The impact followed a shrill whistle at 2:00 a.m. Car alarms on Peddle Avenue blared. Dogs howled. People switched on their porch lights throughout the neighborhood.
Carmela Perkins approached the smoking crater in her backyard, flashlight flickering in her trembling hand. Was it a meteorite? Maybe an alien visitor?
She could be famous.
She scrambled into the crater and emerged with an empty metal container covered in cryptic symbols. “Fate just works in strange ways sometimes,” she told reporters. Her story made the front page.
High above Earth, a tentacled police officer pulled over a space cruiser for littering.
Haha! Love this. So creative.
This is great, a well-thought-out story, I liked the ending.
Aww, thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it so much.
Thank you so much. I’ve always wanted to do a spin what visitors might bring to Earth. ^_^
Your story cheered me up. Thanks!
That is high praise, indeed. Thank you so much. I’m thrilled that this story brightened your day.
Love the twist! Great story.
Thanks. I’m glad the twist came across so well at the end, and that you enjoyed it. ^_^
Great ending! You never know, it could happen!
I hope that if we ever do get visitors to Earth from distant parts, they would do something like that. Definitely. ^_^
P.S. I hope they are more likely to do something like that, I meant to say–but to get caught for that act as well by the proper authorities. Hehe.
Fun short! I like the twist, comic!
Thanks! ^_^
Clever!
Thank you so much!
Love the story.
The only comment I have, remove one word “just” and it will shine.
Thank you so much, Judi. I always appreciate the feedback on my works, and I also found “just” a bit iffy. So if I ever place this piece anywhere else in the future, I’ll probably remove it. Thanks, again.
This is super cute and I love getting to see both earth and the space aliens! The idea of them getting ticketed for littering is hilarious.
Thanks! It just happened to occur to me in an odd moment, so I’m glad it came across so well.
Fantastic last line! Great job!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed it so much! Thank you! Hearing that makes my day.
Too funny! Very creative.
Awwww, thank you so much. ^_^
Joyce, most imaginative! really enjoyed the twist at the end.
Thank you so much for you kind words. I’m so glad the twist worked well, and that you liked it!
This is a fun story! Love the twist.
Thank you so much, Sheri! Knowing that it brightened someone’s day really makes my day. ^_^
Great story. Similar to my very first published 101
The Invasion?
A huge alien spaceship suddenly materialized over Chicago, joined moments later by two others.
Immediately, the U.S. Army mobilized, but they held their fire. Communications were sent up, but for one anxious hour, nothing came back. Then the ships began broadcasting the same indecipherable message: Xxalktrrp44#50-71-kdr#jj?
The message kept coming. Many feared war.
All cannons, laser beams and top-secret weapons were aimed on the ships.
Just before firing, the army’s line rang.
“Don’t fire!” the intelligence officer yelled. “The linguists cracked the code!”
“War?” the general asked, heart pounding.
“No, they want to know if they can get their parking validated…?
Hahaha, I love your story as well. It’s fun to imagine people here on Earth as maybe being a little too paranoid about anyone touching down from elsewhere.
Sci-Fi tales where Earth becomes highlighted as just one possible destination, among many, where interstellar travelers might go are among my favorites. In them, our planet isn’t a singular location that unfamiliar lifeforms are trying to conquer, but oftentimes a pitstop used before moving onto somewhere else.
Anyway, I’m thrilled you enjoyed my story. ^_^
Thanks for this gem of a story, Joyce.
Awww, thank you so much, Anna. I appreciate it. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much!
Joyce, I agree. Do you read Heinlein? He sounds like someone you would enjoy.
Oooooh, I hadn’t heard of Heinlein. Thanks for the recommendation! Are there any of his stories you would suggest I read first?
Even Heinlein’s YA is worth reading. The novel, ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ is one of the best books I have ever read. His time travel story, ‘THE BUTTERFLY effect’ is great.
Ooooh, thank you so much for the recommendation! I’ll need to look that novel up, and Even Heinlein in general. ^_^
This is a fun little yarn, Joyce ?
That was the hope. Hehe! Glad you enjoyed it. ^_^
A funny read at the end. Climatic then a laugh
Awww, I’m glad you got a laugh out of this tale. That really makes my day!