The Light Source

THE LIGH T SOURCE

As I was driving home from work a great idea occurred to me. My backseat is full of freshly laundered clothes, why not just keep on driving? Take a vacation. What a fantastic idea. I don’t even have to stop at home for clothes! I’ll find a hotel with a pool and soak up some California sunshine. I’ll have to stop and get gas. A full tank will get me all the way to Palm Springs. There’s not much between Colton and Palm Springs, but if you love the desert like I do its paradise.
After an hour of driving in the darkness of the desert, away from the city glare I was feeling good, relaxed. I started singing a song I made up. Maybe I’ll right down the lyrics at the hotel.

In the distance is a bright light appeared. It looked like a gas station or diner. Why is it so darn bright? I was enjoying the darkness for a change.
As I approached the gas station the mustangs headlights and dash lights seemed to be dimmer but I wasn’t sure if it was really something electrical or just an optical illusion from the sudden brightness of the station. Still having three quarters of a tank I had no intention of stopping for gas. But as I got closer the headlights flickered, this time I was sure it wasn’t just my eyes playing tricks on me, something was up with the cars electric system. Good thing there was a service station here. I better get of at this exit just to be safe.

Suddenly a shadowy figured crossed the road, then another, followed be a cloud of sparkles like a hand full of glitter blown in a breeze. I couldn’t stop fast enough to avoid the glowing cloud of dust – I didn’t think I needed to stop for a dust cloud. As the car passed through it the headlights went out, the engine sputtered and died. I coasted along as far as she would go, hoping to be closer to a phone and the station.

I sat for a minute or so gathering my nerves. What was that strange glittery cloud? What was it chasing? What should I do? Even if the gas station were open, the mechanic wouldn’t be there this late. I couldn’t see the attendant, if there was one. I couldn’t see a pay phone either. I was scared of leaving the safety of my locked car. Suddenly this trip seemed like a bad idea after all.

There were a couple of houses or buildings silhouetted in the light from the station. But it didn’t appear as though anyone was home.

Where had those kids come from? Were they kids or animals? Maybe they can take me to their house and I can call my roommate for a ride. Somehow it seems like a better idea than going to that gas station. It’s just too bright there. It’s silly but the brightness is creeping me out.

I grope around in the dark for my purse and toss my keys in. Then I remembered my keychain is a flashlight. Well, I don’t need it right now the gas station has enough light to see the road. As I get out of the car I walk toward the strange dust cloud but it seems to have blown away.

“Hey, is anybody there?” I shout.

I listen; the air is warm and still, no sound, not even a cricket.

“Is anyone here?” I say again.

Then from where I saw the dust cloud I hear crying. It sounds like a little girl. Maybe she got attacked by a dog or coyote, I should help her if I can. I arm myself with a large rock and head down the road. The road and sand crunch beneath my feet as I head toward the tiny cries. I can hear my heart pounding. I feel as though someone at the gas station is watching me. Maybe he saw my headlights before they went out. Maybe he’ll come and help.

I could barely make out a bush up ahead. I think the girl might be hiding behind it. As I approached I thought of turning on my flashlight but decided a female voice might be less frightening.

“Hey, are you okay? Don’t worry I wont hurt you. My car broke down I need to use a phone. Do you live around here?”

There’s another voice moaning and rustling in the bushes now. “Ouch, hey, what hit me?”

Coughing and moaning a teenager crawls to the road.

“Mike! You’re alive. I was afraid you…” The little girl runs to her brother and hugs him. “Oh, your okay, your okay!”

“The glitter thing,” Mike coughs, “it went through me, zapped me, knocked me out! You okay Becky?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Who are you?” Mike asks just noticing me.

“I’m Alice. I think that glitter cloud killed my car just before it zapped you.”

“Where are you from?” says Becky who looks about six years old.

“Bloomington. I was heading for Palm Springs.”

“Your not from outer space are you?” She says.

“No,” I laugh, “I’m not from outer space, are you?”

“No.”

“It got my brother. It could get us next.”

“What?” I say.

“The alien.” They say in unison.

I think of the glitter thing that went across the road less than five minutes ago. “What happened here? How do you know it’s an alien?”

“Well, have you ever seen a creature that looked like a cloud of glitter before?” the little girl says.

“Yeah, about five minutes ago.”

“Do you think it’s from Earth?”

“I’m not sure. It could have been a cloud of dust… Hey! What are you doing out here so late?”

“My mom let us watch the meteor shower, they’re best after midnight. My brother Mike is with me so it’s okay. A very bright meteor came right at us. It crashed the ‘lectric pole and the lights went out at our house. My brother said we could dig up the meteorite and sell it for lots of money. But before we could do that the glitter thing knocked by bro…”

But Mike cuts her off, “where did it go?”

“I think it went toward the gas station. Maybe we should go to your house and call the police.” I say.

“I don’t think we can, all the utility lines went down with that pole.” Mike points toward a smoking stump that was a utility pole.

“What about your mom? Can she drive us out of here?” I ask.

“She’s working night shift at the diner. She wont be home ‘til morning.”

“Look! There it is at the station hovering around that light. Stay low so it won’t see us.”

We lie down on a soft cool sand dune and watch the alien. The lights at the station get much dimmer. The glitter becomes a kaleidoscope of colors. The images are so strange, like nothing on Earth. Then the gas station goes dark. The only light comes from Mr. Glitter.

“He must have blown a fuse!” Mike says.

We watch as though we’re at a drive-in movie. It appears that the creature is replaying his approach to Earth. We can see our blue planet, just like on TV only better, 3-D like. He’s heading toward the dark side of Earth, very fast, traveling with the meteors. Then he hits the pole and darkness. Then all his glitter turns red, then shifts to blue, then red again, over and over, red, blue, red, blue.

