They Could Be Monsters

They could be monsters a short story. It's late I thought Jason, too late, but too late to worry about that now do the adda do himself ironically. Nonetheless, it was time he was getting home. The 16 year old had been courting Jessica Howard for weeks. Her parents being out of town it had been a particularly good study session with Jessie this evening. His early attempts at dating had been rather unsuccessful, and he was sensitive about it. But being a practical boy, he was making adjustments. And now he was sure that Jessica was close to asking him to the Sadie Hawkins dance. But that was next week for now he was late. If I cut through the woods, I'll save 10 minutes thought Jason suddenly envisioning his mother's frowning face. It was already 10pm And our past his curfew, a shortcut was definitely in order. Without hesitation he plunged into the mile wide tract of trees that stood between him and home. At first he made good headway on the dark path. That is until he saw the lights, flashing lights in the sky. Coming down ahead. Stopping dead in his tracks. He waited for the feeling of dread he knew should be coming, but felt a strange curiosity instead. He was after all a practical boy. We're talking a UFO dude, his young mind raced. They could be Monsters, Monsters from across the sky, or from some galactic hell. And I'm the only witness trembling but undaunted, he continued on until he could clearly make out a shining saucer, which had obviously just touched down ahead. He saw an open hatch, something had emerged. What was that in the road ahead, a small shadow with legs, black upon black and coming towards him. Once again, Jason stopped dead, and that anticipated dread began to seep in just a little. Oh, man, he thought excitedly. Here comes one that could be monsters, but I can't outrun him now. He might be friendly, you can never tell. He added somewhat hopefully to himself, concluding his inner debate, but the shadow had come to a halt barely 10 feet ahead, and that was waiting silently. Though he never knew exactly why it was Jason who took the next step, and he stepped forward not back into the moonlight, which was now clearing the treetops in a soft silver sheen. What happened next was so fast that afterwards it seemed almost like a dream. Jason thought he caught a glimpse of a face ahead in that shadow, or something similar to a face but contorted in an expression that somehow recalled extreme dismay. Abruptly a ghastly how emitted from the mouth like orifice which was too big and in the wrong place, the shadow then world and began a rapid retreat, finally slamming the saucer hatchway behind it. noiselessly the ship bounded into the night sky and was gone in an instant. To stand even move, Jason stood staring as a faint Vapor Trail faded into the soft moonlight. At length his wits returned and his gaze returned to Earth, focusing once again on the dim path ahead. He was afraid of me he thought wildly. I swear by gab a little bugger was afraid of me. Jason Reagan. Oh man, I grossed out an alien. After calming down he reluctantly dismissed the notion that the cops let alone his mother would ever believe his story, his teenage mind then quickly and naturally turn to the real problem at hand and reach the solution. He was after all, a practical boy. Maybe if I changed my hair, he concluded with a shrug as he started again for how it was late.

Two Lists

Mr. Jones was burnt out. After five long years of unsuccessfully comet hunting. He couldn't take it anymore. He needed to get away. So Mr. Jones hit upon the idea of loaning his cousin Timothy. young Timothy is comet seeking binoculars. For a year or so. Only a clean break for a substantial length of time would clear his head he thought so as custom six inch battleship binoculars, went to his cousin Timothy as he handed them over. Oh, one last thing. Mr. Jones in town, here's the Messier and NGC lists of celestial objects. You might try to see how many of these you can check off. You'll get a few of them anyway, I'm sure. So have fun on clear nights. When he finally returned, it was over a year later, Mr. Jones discovered that the young man cousin Timothy, spent countless hours apparently sweeping the heavens. I found them all Mr. Jones, he proclaims His playing the checked off Object List. Mr. Jones was astounded. That's fantastic. He said rather doubting Lee. By the way, Timothy, what's this other list? Three sets of positions and dates were given for sketches, magnitudes, etc. They didn't look quite round though. He thought to himself. Oh, Timothy replied. Those are just my rejects pay no attention to those. I thought they were on my target lists at least one of them. But they kept moving around and they had annoying tendency to change shape and brightness. They weren't any fun at all, so I had to let them go. I had work to do if I was ever going to finish these two long lists you left me by the way Mr. Jones you never really did explain what you were looking for. You never did really explained. What's a comet? Mr. Jones felt another headache coming on.

