Alien Inventors

A small cry for help was heard on a distant world. The message was cut-off, but it was clear enough. The G.M.A. system roared into operation, alerting friends near and far to come to attention. (G.M.A., pronounced like Gee-Ma, is the Galactic Monitor & Announcer system invented by Irstl the First of the Gamelon Star cluster. It went into use about 1000 earth centuries ago (That’s before you and I were born). Ever since it went online, the universe has seemed a smaller place.) This was the first voice it heard from the small blue-green planet.

Zol was the first to respond. Finally, he thought, this could be the break he had been waiting for. The prototype GPS (Galactic Positioning System) would get a real test. Bissle came second, then Grob and Liid. No one knew this distant world or what would await them there, yet each set forth on the most important journey of their lives.

Meanwhile, in the small town of Kipston , Iowa , Billy got up off the floor. He dusted himself off and moved aside the pieces of his latest project. He instinctively flicked off the power switch as he fanned away the smoke that proved something was still not right. He was certain the crossover junction could handle the power. Had he connected it backwards? Was he going to be able to salvage anything out of this mess? And, he realized in a moment’s despair, his dad’s brand new satellite cell phone didn’t look so good.

His mom would be there soon; she’d smell the results of this test too quickly. Gotta get this cleaned up before she came out to the garage. A door opened. Billy, still trying desperately to hide the mess, couldn’t bear to look at her. Mom didn’t appreciate his experiments. She’d always say “Billy, you have to stop before you hurt yourself” or “Billy, look at the mess you’ve made this time” or “Billy, give it up, it’s not worth it” or simply “Billy, no more inventions!” Which would it be this time? Still he kept cleaning without looking up. “Glurp dindle plook.” One more wire into the box. There. The coupling connector from her blender looked okay, but better hide it anyway. “Glurp dindle plook!”

What was that? Oh no, something else must have broken. Something was still burning or dripping or falling apart. No wonder mom came so quickly, it really does stink in here.

“Mom,” Billy called out to soften her mood, “it was really close. Really Mom, I almost had it.” But she said nothing. That was weird. Surely she’d be mad at him. Billy tried again, as he turned to meet her coming in, “Mom, this is almost it! I think it really might have worked for a ….” And then Billy froze right where he stood. “Glurp.” “Dindle.” “Plook.” Eelatoid came in, all green and slimey and, P U, what is that smell?

…to be continued…