Ten Year Old Aliens

Tracy Juniper lived on Diamond Street in South Laguna Beach, California. Her parents had a beachy type of cottage that she grew up in since she was around six years of age. Before that, they all lived in Europe, including her brother, Trent. Tracy wished she had some exotic name, but her parents weren't too creative during her early years of life. Trent and Tracy..how corny, they always thought. Trent was younger than Tracy by four years. he was a tow headed kid-blonde, blonde from the moment he opened his eyes in this world. Tracy had red hair-summer blonde, people liked to say. Her hair was super straight, unlike her blonder than blonde brother-who had a head full of curls.

Tracy was now 19 and still lived at home. Trent was 15. Their parents were two hip hippies that were artists in this unique, but wealthy beach communitmake-up. Actually, she was only turning 45 in a few months. Jesse was 45 too and had a strong build and long, straight hair that fell to his shoulders. They both didn't look like they'd ever been associated with someone named "Trixie."y. Her parents' names were Jesse and Trixie. Another T name! Tracy thought that if she had been named, Beatrix, like her mother , she would keep the formal name. "Trixie" was ridiculous.It sounded like some gum popping waitress on roller skates at some retro diner. her mother was petite, but had thick, thick hair that she tied up in a velvet headband while she worked. She had a bright smile and was known to wear bright, printed clothing...sometimes mixed with denim.
Tracy's friends thought it was funny that she called her family home a cottage. It was very sturdy and an architect's dream. There was wood all around and curtains on the windows, but most of time, the curtains were open to see the jaw dropping view of the ocean. Tracy would never get tired of seeing this view. Her bedroom was faced more toward the trees, but there was a window in her bathroom that captured the sea. Trent got a full view of the ocean from his room, as did their parents.


Today, Tracy got up early, even though it was a Saturday.. She pulled on her bathing suit, a pair of shorts, tank top and dropped into a straw beach bag her wallet, towel, sunscreen, hat and her camera.


She had a 35mm camera with a move-able lens. It was a digital camera, but was designed like a non digital one. She was in a community college class-Photography 101. She had taken pictures all her life. But this was the first level that everyone had to take. Her parents and friends called her, "Ms. Shutterbug." She didn't get defensive about the nickname and it stuck.


Tracy put on tennis shoes and threw a pair of flip flops into her bag. She quickly made her bed.


No one else was up yet. she tiptoed into the huge kitchen, grabbed toast and peanut butter and headed out the door, after writing a note about her where-abouts to her family.


"Be back at 12pm. Gone to beach!-Ms. Shutterbug" She rushed back to her room...to get her cell phone and then she was outside, locking the heavy wooden door behind her.


When Tracy got to the beautiful cove by her house, she stepped into the sand and felt the softness between her toes. She put her multi-colored towel down and then shed off her clothes and ran to the water, putting one toe in....brr. It was cold for May! The she went back to her towel, sat down and took out her camera. She began snapping away. She was close enough to the water's edge. She could see children playing, sand castles being built and the ebb and flow of the waves softly spiraling into the sand. A man walked by her line of vision. He looked her way. he had curly, thick hair and big, wide set eyes. he had on a "Chargers" shirt and short shorts. Tracy didn't consider herself that intuitive, but something didn't sit right when she saw him. She snapped a picture of him when he wasn't looking.


Later, the police in town would ask her how she knew to take a picture. All she could explain to them was that she felt a "vibe", not a great one.


Tracy took a dip in the ocean, dried off and then headed back to her parents' house. She mentioned to her her brother that there was this strange guy on the beach and she got goosebumps and fear scrambled up her spine after he looked at her. Her brother had the TV on. This is unbelievable. Is it this guy? There was a sketched description on the news and it matched her memory of what the man looked like.


"What did he do?" Asked Tracy. Trent looked at her intensely. "He's a rapist, according to Laguna Beach Police. I can't believe you took a picture of him...you could be putting your life in risk!"


"So he's coming after nineteen year old girls?" asked Tracy. "I think any girl, woman.." Trent answered. "So you and your friends and mom are going to have to be super careful. What if this guy comes after you and them?"


"I'm not worried," said Tracy. "I'm going to develop my pictures and then bring them down to the police department."


"Tracy, It may be too late," said Trent in an alarmed tone.


Tracy went into the family dark room. She decided to develop the photos she took. The photo of the man at the beach...came out dark and foreboding.


She let the photo dry, changed into a tank top and skirt...then, when she looked at the print in the light, she saw that there was something in the background... a bright light hanging over the man's left shoulder. She looked closer and saw that it was the face of an alien. She took three raspy breaths, climbed up the stairs and grabbed Trent by the arm. Trent looked at her in shock...


"Trent, he's not a rapist..he's an extraterrestrial!"


He almost looked like he would laugh, but then he saw the picture...


"Then he must have one sadistic twin brother," said Trent.


"That's it!! He has to have a twin brother that's a rapist..or do you think an alien is controlling his behavior?"


"Tracy...really...let the police solve this..they must have some 'Men in Black' swat team!"


