A Boy Named Alice

By: Gunner Bush

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Nick and Alice Moon are twins. Alice plans and Nick worries. Nightly, Nick doom-scrolls online searching for the end of the world. His obsession leads him to the realization that the collapse is not only imminent, but may already be impossible to avert unless action is taken. However, Nick recognizes that this action must come from major corporations and governments; Nick understands that as a single person, he cannot do anything to prevent the looming climate crisis or reduce CO2 emissions, so he does what most high schoolers do: he gets buzzed on OTC Robitussin.

Alice and Nick begin to throw small get-togethers in their backyard; robotripping on Robitussin becomes the main theme, and just like any party amongst teenagers, the numbers grow. Every Thursday night the Moon backyard becomes a safe haven for outcasts and misfits, who call themselves Moonlighters, and Alice becomes their leader.

The Moon Gang gatherings have simple rules: be chill, respect others, and if it’s your first night hanging out, you gotta trip. It is as if a Gay Fight Club is born; it is harmless fun amongst young minds; they build bonfires, read Tupac lyrics, and drink hot beer while tripping.

The group of young outsiders begin to question topics like the meaning of life and their futures; both of these appear dark and grim. The Moonlighters blame capitalism, and the big corporations, and the Boomers for taking away their future. Nick’s obsession with the incoming collapse begins to rub off, and the Moonlighters know they need to act; they cannot waste their youth being young. Action is needed if life on the planet will be saved from the climate crisis that is already underway, and Alice Moon has the perfect plan to fix it.

A plan is one thing, but will the Moonlighters be able to execute a dangerous plan to save life on the planet? There is only one way to find out.