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The Anthropause the Anthropause Tea Party Tea Party THE ANTHROPAUSE The Anthropause Tea Party TEA PARTY Roger L. White, M.D. Roger L. White, M.D. © 2020 Roger L. White, M.D.. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author. AuthorHouse™ 1663 Liberty Drive Bloomington, IN 47403 www.authorhouse.com Phone: 1 (833) 262-8899 Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them. This book is printed on acid-free paper. ISBN: 978-1-6655-0433-1 (sc) ISBN: 978-1-6655-0432-4 (e) Print information available on the last page. Published by AuthorHouse 10/15/2020 This story is for my grandson, Rohan. Like most children, the COVID-19 pandemic limited his access to traditional teaching. But learning never needs to stop. It has no artificial boundaries. Big Rat, the main character in this story, is a curious teacher. His insights about the pandemic give a viewpoint that can be both comforting and inspirational for children during anxious times. Big Rat gives hope for the future with many timeless messages. This is a fictional child’s book based on real animals. It takes place in Hawaii in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The protagonist is a character called Big Rat. During the pandemic, he invites his animal friends to his home for a proper English-style tea party to discuss what is going on with human beings. His guests include a Hawaiian monk seal, a mongoose, a lizard, a chicken, and a duck. Their insights shared over tea and scones are both intriguing and give hope for the future. Chapter 1 THE ANTHROPAUSE BEGINS anthropology: The study of human behaviors and characteristics. anthropause: A pause or major reduction in usual human activities that affects the environment. There once was a rat named Big Rat. Big Rat had lived and interacted with humans for many years. Through keen observations, he knew their behaviors well. Some would even call him an amateur anthropologist. He lived a peaceful life in a cute little plantation-style cottage within a very popular tourist resort in Hawaii. Big Rat’s little cottage was on the golf course at the resort. Directly across from his inconspicuous little cottage were three world-class hotels, pristine beach lagoons, numerous gourmet restaurants, and shops to cater to any tourist’s desire. The tourists constantly scurried like rats all day from one attraction to another. - 1 - Big Rat enjoyed the holiday atmosphere. His hobby was to study human behaviors. As an amateur anthropologist, he took notes of his observations to use in one of his future books. Big Rat’s well-known books were read by both rats and humans. He enjoyed writing about his many years of travel and experiences. But even after seventy years, he was about to learn something new about humans. So began another typical day for Big Rat. Or so he thought. Big Rat ate his usual breakfast of cooked oatmeal with lusciously ripe orange papaya, crisp walnuts, cinnamon, and milk. Then Big Rat ate a little piece of his favorite hard cheese. He savored each bite. His nutritious breakfast filled him with optimism as he gradually woke up. Big Rat liked to eat his breakfast outside on his sunny lanai. (Lanai is a Hawaiian word for “patio” or “veranda.”) From there he watched the movements of palm trees along the golf course. They perfectly captured the ocean and mountain breezes. The gentle breezes made the palm trees dance like ballet dancers. They were always in complete harmony with the environment. Nearby small yellow birds welcomed the morning sunrise with songs of praise. Big Rat admired their devotion and consistency. Sometimes he whistled back to the birds to create playful duets. - 2 - Big Rat enjoyed the holiday atmosphere. His hobby was to study With his tummy full and spirit primed with good thoughts, Big Rat was human behaviors. As an amateur anthropologist, he took notes of his ready to begin his daily beachfront walk. What would he observe today? observations to use in one of his future books. Big Rat’s well-known books were read by both rats and humans. He enjoyed writing about This idyllic beautiful morning would bring a big surprise. There were no his many years of travel and experiences. But even after seventy years, tourists to be seen! he was about to learn something new about humans. “Perhaps today is a holiday that I forgot,” Big Rat wondered aloud. “Maybe So began another typical day for Big Rat. Or so he thought. everyone is still sleeping. Or perhaps the coast