Now it was Tracy's turn to stifle a laugh...then, they both heard a crash in their backyard..a gigantic noise of outrageous proportions...it was almost deafening. A huge UFO was in their backyard...and all of a sudden, the man...the man they are planning to turn in...to the police...well, his picture at least..it's him...walking toward the spacecraft out of nowhere...like he's walking toward the bus! And he takes a quick look over his shoulder, with an apple in his hand and the sliding door of the spacecraft opens...no signs of aliens, but a greenish light and then the man is swallowed by the UFO and it shoots up like reversed lightning toward the sky.


Trent and Tracy are now holding each other out of fear and then push each other away..


"You're not really scared are you?" they both ask each other at once..


"So what/who is he?" asked Tracy.


"Some kind of alien or someone who works for aliens?"


Just then the phone rang...fast and shrill. "Bring...Brrring!"


"This is the Laguna Beach Police Department calling...we're calling to see if you've seen a man fitting this description...several women, men, and pets have recently disappeared from our community..."


Tracy interrupted the man on the phone..


"We saw him, but he's not possibly human...he just went up in a spaceship from our backyard..."


"We'll be right there!" shouted Trent into the phone.


He dragged Tracy by her arm. She could barely grab her keys. The police station was in walking distance. They walked in and they noticed there was tension in the air. Police were lined up and held at gunpoint by women and men in big, furry purple uniforms. The faces of these "people" were young looking...almost like ten year old children. Tracy and Trent looked at each other and knew they were the aliens and they looked like Teletubbies!


Tracy quickly handed a head police officer the photo of the man that she snapped the other day.


"He's no rapist! He's an alien! And I think Laguna is going to become drastically underpopulated if we don't stop them!"


The officer looked back at her...stunned.


"He is invincible," Tracy said. "I doubt any bullets will sink into him..." She handed the police officer her picture and she saw that he took out a flashlight that flashed Green, and the man's face turned Green.


"See, Miss. This is an alien detector. If he wasn't an alien, his face would turn purple," said the head police officer...who Tracy learned was named Officer Hanley.


"Well, alright then...my brother and I are going to head out," said Tracy.


"Do as you wish, but the town of Laguna Beach is in extreme trouble and this will take a call to the CIA and all governmental agencies. This is a disaster...similar to a fire or landslide. We need help!"


Before a Teletubby alien could grab either Tracy or her brother, they ran back home. Luckily, their parents were home and they told them the whole story. They turned on the TV and a reporter was in Laguna and ten year old Teletubbies were running after people, but Tracy noticed they were only running after people with stryofoam cups. They would take a cup and swallow it whole.


"Oh wow!" Tracy exclaimed. "They are trying to save the environment! They are eating styrofoam even if it's a detriment to them."


Tracy called the downtown police station and told the chief officer of this recent chain of events. 


"Your doughnuts of glazed and sprinkles are safe. They're after stryofoam. Tell everyone to hide the stryofoam drinks. They are helping us to make sure we use recyclable materials!"


The whole staff of police looked at her in disbelief.


"It's true!" yelled Tracy. 

My Thoughts about You

There's something I can't forget...the way your lips tried sincerely to sound out, pronounce my name. It was coincidental that we met at the campus lounge aka bar with amazing veggie burgers! Over the loud, thumping music...you told me your name..Allen. And my name...Constanuela...you said Constant-wella. It wasn't pretty.

I was walking up to the jukebox and you whistled. I wasn't that dressed up, but I am sure I looked hot. Back in those days, I was wearing miniskirts with boots and  tight tube tops under button down shirts. It would look ridiculous now, but cute then...with my tight abs from swimming and running. My long, black curls surrounded my face and my red, rosy lips looked tough. Except people told me that when I smiled, my whole face transformed and I looked extremely angelic and kind.

A boy walked up to me..not quite a man in many ways. I was 19 and all woman. He was 20 and still very boyish with high top shoes, donning a "Nirvana" t-shirt and Black faded Levis.

You whistled at me right in the middle of a run down campus restaurant pub.  I turned and looked over my right shoulder and was pretty embarrassed. I didn't expect that open kind of hello. You looked at me and made eye contact. You didn't walk away and I started walking backward. A girl to my left smiled and laughed...the place was packed, so it wasn't like many people noticed, but I noticed and those within my two feet radius. You stepped up to the plate...literally, figuratively, and although it was jarring...but looking into your blue, green eyes and  staring at your lopsided, warm grin...I was hooked...and so we dated and eventually settled down together.

We're now living in a house by Bass lake. It's comforting to have you nearby and it's a calm place to live except for the crazy, loud summers when people camp and hike here. I thought we would be a couple of wild things, but here we are...hanging out on a lake..you go work in town and I'm a housewife basically. You don't know, but there's a baby on the way..our baby. I found out it's going to be a boy. I'm sitting outside and the sun ripples through the trees and I feel sensual..wearing my one piece and shorts. I'm only a month pregnant. You have always wanted a child and here's to hoping you will be just as eager as I am to see our first born, but the minute after I have our little one...who I affectionately call, "my heart," I want to move somewhere...not into a loud, crowded city like New York, but at least a bigger town...a place that has some small town charm and open space...and since this place bores me to tears...I don't look forward to our son's reaction. Nature is good, but not if you are wanting raise a little man... while we learn to love one another with that rush of passion again...