It

Screeching to a halt, I was confronted
by this hideous, vile thing. It reeked--
putrid like something dead.

It looked like a giant oyster with one
giant bloodshot eye. It had scaly flaps
on each side.

It ambulated by osmosis, oozing its way
by flapping its flaps. I was frozen in my
tracks as it approached.

It uttered a low moaning sound. Then it
spoke in my language. "Help," it cried.
I assumed it was struggling to breathe
in the Earth's atmosphere.

Moved by its pathetic plea for help I
asked, "Are you having trouble breathing?"
"No," the thing replied. "The air is fine.
I've just arrived; point me at the nearest
Starbucks, I haven't had my morning
coffee yet."

Find more by Mike Berger in the Author Index.

Comment on this story in the Aphelion Forum

Return to Aphelion's Index page.