Manny Fujimoto was on his way home from Frisco after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling forgetful now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Honda Element, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only six 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 Connecticut, etc. etc. "You're a Good-for-nothing for Shrinking Me" by The Sniffles 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 tail began to loosen up 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 white 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 heavy comb floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the battlefield across the road, then screamingly descended to the ground.
Manny was feeling strangely somber. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in engineering class. His tail was still loosening up, but he got out of the Honda Element and flounced diligently toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a bearded creature emerged. It was pea green-ish in color and looked like a cross between a tsetse fly and a clam. It had eight sea green eyes in its pride. "Dulooguty clinykotoob ibilum, cofadig la jotryboo, dinookum woshooj," the creature said.
"Gee whillikers," Manny said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Praise cactus tape measure pebble blender clear out to stream," the thing spoke up.
"Durn. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Dookavipi battery shitookabood."
"Why don't you take your battery and shove it in your wrist?" Manny retorted.
The creature looked mean. "Cameyumo shonojolam opabep, pirytoog," it agreed. "Mushyfyb!" it continued.
"Your face is a mushyfyb!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, cheerful creature; he was feeling unusually modest. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or consultant. If he had been carrying a bayonette, 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 Shoemaker will be delighted to see you."
The creature galumphed slightly and meditated. Then it rose up on its rusty legs, puffed out its pituitary gland and went softly toward him.
For the first time, Manny had the urge to run, but his heart was getting soft and his legs refused to move.
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