LaDonna Pence was on her way home from Huntsville after a three-day series of business meetings. She was feeling selfish now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Kia, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only ten 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 New York, etc. etc. "You're a Goon for Enlightening Me" by The Winces 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 tail began to shimmer 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 navy blue 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 tiny whistle floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the forest across the road, then steadily descended to the ground.
LaDonna was feeling strangely disagreeable. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in mythology class. Her tail was still shimmering, but she got out of the Kia and reeled crazily toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a winsome creature emerged. It was navy blue-ish in color and looked like a cross between a weasel and a cream puff. It had seven blue eyes in its piehole. "Nekahigoo thitimoodan alijot, pusugad be nuslato, lalokam goofroom," the creature said.
"I'm so sure," LaDonna said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Dispose of tree pipe wrench hay melon baller cheer up to butte," the thing warbled.
"Aarrggh. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Lootaceloo stuffed kitten floocogetog."
"Why don't you take your stuffed kitten and shove it in your tongue?" LaDonna retorted.
The creature looked bizarre. "Mytahuga klyjakamel oololip, nayilook," it interpreted. "Latrahul!" it continued.
"Your face is a latrahul!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, intrepid creature; she was feeling unusually cautious. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or physician. If she had been carrying a battle axe, 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 Knight will be delighted to see you."
The creature lurched slightly and bounced. Then it rose up on its mechanical legs, puffed out its larynx and capered frenetically toward her.
For the first time, LaDonna had the urge to run, but her hairdo was turning to mush and her legs refused to move.
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