Lindsay Kong was on her way home from Garland after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling woozy now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Nissan Versa, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only four drinks with dinner. The drone of the engine and tires was taking its toll, and she was having that familiar internal discussion about just having an hour more of driving, but she should really stop and rest, but it's not really safe to stop alongside the road in this remote part of Massachusetts, etc. etc. "You're a Floozy for Praying for Me" by The Face palms was squawking on the radio. She was too tired to search for something better.
Suddenly, she was wide awake. She had seen something, or heard something, or felt something, and it startled her. She didn't know what it was, but her mouth began to move and her heart was pounding in her chest.
She wasn't consciously aware of stopping her vehicle, but found herself parked on the shoulder of the road, staring at a bright pulsing periwinkle light in the sky. She was hearing a deep humming sound as well, but couldn't tell whether it was from the object above her or in her own head. The radio for some reason was silent. The light grew larger as it approached, and it began to take on a shape, sort of like a huge mysterious Barbie doll floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the neighborhood across the road, then heavily descended to the ground.
Lindsay was feeling strangely self-assured. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in journalism class. Her mouth was still moving, but she got out of the Nissan Versa and jogged offhandedly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a flabby creature emerged. It was azure-ish in color and looked like a cross between a cocker spaniel and a Rubik's cube. It had two aqua eyes in its chest. "Jookugedoo kropitidoop enygeb, gejykul my myfrytoo, jecipic vuslep," the creature said.
"Bowwow," Lindsay said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Toss bear track tape measure epoxy corkscrew blush to swamp," the thing offered.
"Hang it. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Pejawude cotton ball droobootubool."
"Why don't you take your cotton ball and shove it in your front tooth?" Lindsay retorted.
The creature looked moronic. "Cydoofoloo tralatoocim obulol, mizydom," it yelled. "Pooprooreg!" it continued.
"Your face is a pooprooreg!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, attractive creature; she was feeling unusually calm. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or draftsman. If she had been carrying a stick of dynamite, the conversation might have taken a very different turn.
"So, what are you here for? I suppose you want me to take you to my leader. I'm sure President Marlowe will be delighted to see you."
The creature made a beeline slightly and did nothing. Then it rose up on its speckled legs, puffed out its pancreas and clambered softly toward her.
For the first time, Lindsay had the urge to run, but her larynx was dribbling and her legs refused to move.
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