Jessica Burner was on her way home from Jacksonville after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling dapper now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Chevy Vega, 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 Maine, etc. etc. "I'm a Reptile for Pleasing You" by The Gurgles 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 lip began to flex 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 abnormal teapot floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the hayfield across the road, then quickly descended to the ground.
Jessica was feeling strangely excitable. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in painting class. Her lip was still flexing, but she got out of the Chevy Vega and scurried openly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon an unkempt creature emerged. It was brilliant orange-ish in color and looked like a cross between a polecat and a soccer ball. It had five scarlet eyes in its hairdo. "Tunayoce gricookodod etogyj, cefepid joo joofruji, kumemep fophag," the creature said.
"Sure," Jessica said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Leave stick bit of Elmer's glue ceramic whisk wake up to lakeside," the thing crooned.
"Nuts. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Gagewuto flag cligygaboj."
"Why don't you take your flag and shove it in your heel?" Jessica retorted.
The creature looked serious. "Jybyfibe krymupygyd iceloog, cusopool," it chanted. "Peglahoon!" it continued.
"Your face is a peglahoon!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, sincere creature; she was feeling unusually impish. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or hoarder. If she had been carrying a supply of courage, 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 Hill will be delighted to see you."
The creature sallied forth slightly and snorted. Then it rose up on its fuzzy legs, puffed out its neck and sashayed madly toward her.
For the first time, Jessica had the urge to run, but her face was curling and her legs refused to move.
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