Generated scenario given by Situation Lab: Describe or narrate a scenario about an instrument found a decade into a future in which society as we know it has come apart. Your description should address issues related to childhood and elicit feelings of awkwardness.
ASSIGNMENT:
Night has fallen on a tiny winter town below it. The Aurora Borealis is the only glimmer of light – dancing light — occupying this once thriving community where tourism, culture, and outdoor adventures were on your doorstep.
Now a desolate barren land, only the hardy jet-black raven is able to flourish and claim the land’s natural beauty. All other forms of animal life have left in search of essential food sources. Strewn garbage left in the streets has been picked through, leaving behind packaging and small appliances.
As I walk along the windy bank of the river, I see a twinkle of light ahead. A sparkle that I haven’t seen in years. It appears too large to be a food wrapper and too small to be a dishwasher. Possibly a gasoline barrel or an engine part? Since the municipal government’s decision a decade ago to cut costs by eliminating road maintenance and abolishing street lights and street signs, enraged citizens began abandoning their vehicles in the streets. Out of desperation, alternative forms of transportation such as dog sleds, snowmobiles, and yes, walking, have become the norm.
As I approach the light, I recognize the shape. It’s a shape from my childhood that I’ve tried to erase from my memory. My heart begins to race. Feelings of awkwardness I had as a child stream in. The shape I see is that of an instrument. But not just any instrument — an accordion.
Memories beginning flooding into. Memories of my older sister being strong-armed into taking accordion lessons. The sight of this brown tarnished accordion opens up my senses. I recall the dusty smell of the instrument as it was opened and closed, opened and closed, creating an intolerable sound. I remember how heavy and painful the instrument looked on my sister’s lap as she stabbed and searched for the correct keys to form the notes on the song sheets. I remember how after three months of protest my sister gained back her dignity, winning the battle against the accordion. The smelly coiled up squeezebox remained in a corner of the basement never to be played again.
I remember feeling awkward knowing that she, being the older sibling, had to be the first to endure something so horrific that I, the youngest, could be shielded from the same embarrassment.
Giving the sad instrument a nod and a wink, I pay homage to it. I gently kick a pile of snow on top of it and keep walking.
REFLECTION:
I enjoyed writing this piece, and I liked being creative and having fun with this assignment. My narrative is loosely based on truth (with embellishments). My sister did briefly take accordion lessons. I railed against it from the get-go. I was younger and louder in my protest, so I didn’t experience it to the same degree as she did.
In my scenario, I chose to incorporate my hometown of Whitehorse, Yukon. Here, the raven is an infamous bird that we look up to for its resiliency and its humorous nature. I chose to make light of road maintenance since people who live here often complain about the potholes on our streets. I also chose to include the winter season since that’s what most people associate with the North, along with dogsleds and snowmobiles. Being raised in Whitehorse, I’ve only been on a dogsled once, and don’t care much about the potholes.
With respect to the accordion, I’m way more mature now 😉 and don’t have the same hang-ups over the accordion as I did as a pre-teen. I appreciate that accordions are being played in a variety of genres and are an essential instrument for songs beyond just “Beer Barrel Polka” (Vejvoda, 1927).
I’ve included 2 videos for fun. The first video demonstrates how many of us might expect the accordion to be played in tunes. The second video is a “tango-esque” rendition of a song where the accordion has a more current sound.
References:
Fabus, J. (June 5, 2016). Beer Barrel Polka (Roll out the Barrel). West Coast Prost. [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/j11MOncimNQ
Lab, S. (n.d.). The Thing From The Future. Situation Lab. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://situationlab.org/project/the-thing-from-the-future/Links to an external site.
Postmodern Jukebox. (June 7, 2019). Bad Guy – Billie Eilish (Tango Style Cover) fr. Ariana Savalas. [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/OqwIloa3DVk
Vejvoda, J. (1927). Modřanská polka. Beer Barrel Polka.