Uranias The Dream

Hi this is Urania. I just listened to Gair's frenzied voice mail but so far have not seen anyone from any Rent-This-Or-That agency. Perhaps he dreaming of his STORY called the Dream, here's that one. the Dream Mary! Wake up! Breakfast is in 30 minutes in this hotel! Mary's mom practically shook her daughter, who had overslept after apparently having a bad night. We have to be at the show finals at 9 AM you know - this is your big chance. You might win first prize!! Mary grimaced, rolled over and sat up. This WAS a big day - her entry in the regional horticultural show had made the finals! She knew her mom was proud, as was she. Im sorry mom - i had a crazy dream that seemed like it went all night! may mumbled, her feet hitting the floor. Dream, what dream said her mother - no time for that now, get dressed! As Mary threw on her clothes, she couldnt help it ... it was a crazy dream Mom . i dreamed i was this man . and he spent all his spare time ... i dont know what he did - he make star projectors. sat in sheds under homemade domes. he called them planetariums i think mom wasnt interested - you just had too hard a day yesterday - after all, having your Terrarium make the final 3 entries in the show! In 2 hours you could be Best Terrarium in Show! Lets go! called mom from the hall, and she used her daughters nickname this time. . coming mother said Mare...

Quaker

Time for supper announced mom and Gary come out of that pantry. Gary winced a 17 year old kid like him, like to be secretive. But it hadn't been easy. He'd been in the large converted pantry closet all day doing something and couldn't help but come out once or twice for black construction paper, white cardboard, staples, glue tape, you name it. Author dinners, Gary seem preoccupied, and mom noticed. She knows Gary had been spending twice as much time as usual at breakfast, but then rushing through his dinner to get back to his closet. Dad had just covered his usual tale of the day, all about business. Gary sisters giggled about this boiler that as soon as supper was cleared away, though Gary returned to the entranceway of the pantry, but then turn suddenly and said loudly show in 30 minutes. Show ask Mom What show show ask her sisters. Yet they were curiously in trance entranced by what he was up to back there, and they were soon ushered into a large pantry and sat on the floor. It was dark in there. Last came dad, his glasses perched on his nose, and mom soon joined him. Gary drew a curtain over the entrance and confronted his dubious family on the floor. Shutting off the light, he unveiled the stars. A gleam came from the dark and hundreds of pinholes carefully punched suddenly lit up. A sparkling wonder a light was within. Before his family could even react the gas was heard. The sky up above in the closet was transformed into a makeshift dome with paper and low glue and revealed the glory of the heavens. How on earth did you do this son his father asked from his place over by the entrance. Well started Gary and turned on the lights. There in front of them was a cylindrical star projector punched with hundreds of tiny star holes. Mom said Now wait, as she peered beyond Gary. Behind him on the floor. Were 10 other cylinders, all with the same wide brim headed, slightly grinning Quaker picture. Well said Gary to his mother rather sheepishly. planetariums are fun after all, but what I really like is my oats

Turn Signal, as read by Thalia

Hi Im Thalia, the Musey with nothing to Loozy, rha ha. Comedy. That was COMEDY! Here is one of Gair's weirder stories, he called this one Turn Signal. I think it was inspired by that time he was almost hit by a truck.  Turn Signal he left turn signal began blinking, but Bob didnt turn.   must have a short he thought to himself, since he hadnt indicated a left turn.  as he pulled through the intersection where he wasnt turning left or any other direction, the signal went out again.   thats that thought Bob.   weird, i hate cars with electrical problems.  on the way home from work that night, the same thing happened as he approached the same intersection.   only this time it was his right turn signal.  it began blinking about a block from the corner.  now thats really an odd coincidence thought bob, but again there was no explanation so he continued on home, not giving it another thought.  and it happened exactly the same every day that week.  to and from work.   saturday he didnt go out, but a trip down the same road sunday for groceries. elicited the same phantom signal on the way.  he took another way back.  no other errant signals.  finally bob couldnt stand it anymore however, and one friday night on the the way home from work he thought, what the heck .  and went ahead and turned like the signal had indicated.   turned into a field and over a fence where he thought he had seen an intersection ..    and floored it  his wheels never hit the ground 

