An Alien Perspective

by Shelly Steele

As writers, we love fiction. We can be anyone and do anything. What a life! Here is your chance to be an alien from another planet.

You have just arrived on Earth and have been taken in by a human family. You have just been given a chore. Tell us what it is and how the chore is done, from an alien perspective. I have written an example for you. Just for fun, can you guess what chore I got stuck with?

Lumps In The Sand

Standing in front of this box, filled with what appears to be sand, I am told to clean it out, but have no idea what is in this sand that needs cleaning out.

The box has a funny looking top on it that has a big hole in the front that this furry creatures goes in and out of. As I lift the top off, I am nearly knocked off my feet by a horrible smell. The smell is the worst smell I have encountered while on this planet. I don’t understand why the earthlings don’t just throw it out, or why it is in their place of dwelling. Oh, well, I just do as I am told.

First, I must take this metal thing that looks like a giant spoon but has long, thin holes in it and put it in the sand and lift it out again. When all the sand falls through the holes, there is a lump of stuff left on the metal thing. The lump is what I am supposed to put in this thing called a plastic bag. Sometimes the lump is hard, sometimes soft, but both kids smell bad !! I must continue to put this metal thing in the sand and take it out until there are no more lumps. I was told the lumps are waste products from a furry, four-legged creature the Earthlings are so fond of.

After all the lumps are out, I’m supposed to fill up the box with more of this type of sand. The sand is kept in a plastic container that has a funny looking stopper on top, usually blue in color, that when twisted will come off and leave a big hole on top of the container. When I look in the hole I can see the sand inside. When the container is turned upside down over the box, the sand comes out. Again, I must take this metal thing that looks like a spoon and rake it back and forth across the sand until it is smooth and even.

When I finish cleaning out the lumps, I must put the top back on the box. I then take the plastic bag, which the lumps are in, and twist the open end until it is closed. I then put this wire thing that has paper over it, called a twisty, and tightly wrap around the closed bag.

Now, I must take this bag out to a large, drafty, ugly room, that has a big can it, and throw it in there. I am supposed to do this with the box every day so the furry, four-legged creature can put more lumps in it. Strange, isn’t it?

Now, send us your alien perspective in 500 words or less.

Deadline July 7, 2005 12pm EST, USA

No submissions accepted after deadline.

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