solution
Shade was written in Inform and is © 2000 by Andrew Plotkin (a.k.a. zarf, a.k.a. "Ampe R. Sand").
This solution is by David Welbourn, and is based on Release 3 of the game.
Related link: Zarf's Interactive Fiction page.
Note: You don't have to worry about movement commands quite so much as used in this walkthrough. The game is quite willing to let you attempt to flush the toilet from the kitchen, or get the vacuum while you're on the futon; the game will obligingly move you into the bathroom or off the futon, etc., without explicit direction.
[Your apartment, on your futon]
>about. i. x futon. stand.
[Your apartment, in the living room]
>look. x desk. x computer.
[Your apartment, at the desk]
You should be thirsty now, but you can afford to look around a bit first, before getting a drink.
>x papers. x list. x book. x lamp. x shade. x window.
>stand.
[Your apartment, in the living room]
>x luggage. x plant. x mirror. x door. x stereo. x crate.
>x kitchen. x glass. take it.
[Your apartment, in the kitchen nook]
>fill glass with water. enter bathroom.
[Your apartment, in the bathroom nook]
>fill glass with water. x water. drink water. out.
[Your apartment, in the living room]
Now your task is to find the tickets. Note that the to-do list is the in-game help. Consult the list to learn what you should focus your attention on (but it's okay to stumble around, too, if you prefer).
>x list.
[Your apartment, at the desk]
>take list. search papers.
>x luggage. search luggage.
[Your apartment, in the living room]
Once you have the tickets, you'll soon hear a helicopter pass overhead.
>x closet. x jacket. search jacket. take tickets.
>look. x sand. listen. look through window. open shade.
Also, you probably should clean up that sand on the floor. The list will hint this, if you're not of a mind to do it on your own.
>x list. x vacuum. take it. vacuum.
>x sand. open vacuum.
With the vacuum open, the radio turns on.
>z. z. z. read book.
[Your apartment, at the desk]
Now you're hungry.
>enter kitchen.
[Your apartment, in the kitchen nook]
>x fridge. open fridge. take jar. x it. close fridge.
>x cupboard. open cupboard. take box. x it.
>open jar. empty jar. open box.
>out.
[Your apartment, in the living room]
Start checking out the to-do list more frequently.
>x list. x plant. (A spider plant? Wasn't it a hyacinth earlier?)
>enter bathroom.
[Your apartment, in the bathroom nook]
>fill glass with water. x list. out.
[Your apartment, in the living room]
>x closet. open closet. x crate. open it. enter kitchen.
[Your apartment, in the kitchen nook]
>turn on tap. x stove. turn on stove. x list.
>open fridge. enter bathroom.
[Your apartment, in the bathroom nook]
>turn on shower. out.
[Your apartment, in the living room]
>search luggage. x list. enter kitchen.
[Your apartment, in the kitchen nook]
>x cupboard. close cupboard. out.
[Your apartment, in the living room]
>search papers. flush toilet.
[Your apartment, in the bathroom nook]
>out.
[Your apartment, in the living room]
With both nooks gone, a car will soon be heard. And the spider plant is now a palm?
>touch mirror. look in mirror. walk through mirror.
>x list. open shade. look through window.
>x door. open it.
>x mirror.
[Your apartment]
Everything is back to normal? Or is it?
>x list. take luggage. g. sit.
[Your home]
During this sequence, you'll see something move that you can't quite glimpse. Feel free to look under the stereo, computer, or futon to sometimes see a pair of eyes, or just sand. That's not enough to get a good look, however. You need to remove the hiding places.
>x dunes. x shade. x sun. x futon. x stereo. x computer. x book.
>take book. turn off stereo. turn off computer. sit on futon.
The figure is revealed, but is fragile. Almost anything you do to it will damage it, except just looking. Once it's dead, read the book and wait.
>x figure. figure, hi. touch figure. take it. kiss it.
>sleep. x book. wait.