Henny Penny was Right

This tale concerns a grouple, or group of like-minded people, who tried to tell the villagers of their country that danger was approaching, sure and swift. Of this grouple, many were men and women of science who studied and measured things. Their knowledge was posted on every streetlight, tree, and sandwich board in the village. They made sure that what they studied was available to everyone.

The other half of the grouple were blue people who read the things that were posted. They compared the posts, they examined the methods, they checked longitudinal studies, and considered the graphs. Fresh data was churned out on a regular basis, and these blue people continued to consume this knowledge, nodding in agreement that something bad was happening.

They found disturbing trends among the data. Storms, fires, and natural disasters were increasing on a large scale. Even animals were becoming extinct at an alarming rate. The data showed that this had been happening for about forty years, and since that time these disasters became exponentially worse. In addition, people of various colors had moved into towns and villages across the country from other countries. This worried a highly excitable group of people.

The people who ruled most of the towns were red, and they held most of the land and wealth in those towns. They did not like anything the grouple said, especially the findings of the men of science. They were terrified of the various colors of people, and they did not like anyone endangering their way of life. Of course, they had the best that life had to offer – nice homes, fancy cars, reliable healthcare, private school, riches and wealth beyond compare. The majority of the grouple did not. They were smart, but they did not have the same houses or money.

It came to pass that a few of the grouple joined the red people to choose their king. The king promised them everything their hearts desired, including cheaper food, cheaper horses, and offered to send all the different people back to their original villages. The red people were not all well-educated, and so they thought that the king was all-powerful and could grant all their wishes. So they decided to crown the One from the red group as king instead of the Blue one who had promised to help everyone, red or blue.

The grouple were alarmed. Immediately they started to proclaim that this king would cause more trouble for all the villagers, and even as far-reaching as villages in other countries. They were afraid it would come to war. Some red people lashed back.

“These disasters have always been happening over time,” a red person said.

“This is just part of the cycle of things,” said another red person.

“You’re exaggerating,” said a third red person. “Everything you are saying is false.”

A blue person said, “These things are going to get worse. I’m telling you; the sky is falling.”

This made the red people laugh. “Why? Because the men of science told you? We have our own men of science, and they say you are definitely wrong.”

Another blue person said, “The king is making decrees that will hurt not only the grouple, but most of the red people and people from other countries. The only people who will be safe are the ones with treasure chests in their homes.”

“Ha,” scoffed a red person, “You are nothing but losers. You just hate the red people because they’re red.”

“No,” the blue person said, “We are all in danger. Together. All of us.” The blue person provided the fresh data and verified studies showing how the sky falling would kill most everyone when it fell. But it was avoidable, the blue person pleaded, “It doesn’t have to fall. The sky and earth can work together. Red and blue people can work together to save everyone and everything.”

“No,” the king said. “I listened to the red people. My people.” And then the king started throwing people away. He sent the men of science away. He made others leave their homes, their businesses, and even the hard-working ones in the palace. “I must keep my red people and their treasures happy. They keep me happy. It is the way it should be.”

The blue person spoke. “But, if all your decrees are followed, then many people will suffer. The land and sea will fail, and animals will die. The sky will fall.”

A higher-up red person replied. “The king has spoken: no. You are being alarmist. Nothing you are saying will come to pass. You are nothing but foolish peasants.” He caused the blue person to leave, and many other grouple felt the sting of the rebuke. All hope had been lost.

The red people rejoiced. They had imposed their will on everyone and thought that the world would cower and become beholden to them. But then a curious thing began to happen. Other countries started questioning the king’s intent. They noticed the deterioration of the king’s gilt clothing and that disasters were indeed increasing. The other countries were slighted and cheated out of shared treasure. The men of science were still producing fresh data, more disturbing than before.

The people of different colors were forced from their homes and jobs and taken away. The king told the villagers that the giant fires were caused by blue people. The king also said plane crashes and natural catastrophes were caused by blue people. In fact, the king declared, all the world’s problems were caused by grouples everywhere. And he continued to sign hurtful decrees with his quill, one after another.

The one blue person persevered. “The seas are rising. Coastlines are disappearing. Animals are gone. Fires cannot be extinguished. Villages have been flooded. Icebergs are splitting. The storms are getting more frequent and more powerful. People are getting sick. Many cannot afford the basics in life.”

“Oh, again with the exaggeration. You know not what you are talking about. We are tired of your exclamations about the sky falling.” And the red people banded together to support the king. “Our king is wise; he will do what’s right for us.” They were easily distracted by extreme games, award ceremonies, and rich people doing rich people things.

The grouple were at their wit’s end. The sky was starting to fray at the edges; the supports were weakening. The men of science were still sciencing and measuring and informing. The grouple were worried that the end was nearing. Some moved to different countries; some hid underground, some merely disappeared. The blue person continued to screech, “THE. SKY. IS. FALLING.” But the red people sipped their wine and continued to spill things into the ocean and onto the land. They stopped doctors from doing their jobs. They stopped teachers from doing their jobs. They stopped people from helping other people. They stopped some of the grouple from simply existing.

The grouple threw their hands up in despair, planning ahead for the end of their world. They prepped, they planned, they worked together. They understood the dire consequences of ignoring the men of science, and the people who help other people. They understood they were being forced to survive alone. They understood the dangers dancing in front of them.

And they began to thrive. They created private networks and safe places for themselves. The shared resources and worked in secret with other countries. Together they created a haven where they could fight off as much disaster as possible. They followed the directions from the men of science.

As it was foretold, the sky began to fall. Slowly at first, almost imperceptible, but the poorer red people noticed it first. “Why is fruit so expensive?” they wanted to know. “Why do the storms last all year?” they asked. “Why can’t we get any food or fuel?” they begged. As the sky continued to fall, the king asked his counselors, “Why is the sky falling? Why didn’t anyone tell me? Why are the red people so unhappy?” The red people felt betrayed.

His counselors replied, “We don’t know. We did what you wanted. We still have all the treasure.”

The king fell ill. “Why can’t the physician heal me? What good is my treasure now? Why is my house on fire?” The red people started to revolt, but it was too late. The sky had fallen, and there was no one left to help them.

The grouple, the blue people, and the men of science, reached out to assist the remaining red people, but they refused their help. They still believed the weakened king would help them. They slowly faded away, with their little red hats and their little banners waving as the king fell from grace. The blue people turned away, shaking their heads, and lamenting how the sky didn’t have to fall as they watched their little world implode.