has been evacuated because of a tsunami warning. But I didn’t hear any siren warning.” Big Rat ate his usual breakfast of cooked oatmeal with lusciously ripe orange papaya, crisp walnuts, cinnamon, and milk. Then Big Rat ate a Curious, Big Rat looked behind every beach umbrella, every rock, every little piece of his favorite hard cheese. He savored each bite. His nutritious bush, and every outdoor restaurant. However, no tourists were to be breakfast filled him with optimism as he gradually woke up. found anywhere, not even the tiniest child. Big Rat liked to eat his breakfast outside on his sunny lanai. (Lanai is Big Rat grew concerned. a Hawaiian word for “patio” or “veranda.”) From there he watched the Everything was dead still. Big Rat could smell fear in the air. It was a smell he movements of palm trees along the golf course. They perfectly captured had never experienced before in Hawaii. What happened to all the tourists? the ocean and mountain breezes. The gentle breezes made the palm trees dance like ballet dancers. They were always in complete harmony Big Rat returned to his cottage. He looked for his human neighbors in with the environment. adjacent cottages. Nearby small yellow birds welcomed the morning sunrise with songs of Although people generally do not like rats, Big Rat was an exception. He praise. Big Rat admired their devotion and consistency. Sometimes he got along well with humans. They enjoyed his keen sense of humor. They whistled back to the birds to create playful duets. enjoyed listening to Big Rat’s stories about his years of interesting travels and adventures. He certainly was their favorite rat. They considered him almost an equal. - 2 - - 3 - But this morning there were no neighbors walking on the street. Big Rat only caught an occasional glimpse of neighbors peeking out their windows. No one went to work or school. There was no traffic. What was going on? An eerie quiet was present everywhere. Finally, Big Rat saw a neighbor walking toward him. It was Lydia, a nice elderly lady who often talked with him and gave him little pieces of tasty cheese. Big Rat perked up in anticipation of the cheese. But Lydia suddenly crossed the street to avoid Big Rat. She diligently walked straight ahead as if she were marching. There would be no tasty cheese or discussion today. And what was Lydia wearing on her face? It looked like the kind of mask that doctors and nurses wore at the hospital. But Big Rat knew Lydia was not in the medical profession. He thought maybe she had a front tooth pulled and did not want anyone to see the gap. Or maybe Lydia was practicing for Halloween. But she was very somber. She was not behaving at all like the usually friendly and loquacious Lydia. Big Rat saw a few other neighbors out for walks. They all walked alone and kept their distance from each other. And just as Lydia had, they avoided Big Rat. As he approached, the humans all walked to the other side of the street, making a big arc around him. They, too, wore surgical- type masks on their faces. Some even wore latex gloves and avoided - 4 - But this morning there were no neighbors walking on the street. Big touching anything. His neighbors reacted to Big Rat as if he had a Rat only caught an occasional glimpse of neighbors peeking out their communicable disease. windows. No one went to work or school. There was no traffic. What was This is absurd. going on? An eerie quiet was present everywhere. Big Rat thought, He said indignantly to himself, “I am very healthy. I am very hygienic. I do not smell or have bad breath. Why would Finally, Big Rat saw a neighbor walking toward him. It was Lydia, a nice people want to avoid a lovable rat like me?” elderly lady who often talked with him and gave him little pieces of tasty cheese. Big Rat perked up in anticipation of the cheese. Suddenly some dust blew up Big Rat’s nose. It tickled. He felt a huge, uncontrollable sneeze coming on. Then came a sudden loud achoo! But Lydia suddenly crossed the street to avoid Big Rat. She diligently walked straight ahead as if she were marching. There would be no tasty That sneeze sent every neighbor in sight scattering for cover. They ran cheese or discussion today. back to their houses as if a bomb had gone off. Displeased, Big Rat exclaimed, “All that fuss because of my innocent little sneeze.” And what was Lydia wearing on her face? It looked like the kind of mask that doctors and nurses wore at the hospital.
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