03 October 2024
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Under the Microscope: Read James McCreet's suggested rewrite
MCCREDITED
There would be no New Year’s Eve parties on the advent of 2050.
The family on the roof wore full-face masks with air filters as they waited for the waters to rise. Felicia miaowed from her basket. Fido whimpered from his cage.
Cassandra looked at her children Andrew and Imogen, their faces pale through the partially misted visors. She looked to her husband Sebastian. Is it time? Can we go now?
He had spent the previous hour climbing down the side of the house to fill the boat with supplies. The water had kept rising but now seemed to have reached its maximum height, raising the boat to their level. He nodded. “Time to go,” he said, his voice muffled by the mask.
Andrew and Imogen clutched unfamiliar books – all they had since the computers had stopped working. A year ago, their main concern had been their end-of-school exams. Now it was merely survival.
They stepped gingerly abroad as Sebastian held the boat secure against the roof edge. “Cassandra, darling – take the kids and pets below. Close the seals.”
“What about you?”
“I have the mask. Don’t worry. I’ll change the filter in forty minutes.” He went into the cockpit.
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