Taylor Hanson looked at the TV and sighed. He and his brothers were on a month long break from the music industry. They had just finished their American tour a week ago, but Taylor was already bored. They had asked their parents to let them go back to work sooner, but their parents were adament. Not until they were more rested, and not until they had settled into a normal family routine again. Taylor had argued that is was stupid to get back into a 'normal family routine' again just to break out of it at the end of the month. His tone had been a bit overly whiny, and his parents had just sent him to his room.
He changed the channel. There was really nothing on. Turning to MTV he saw the Titanic video. He quickly changed the channel again. He passed the news channel, his finger clicking automatically every few seconds on the channel button, and caught a face filled with barely controlled excitement, and the words "amazing news". He turned back. If it was amazing, he might as well listen to it.
"-gotten word that contact with another planet has, in fact, been established. This extraordinary peice of news comes to us directly from Washington," the newswoman continued. "Bill?"
The screen flashed to a middle aged man in a wrinkled, yet clearly expensive, suit. He was standing in the middle of a crowd in front of the White House, and was just as excited as the anchorwoman had been.
"Thanks, May. Now, this information was released to the public only a few short hours ago, and already the world is reeling. This, apparently, has been something that the government has been keeping under wraps for the past few months, since they first made contact last May. By government, I should really say the combined governments of the Americas, as well as of Europe and Asia. In fact, most of the world leaders have been aware of this, and I find it remarkable that it never leaked out."
Taylor blinked. He had been staring at the TV, fascinated.
"Hey! Guys! Come here!"
Zac walked in, twirling a breadstick between his fingers. Isaac followed a few seconds later. So did their mother, carrying a wide awake Zoe, annoyed that Taylor had woken the baby up.
"Tay, I finally got her to sleep. I've asked you not to yell in the house," she scolded.
"Look," he pointed, ignoring his mother.
They looked. And slowly identical expessions of shock settled on their faces.
"Wow," Zac breathed.
"I don't believe this," Mrs.Hanson murmered, sinking onto the floor to kneel next to Taylor.
"Aliens." Ike went to the phone. "I'm calling Dad, ok?" Their father was meeting with some Mercury people. "I want to be the one to hear his reaction."
"Wait." Zac jumped up. "Put him on speakerphone."
"Call your sisters first. This is something they shouldn't miss," Mrs.Hanson instructed. "And Mac, too."
Ike nodded, and called up the stairs to them. They were all assembled in the TV room in a few moments. Just as Ike was about to pick the phone up, it rang. He jerked his hand back slightly, in surprise, but then he picked it up.
"Dad!" he answered. Their mother motioned. "We were just about to call you. Hold on, let me put you on speakerphone."
"Hi kids, Diana," Mr. Hanson's voice crackled from the telephone. "I have some amazing news!"
"So do we," Jessica interupted, having been caught up on the events by Zac.
"You guys first, then."
"Aliens have been discovered," Avery yelled meladramatically, unable to contain herself any longer.
"Oh. You heard, then," came the slightly disappointed voice of their father.
"You knew? What's going to happen?" Mrs.Hanson went to stand by the phone.
"I just heard," he answered. "That's part of my news. And frankly, I don't think anything will happen, really. Not anything like a war, at least. This isn't a movie, and I doubt they will swoop down and try to take over the world."
"I hope not. But I meant more along the lines of communication. Will we be able to visit each other? Will the two planets be friendly?"
"Actually, there are peace offerings going out from both sides. There are also plans for an interworld fair. Which is why I called."
"We're invited?" Zac guessed, excited.
"What's it going to be like? Are they just going to talk about what each world is like or what?" Taylor asked, joining in.
"Calm down, boys. But yes, we might go, if we can make time. It will be a fair with tables about food, history, music, art, writing, and just generally the culture of each world. It will be on their world, since they have more space. And I've got big news." He paused. "Hanson has been invited to play as part of the musical demonstration."
back to the main page