This is a short story I use as part of my teaching in environmental social science. The kettle clicks off with a soft metallic pop. Steam curls from the spout as Irene pours water into her mug, the teabag bobbing once before settling. The radio hums in the background, a low, chatty murmur that fills the apartment with its familiar presence. It’s one of those morning shows where the host seems to talk just to fill the space, bouncing from news to trivia and back again. “…and d

[The following is one of my climate fiction short stories. I use this as part of my teaching in environmental sociology, together with...