2

Selena licked Mateo’s ear. On their planet ear licking was a standard greeting. She said, “Sure sweet thing.” On their planet “sweet thing” meant “new truest friend with whom I would like to share many outer space adventures.”

Together they ran from the room. This did not surprise the class. They were aliens. Very little surprised them anymore.

They ran through the halls together to the exit where Mateo’s small starship was waiting for them. It was shaped like an egg and it was neon green, though Selena could not see that part. A door materialized and they walked through.

“Computer,” said Mateo, “Take us to the happiest and most perfect planet in the galaxy.”

The computer whirred into action as Mateo and Selena sat down and buckled their seat belts. It scanned their retinas and did a quick psychological profile of their brains. It tested oxygen and gravity levels in the cabin and then it said, “Prepare for departure.”

Selena and Mateo sat back and stared at the computer screen. “Would you like a juice box?” Mateo asked. Selena nodded and together they sucked down sweet juice and watched as the school became a gray dot and their city become a gray smudge and their country became an gray soap island in a bathtub full of dingy water and then their planet was gone.



All day they drank juice boxes and talked about botany and apiology and other things they thought were interesting. That night they asked the computer how far away they were and he said, “ Not far,” which could have meant anything in computer talk so they converted the cabin of the ship into a bunk and fell asleep.

In the morning they woke up and the ship was no longer moving. The screen was dark and Selena touched the wall with her hands until the door once again appeared and opened.

“Are we here?” asked Mateo opening his eyes sleepily but Selena could not speak. Outside the door she saw for the first time green, green grass. As she reached down to touch it, a yellow bird flew by singing what could only be described as a Cure song.




“Do you hear that Mateo?” asked Selena, “Do you see this grass?”

“ ‘Daylight licked me into shape,’” sang the bird, “ ‘Must have been asleep for days.”

Now you choose!
If the bird’s next song is by Shania Twain, go to this page.
If the bird’s next song is by Rammstein, go to this page.