Chapter 3:
Living Among Us
Ocean waves gently beat against the side of the boat as nine year old Janet leans over throwing bread into the air and watching as the Seagulls swoop in to catch it.
A few seagulls suddenly act as if they become irritated and head towards shore. “What is it guys?” The petite nine year old questions as if they can comprehend her worry for their well being.
Janet’s ears begin to faintly ring and she gazes into the sky as the sun catches her eyes causing her to squint. She shields the rays with her hand as she struggles to peer into the sky, with enough time to see the back of three foreign objects skirr across the clouds. The silver robotic space crafts disappear as quickly as they had appeared.
“Wow” she manages to gasp as they pass overhead.
She lingers in awe for a moment and then scrambles to the lower deck of the medium sized fishing boat.
“Daddy! Daddy!” She exclaims almost falling down the stairs.
“Careful Janet!” her mother reprimands as she strategically places hot scrambled eggs next to the bacon on a blue plastic plate.
“Sorry, mom!” Janet mentions nonchalant and she bounces over to her father. “Daddy!” she exclaims once again to make sure she has his undivided attention.
He smiles at her from over his steamy coffee cup and iPad where he is reading the morning news. “Listening,” he affirms while staring into Janet’s beady brown eyes.
“I just saw them!” she exclaims, “There were three flying over head!” she gestures up the stairs. “They are here! They are all coming! Quick let’s turn on the news and see if we can see anything!”
He starts to rise from the table bench out of the corner when, Susan, Janet’s mother, traps him with the plate of breakfast. “First we all eat as a family.” She demands. “This silly alien crap can wait.”
Daniel pushes himself back into his seat. “Your mother is right, Janet,” he affirms to her pleading eyes. “Let’s eat and then we will follow up on things.”
Janet plops herself into the bench next to her father as her mother brings her plate and sits down across from them. Janet quickly begins scarfing down her food.
“Janet.” Her mother warns “Lady bites.” She reminds her.
Janet gives an annoying sigh as her eyes shift to her father and he gives her another affirming nod. Janet begins taking smaller bites. “Do you think we will get to see any of the aliens on the news?”
Daniel goes to answer and Susan interrupts. “Really? Are we going to discuss aliens at our morning breakfast?”
Daniel confirms, “Would you prefer we talk about the weather?” Susan glares at Daniel. “So yes, we are going to discuss aliens with bacon. Morning conversation on any stature could be enjoyable.”
Janet gives a satisfied grin and she pushes into her father.
“Only encouraging the child, Daniel. Aliens are ludicrous. This whole government set up and space travel they are trying to form is only going to bring trouble.”
Daniel nods, “Perhaps; But humans can’t stay ignorant any longer to the fact that we aren’t God’s only prized positions.”
Susan scoffs as she takes a drink of her coffee.
Janet questions, “Mom, why do you hate this all so much? I mean, they think we are already living with aliens on our planet! What if someone we know is an alien?”
Janet’s mom gazes at her crossly and snaps, “Janet that is absurd. Speaking of those kinds of crazy things is going to only put you in the crazy house like your great grandmother.”
“Don’t tell Janet things like that.” Daniel intervenes while he kindly rubs Janet’s back “You are not going into to any mental institutions, you are not crazy.” He assures her. “You are staring reality in the eye. This is what it is happening today, this isn’t written in the books.” He pats Janet’s leg for a last bit of reassurance and sighs as he chews down some of his bacon. “Fact is Sue, rather you like it or not, this is happening. The world is changing and we can either accept it and move forward with it, or let the world pass us by and choose to live in a bubble.”
“Dad?” Janet raises her eyebrow as she shoves the last bit of egg into her mouth, “I’m done.”
“You know what? I’m finished after this last bite too,” he smiles with his last bite and shoves it into his mouth. “Why don’t you get up and I’ll follow.”
Janet hops out from the bench and walks over to the small couch with a TV. The blue futon has a blanket propped next to it for easy access when it is needed as a bed. Susan glares at Daniel, disapproving, and she grabs the dishes from the table, making sure to clatter them loudly, trying to prove her point. Daniel grabs his coffee from the table. “Sue…” he looks at her.
“No, Daniel, don’t.” She tries to stand her ground.
“Sue….” He lovingly affirms. “Harmless.” He whispers as he kisses her on the forehead.
She grins back at him slightly and shakes her head. She pushes his long locks of dark hair out of his eyes and slides her hand down his scruffy face and then further before it stops on the strong arm under his short sleeve, grey T-shirt. He closes his eyes for a brief moment, embracing her soft touch. She gently squeezes his muscle. “Keep that girls head out of the clouds.” She softly speaks asking for reassurance of her daughters well being.
Daniel nods, “This girl wants nothing more than facts.” He faintly smiles and then adds “Isn’t that right Janet?” as he leans over calling into her ear and shifting his eyes back to Susan. Janet is already propped in front of the small computer TV.
“Yup, that’s right daddy! Just the facts.” She grins passively as she leans back to the TV and then with a side note she adds, “And a visual of these things would be great. Why aren’t they showing them getting off those space crafts?”
Susan turns away and continues working on the dishes. She tries to refrain from rolling her eyes but the gesture happens involuntary.
Daniel walks over to Janet, “Turn it up. Seeing anything?”
Janet turns up the volume, “They aren’t showing anything really, just all the people that are in front of the congress building. Protesters and some weirdos that are alien lovers – oh, see there!” she quickly points as the screen tracks past the spectators. “They are wearing crazy outfits and holding ‘Love the Aliens’ signs and such. Look at their crazy clothes.”
Daniel nods, “Yes, well, with something like this I am sure you will get many flavors of people in one area. Security is everywhere.,” he points out, “ You know, they will probably show more interesting facts later in the day; If you just saw those things fly over ahead not long ago, they will have to land and all that jazz. Why don’t we head up and take the boat out for a bit, see what we catch and then come down later for some updates.”
Janet hesitantly nods. “Um, okay” She agrees.
Daniel follows Janet upstairs as he leads her from the small of her back. He pauses and glances back at Susan. “You will be up soon? Need help first?”
“Nah, I got it.” She grins, “Be up.”
Daniel leans down part of the steps while bracing himself against the tiny banister. He pushes her long chocolate hair from the base of her neck. “See ya up there, mate.” He whispers into her ear as he kisses the base of her neck. He leans back and gazes into her gray eyes for a moment and then he hurries up the stairs calling to Janet. Susan gives a faint smile as he disappears to the top of the boat. She then finishes drying the dishes with the towel and places them on the drying mat. Her hour glass body shifts as she gazes up the stairs to assure that her family is releasing the anchors from the dock and will not be returning soon. She slinks over to the small screen and watches intently. The newscaster tries to narrate as another foreign object takes shape in the background of the congress building. “I’ll be damn,” Susan gasp from under her breath, “Grandma, you may have not been too crazy after all.”
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