“Oh he looks scared,” Becky sighs.

“It doesn’t make a sound. I don’t think it can hear either.” Mike says.

“Hey, Mr. Glitter!” Mike shouts.

“Stop that, Shhhhh!” I say.

But the alien does not seem to notice. Red-blue-red-blue on and on. It starts to become smaller and flattens itself out on the pavement near the gas pumps. It was as big as a bus before but now it’s the size of a car.

“I have an idea. Becky, you go with Alice and get all the batteries we have, also get your paper and crayons. I’m going to sneak around the back of the station and see if I can get the power back on.”

“I don’t know Mike, that thing could be dangerous. We should just hide at your house until your mom comes home.”

“No, don’t worry, I got a good feeling about this. He needs our help. He means us no harm. I can feel it. He’s a traveler, just passing through, like everyone else that comes here.”

“My brother is right, I feel it too.”

“Okay, I guess, but wait, take this with you. It has a pen light on it, you might need it to find the circuit breaker.”

I follow the sound of Becky’s footsteps as she makes her way down a familiar path toward home. There’s no moon, the sky is incredibly clear and you can see more stars than ever. Occasionally a meteor trails across the sky. I look back to see if I can spot Mike, but it’s too dark.

When we reach the front steps of Becky’s house I say, “Maybe you should go in alone, I can’t see a thing and would probably slow you down. I’ll just sit here and keep an eye out for the alien. Don’t forget the batteries and a flashlight.” Besides, I thought, I want to watch this great meteor shower! I thought of the alien traveling through space along side the meteorites. Ah, the freedom, what a rush that would be!

I can hear Becky ripping batteries out of small electronic devices. Then the rustle of paper, a handful of wax crayons clattering into a cloth bag or backpack and then a zipper. Soon she was back at my side.

“Wow that was quick. Did you get a flashlight?”

“I don’t know where it is. But I got some batteries.”

“What are the batteries for?”

“Treats for Mr. Glitter, he’s hungry.”

“Hey, good idea, peace offerings!”

“Let’s go see what your brother is up to.”

As we approach the gas station it is still dark. The alien has shrunk down to the size of a manhole cover. He’s still flashing blue and red but getting dimmer.

We hear banging behind the station, “let’s go see if Mike needs help.”

“I can’t get the lock off the circuit breaker box. I need a crowbar or a piece of pipe. This rock is no good.”

“Use it to break the window, there’s got to be a crowbar in the garage.”

Mike carefully uses my penlight with his hand over it so it won’t attract the alien’s attention. “Got something! This should do it!”

The latch was pretty rusty and broke loose on the first try. With the penlight we could see the main breaker was in the off position.

“Wait, are you sure you want all those lights on again? Maybe we should turn some of them off first.”

“Yeah, lets try to find the switches inside.”

We found three panels of switches inside, one in the garage and two by the front counter and register. We turned off all but one switch on the panel marked “outside.”

“Okay lets turn ‘er on!”

“Wait, where’s Becky?”

We both looked toward the dim glow of the alien. There, silhouetted between the gas pumps was Becky squatting down and frantically drawing a picture. Then she tossed a battery into the alien cloud. It made no sound when it landed. The alien went from blue sparkles to green!

She tossed another and the creature moved toward her as she backed toward the front door of the station. Mike frantically unlocks the door as Becky and the alien approach.

“Go flip the switch!” Mike shouts.

I run around back crunching broken glass under my feet, nearly trip and slam the switch into place. I have to see what happens so I run back.

The florescent bulbs over the pumps flicker on. The cloud hesitates for a moment then changes direction toward the light.

“Wait, you have to see my picture!” Becky says as she runs after the cloud.

It is growing larger and displaying a swirling rainbow of colored sparkles.

“Turn on all the lights! He wants more light!” Becky shouts.

I stand there paralyzed with amazement as Mike flips on more of the switches.

The cloud quickly grows back to the size of a school bus again. It’s jewel tone sparkles intensify. Becky jumps up and down waving a piece of black construction paper. A tendril forms from the cloud and slowly spirals down toward Becky’s drawing. Becky stops bouncing around and just holds the picture up high for the alien to see. As soon as the tendril touches the paper it flies up and swirls into the cloud and disappears. The cloud floats back away from the lights toward the desert. Groups of colored sparkles move toward each other and begin forming shapes, and then a picture emerges.

“It’s my drawing! He copied my drawing!” Becky bounces with glee.

A billboard size version of Becky’s crayon drawing appears in the air. Three stick figures stand smiling and waving atop a miniature Earth as a meteor shower streaks across the sky. Next to the Earth is a multicolored cloud draw with a whole handful of crayon colors.

“He has to get back to his ship so he can catch up with his friends.” Becky squeals with excitement and races toward the broken utility pole. We follow Becky and the rainbow cloud to the small crater the being had left when it crashed. The sand had gotten so hot it melted into a crackled glass like surface. In the bottom of the depression sat a globe of liquid silver.

The entire cloud of rainbow sparkles converged into a white glowing ball the size of a basketball and hovered around the desert as if looking for something. Then it would stop and a rock would float up and into the glowing orb. I did this until it had picked up three stones. As the orb slowly approached them it swirled around and returned to its glittery cloud shape again. The three stones dropped to the sand. A picture began to form in the cloud again. It was a mirror image of the three of them standing in front of the gas station.

The image faded into rainbows and the cloud poured into the little silver orb like a multicolored whirlwind. The orb hovered a moment then streaked across the sky disappearing into the heavens.

In the sand the alien visitor had left three souvenirs. Three rainbow-colored stones with a strange comet-like symbol etched into each.

“Hey guys, what do say we meet here for next years Perseid Shower?”

“Count me in!”

“Me too!”