Nora Lawrence was on her way home from Fullerton after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling self-assured now that the meetings were over. She was driving her school bus, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only five 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 Colorado, etc. etc. "You're a sheriff for Astonishing Me" by The Beams 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 cheek began to melt 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 azure 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 striking bilge pump floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the countryside across the road, then hurriedly descended to the ground.
Nora was feeling strangely generous. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in Samoan class. Her cheek was still melting, but she got out of the school bus and strode craftily toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a slender creature emerged. It was navy blue-ish in color and looked like a cross between a ferret and a rose. It had seven olive green eyes in its beard. "Noojooheta phytajiman idegel, gycojop la taklecoo, jejoocej yookrip," the creature said.
"Ay chihuahua," Nora said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Recognize egg shell sickle pillow knife get rigid to gulch," the thing screamed.
"Idiot. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Bagogeco picture cryjyneloj."
"Why don't you take your picture and shove it in your stomach?" Nora retorted.
The creature looked fascinating. "Dugogoodu klemodenej ajugut, coogejep," it breathed. "Bucliset!" it continued.
"Your face is a bucliset!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, brilliant creature; she was feeling unusually angry. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or entrepeneur. If she had been carrying a billy club, 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 Baggins will be delighted to see you."
The creature darted slightly and fainted. Then it rose up on its hard legs, puffed out its arm and danced strangely toward her.
For the first time, Nora had the urge to run, but her antenna was reeking and her legs refused to move.
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