What if...

They watched the lanterns in the dark as the moon rose, a large orange-yellow orb cratered orb. It was not the moon their ancestors knew. It was a new moon for a new place. But still a moon nonetheless. The adults never followed the calendar anymore and traditions were fading away, like the torn pages of the ancient books the little children had collected. Soon they would become just faint memories, from distant Earth.

The little girl rummaged through the pockets of her smock. Girls of her age had to wear smocks. It was the rule of the adults in charge. She fished out a wedged-shaped parcel wrapped in crinkly silver foil. With careful hands, she peeled the foil open, exposing brown-crusted pastry filled with lotus seed paste.

“You managed to get it?” The boy’s eyes were wide. Surprise, delight.

“Yes,” nodded the girl. Her family was one of the rare few that still celebrated the moon festivals and kept to traditions. They shared the mooncake and savored their bites: sweet, creamy with hints of lotus seed and nuts. Mooncakes were part of what were considered “artifacts” by the new ruling government whose motto was “Look To The Future, Never To The Past.” They had avowed a total break with things Earth.

In the light of the metal can lanterns and the moon, the little children remembered.