Lost in the Outer Islands as read by Urania

lost in the outer islands of all my travels, never had i ventured as far as the outer islands. it was dusk when i got lost at sea and found myself landing on an unnamed coastline. how i had drifted so far i could not say i had no choice but to tie up my little boat for the night and venture out again in the morning, in bright sun and with clear eyes. in the fading light i could see stars begin to shine overhead,. the land of the island was montainous, and i walked alone into the nearest town. lighted windows beckoned as the night drew in. in the distance all round were .vague shapes which looked like immense pillars of rock of some unknown substance, but other vague shapes loomed in the darkness as well, and i could not discern their nature. .. i met no one in the streets of the little town, but the stars grew thick above as i looked in vain for a place to bed down for the night.. finally, as the dark grew deeper and deeper i threw myself on the ground and curled up and slept for what seemed like ages. and woke to a violent shaking, a shaking light partially blinding me as i dimly perceived a crowd of people now gathered around me, their voices murmuring in a language i couldnt quite make out. in virtual shock, i abruptly sat up to assess what my perceived predictament might be .. what had happened .. who were these vague people. where was i ..... you mustve dozed off came a voice from behind .. the show is over, time to go home came another with sheepish chagrin, i lifted myself upright off the planetarium floor where i had dozed off, rolling out of my chair onto the floor, and shuffled noiselessly towards the door with the other patrons..

Look at All of Them, as read by Polyhymia

I am Polyhymia, the Muse of Sacred Poetry, and this is the short story called 'Look At All of Them'. Which do you like better, your planetarium or your telescope? My sister had asked this question, peering into my eyes and as usual, I had no answer at hand. I like them both, I said, but she had a ready rebuttal. The problem is she intoned, you can't use them both at the same time. So one is always sitting idle. Somewhat taken aback by this revelation and without thinking I retorted. Oh, yes, I can. and I'll show you! So eager was I to come up with some way on the spot to use them both, I dragged my little telescope under the planetarium dome, and switched on my ancient Spitz planetarium projector at the same time. Stars immediately sprang to life on the dome. But my sister was unimpressed. I like your story she said, but your telescope is useless in here. Oh, no, it's not said I. And I swung it round and pointed it toward a blank spot on the dome off the tail of Leo, which was gleaming in the Spitz projected spring sky. Just look in here, young lady, I said. but I realized I had no plan, no way of winning the argument. I had been stalling for time and time was almost up, I thought ruefully. My sister bent down and peered into the eyepiece of the tiny Spyglass pointed toward the Realm of the Galaxies, or where it was in the real night sky anyway. She murmured something and played with the focus a minute and then let out a gasp. Look at them. Look at all of them she whispered. I thought she might just playing me for a fool though, leading me on by calling my bluff. Nudging her aside however, I was startled to see swimming in the eyepiece innumerable faint, wispy spiral pinwheels, gauzy white ghosts in a dark, blacker than ebony sky. Convinced she had been wrong. my sister kissed me on the cheek, which I hated, and simply said, Okay, so you can use your telescope in the Planetarium after all, and out the door she went. I turned back to the eyepiece to look again. But whatever we had both seen was gone. Now I only saw the smooth dome surface with a few projected out of focus stars. Dumbfounded, I spent several more minutes staring at the old Spitz projector silently beaming out 1000 or more stars. Many years have passed since this odd occurrence under the dome, and it has never been repeated or explained. But I smile to myself when I think back on it. Especially when that night long ago just before I shut off the Spitz light. I will never be sure. It may have just been a momentary power interruption. But I had the distinct impression that just for a split second., the old projector had winked at me.