A close encounter with an alien
KATERINA, Carl, Shane, Ben and Will were walking on the field, heading towards home.
Along the way, they were discussing their science project. Shane was showing his friends how to make a fire by rubbing a match across paper.
Suddenly, a spark flew and Shane dropped the paper on the grass.
It set a small flame that started to grow bigger in seconds.
“It’s all my fault,” groaned Shane as he took off in a full sprint.
Soon, the fire spread, and became a big bushfire.
Katerina stumbled along with Ben in the lead while calling out for Shane. They were coughing and choking in the smoke.
They followed Ben closely so that they would not be separated. The intensity of the fire was unbearable. The smoke blocked their sight.
Searching desperately for an escape, Ben scanned around. Realising that they were trapped, he tried to lift his friends’ spirits.
Ben said: “We might have a chance of finding Shane and get out of this bushfire. Perhaps Shane would find us instead.”
Katerina wept. She thought that maybe Ben was right. Maybe
Shane did escape before they did. She knew that he was a smart boy.
Carl stood quietly aside. He could feel the tension building up quickly. Silently, he tried to figure out a way. Soon, the only sounds were Katerina’s voice, the howling wind and sounds of the burning fire.
Suddenly, Carl froze. He could hear engines roaring but not quite close.
Will started to turn pale; the sounds were getting closer now.
“Guys, did you hear something?” stuttered Will.
Carl nodded uncontrollably, still speechless.
“What?” Katerina frowned.
She glanced up. A spaceship zipped across the bushfire, circled around the children and landed.
“Am I hallucinating?” murmured Carl. His voice was lost when an alien stepped out of the craft. The creature had lime green scales and a pointed nose and chin. It also had watery silver eyes that flickered.
The children stepped into the craft. They had never expected an alien to help them.
They found Shane outside the fire. Then they went home safely.
Wasn’t it an adventure? Although the alien was quite unexpected, it was rather a fun story to tell to friends. – Hazel Lim Zhan, 12
Write away!
We welcome original contributions (of not more than 600 words) from children aged 12 and below. The topic can be on anything you fancy. Please include your full name, age, gender, address and phone number. E-mail your stories to star2@thestar.com.my. We have a treat (worth RM92.70), sponsored by Nandos Malaysia, for the writer who sends in the best short story contribution in October.