Contest entry: Odd Neighbor at 3AM

This was written for  a contest prompt. You let a strange neighbor stay and wonder if it was a good decision at 3AM.  Unfortunately, the contest closed before I could enter, so here this story lies.  I'm not going to put it to sleep simply because it doesn't have any purpose(or isn't that good).

“Rats!” I exclaimed when the power went out around midnight.  I had been in the middle of an inspiring and insightful review on WDC.  I lit a candle muttering about the stupid power company, and then sat at the table to work a little longer on a project by candlelight.  Several minutes later, there was a knock on the door. 

I was a bit apprehensive about opening the door at this hour, but I saw through the window it was Reuben, from two doors down.  I had heard he was odd, but I hadn’t spoken to him much. He looked cold and frightened, so I thought, why not.

He came in and nodded. “Thank you for letting me in.  I saw the smoke from your chimney.  I have no heat without electricity, and it’s very cold.”

“That’s fine. I’ll get you some blankets.”  I smiled and made up the sofa.

I went to bed when he was settled.  Around 3 o’clock I awoke with a start to blinding light pouring in the window.  I went to look thinking it was the power company coming to fix the problem, or maybe there had been an accident.  I was shocked by what I saw.

There was a huge thing that looked like a spacecraft in the middle of my quiet street.  My eyes widened as I watched.  Someone, or something came out of the bright opening on the near side of the thing, and moved down the street.  It looked like it was heading toward Reuben’s house.

I went down the hallway to the living room and cautiously peered into the room.  Reuben was peeking over the back of my sofa, as I had been in the bedroom, but he looked like he knew what was going on.  I cleared my throat, and he turned around and sighed at the puzzled look on my face.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think they would find me.  I am from Uzebita, a planet on the edge of this arm of what you here call the Milky Way Galaxy.  It’s not far from here; I should have gone farther.  I am a prince on my planet, but I have no desire to take my throne, because with it I must marry within a year, then die after six.”  He hung his head sadly.  “I may be putting you in danger by being here.  I hoped they wouldn’t be able to find me, but with the power down, they can find my ship’s signal.  They will have found it by now, and will search for me.”

My disbelief was having a hard time in the face of the evidence I had been presented with tonight.  After a couple of tries to get my voice to work, I croaked intelligently, “You mean you’re an alien?”

He laughed a rueful laugh.  “Yes, I am.  Are you frightened?  Don’t be.  I won’t harm you.  The ones outside won’t harm you, either, if I go.  My people are peaceable, but they can be a bit overzealous at times.”

My wits had rallied by now somewhat, so I asked, “Why would you die?”

“Ah, my planet has had a long history of corrupt leaders.  The system was put into place to prevent a dictator from oppressing the people.  I was not ready to die yet, so I went away for a while.  I was going to return when I had experienced more.  My older brother has reached his end and now it is my turn.  It took them four years to find me, so at least I’ve had that.  I just hope I don’t return to anarchy, or summary execution.”  He shrugged and looked out again.  “ I must go; my duty awaits.  Thank you for your hospitality.  Farewell.”

I watched in stunned silence as he waved and went out the door into the street.  I wanted to yell “No, don’t go!  Stay here where you’re safe!”  But I only watched him leave.  The one outside was in the next-door neighbor’s yard.  It ran to Reuben and embraced him like an old friend, and then they went inside the craft and took off into the night sky.