All the Rage

This summer fire is all the rage. Conditions are perfect for it: there's been no rain in weeks; the shift to teleworking has millions at their wit's end; Mars is closer to earth than it has been in 75 years. When someone got the idea to torch their garden it's no surprise that others took note and followed suit. In a matter of days gardens across the nation were burning. People who'd never handled mulch their entire lives were churning up their lawns to plant tomatoes and cucumbers for the express purpose of letting the plants burn when they achieve ripeness. In the meantime they burn old clothes, old toys, old anything. I'm one of those type-A sorts who worry that the flames will leap from earth to house and set whole communities ablaze but every night our well-dressed leaders are on the news assuring us that there is no need to worry as long as everyone exercises good judgment and carefully monitors their fires; everything is under control. They may be right. I haven't seen any houses burn to the ground. I haven't seen Mars either. But sometimes the sirens descend from the stars.