I approached the alien with respect and a bowed head. I’ve heard this is the way animals show that they mean no malice when investigating each other. She was staring at me intently, so I dropped my line of vision and slumped my shoulders a bit.
Dramatic I admit, but I was slightly nervous.
I lifted my palms to face the sky with a light gesture at the side of my body and said a heartfelt, “I come in peace!”
The alien chuckled a bit, giving me the boost I needed. I lifted my eyes an inch to see that she was calm, alert and open to a dialogue. In a slow rhythmic tone I continued pleasantly toward my new acquaintance.
“I am Katie. I am a human being, a woman. I am from earth. Mostly I’ve lived in DC and New York City. I like to think of myself as a purposeful but free spirit. Thank you for allowing me to visit your land.”
The alien nodded and smiled.
“I have been told of this place,” I continued. “I have friends, well, I had friends who have told me that you exist,” I said laughing to myself.
“Most of them live in LA and are a bit weird, actors of course! They talk about you and this place with much respect,” I said pointedly. “What shall I call you?” I asked biting my bottom lip…. What name do you call this beautiful land?
The alien pressed her dewy lips into a purposeful line and annunciated clearly her name; “You can call me So-bri-e-ty” she said, then returned to her thoughtful assessment of me.
“Right, Right, duh! Right obviously…. Ummmm, well, Hell-O So-bri-e-ty, I said with sing-songed joviality. It is sooooo wonderful to finally meet you. I don’t believe we’ve met before” I stammered… “At least not anytime I can clearly remember!”
She raised a knowing eyebrow at my forgetfulness…
“Oh?” I continued surprised, “we have met? Wow, when was that?” I asked with genuine interest.
Sobriety pressed her lips into the tight readied line once more and with perfect diction replied, “It was the early 90’s Katie, You were in high school when we last met. You were 16 years old”
I shook my head in disbelief, “Wow Sobriety, what a memory you have! I’m 29 now, so, crap I’ve never been good at math but that sounds like what? 13 years since we last knew each other?”
Sobriety nodded soberly and I darted my eyes back and forth as though scanning the many gone years.
“Well, here I am!” I shouted lifting a hand in yearning for what I thought was a well deserved high five.
Sobriety stared at my hand, still considering me.
“Its better late than never Sobriety!” I negotiated defensively. “I’m here now! I’m here standing in front of you. Give me a high five!” I exclaimed.
She sighed softly and her pupils pulsed, taking me into a deeper gaze.
“You only just got here, she noted. Don’t you think it’s a bit early for celebration? Let me show you around. Lets spend more than a day together. Lets spend more than a week together and then I’ll give you a high five.”
I’ve never been fond of rejection. The expectant stare from Sobriety made me feel naked and not in a good way. She was judging me. I just knew it.
I darted my eyes away from her, searching for some kind of pause, a momentary distraction from her penetrating eyes.
“I AM going to stay a
