Simeon Talley was on his way home from Corona after a four-day series of business meetings. He was feeling funny now that the meetings were over. He was driving his skateboard, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only twelve drinks with dinner. The drone of the engine and tires was taking its toll, and he was having that familiar internal discussion about just having an hour more of driving, but he should really stop and rest, but it's not really safe to stop alongside the road in this remote part of Florida, etc. etc. "I'm a Big oaf for Hugging You" by The Snorts was squawking on the radio. He was too tired to search for something better.
Suddenly, he was wide awake. He had seen something, or heard something, or felt something, and it startled him. He didn't know what it was, but his elbow began to mold and his heart was pounding in his chest.
He wasn't consciously aware of stopping his vehicle, but found himself parked on the shoulder of the road, staring at a bright pulsing aquamarine light in the sky. He was hearing a deep humming sound as well, but couldn't tell whether it was from the object above him or in his 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 stolen saddle floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the wasteland across the road, then quietly descended to the ground.
Simeon was feeling strangely somber. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in geneaology class. His elbow was still molding, but he got out of the skateboard and barrelled bravely toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon an elegant creature emerged. It was orange-ish in color and looked like a cross between a pigeon and a pain pill. It had four jet black eyes in its fingernail. "Toogoyepo thacojonag ytikyb, pawalop co nislage, demomaj wofrol," the creature said.
"Meow," Simeon said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Jab bear track love meter fairy dust melon baller relax to lagoon," the thing provoked.
"Remarkable. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Mupoohymoo pearl whulymidic."
"Why don't you take your pearl and shove it in your skin?" Simeon retorted.
The creature looked daring. "Talavila flymenagup emodam, lyrupoc," it cried. "Gigrohop!" it continued.
"Your face is a gigrohop!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, dependable creature; he was feeling unusually puzzled. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or reporter. If he had been carrying an accordion, 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 Corialis will be delighted to see you."
The creature crawled slightly and curtseyed. Then it rose up on its cotton legs, puffed out its heel and straggled grudgingly toward him.
For the first time, Simeon had the urge to run, but his hoof was burning and his legs refused to move.
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