on a table at the skateboard park. It had a green glow from the nearby street lamp. Was it open? Was it waiting for the skateboarder to come back and drink it? I decided to leave it just in case a thirsty kid remembered a drink was there.

Quite dark the next morning, I didn’t see it. I smiled; the thirsty kid had returned. But on my next path by that table, I saw it nestled in the fallen leaves, crumbled on the ground. Trash.

A trash can was three steps away, too far for the thirsty kid to toss it in. Sadness formed in my heart. Where is our world going? Why wasn’t that shiny green soda can deposited where it belonged? Will used items just be left lying around?

I picked up the can and threw it away; my heart a bit heavy for our future.

JOAN BLOCK

Kellogg