What is that thing?

What is That Thing?

story & illustration © 2001 Bruce Van Patter

Usually, Casey didn't pay much attention to the playground equipment. For her, recess was all about avoiding Chester.
Chester Caldwell was the annoying kid who lived across the street from her. He wasn't a bully or anything, he was just a pest. He was always reading Star Trek novels and talking about the Alien Invasion games he played on the internet. And for some reason, he thought Casey was his best friend. Just because she didn't tell him to shut up like the other kids did.
But that didn't make her want to be his pal or anything. Jeez.
The day the new playground equipment came, Casey checked it out like everybody else during recess. There were the usual wooden climbing things with slides for the younger kids. But then there was The Thing. It was a big hollow ball, but with weird curving legs and some kind of a radar dish on top. She climbed up inside.
There was Chester. She turned to go. He grabbed her. "Let me go, Chester," she said. He didn't. He just pointed to a whole panel of switches and odd buttons.
"They work," he said excitedly.
"So what?" said Casey, yanking her arm free. "So you can move the switches. Very nice."
"No, I mean they really work! Watch this." Chester pushed a couple buttons. A video screen came down from the ceiling. It flickered on. The screen said: EARTH SCHOOL REPORT, DAY ONE.
"Oh no!" cried Casey. " You mean, this is...?"
"An alien ship," nodded Chester.
Casey and Chester started to analyze the alien ship, and they discovered someone’s picture. They recognized the person, it was one of their classmate Clay.
The next day they went to school and they observed Clay all the time.
“Clay takes notes all the time, it is very strage”, says Casey.
“I have an idea, we must follow him this afternoon” says Chester.
In the afternoon Chester and Casey followed him, and discovered he was an alien. They entered into his alien ship and they spoke with him.
Clay told them his story, He was an alien and he was sent to the Earth to learn about the students and the school.
He asked them if they could keep his secret just for ten days, because he had to do a report of tha school.
Casey and Chester kept the secret and they helped to Clay.
The days run faster, and Clay must go to his planet. Chester and Casey were very sad.
They went to the alien ship with Clay.
“Take care Clay, and when you come back tell me please” says Chester.
“You are a good alien, nice to meet you” says Casey.
Clay went to his alien ship and he said good bye…the alien ship dissapeared.
After that, Casey and Chester were best friends, they always studied together and talked about aliens and alien ships. The days into school were more interesting for their.

The end