Anthony was somewhat of a misfit. He had never been one to conform, to follow the leader. His parents were divorced and hated each other. He lived with his mother who constantly tried to pawn him off on his grandparents. He loved his grandparents, but they were old and in poor health. He didn't mind helping them. God knows his parents had little time for them.
He was a bright student but took little interest in school activities. He loved to read scifi and dreamed of a future full of new possiblities, a future that seemed to come at a snail's pace. College was a year away and he hadn't decided if he would attend or just get a job. Jobs were hard to come by, but so was tuition. Things could change in the next year. He didn't have to decide today.
As Anthony helped his grandfather gather firewood, they talked about the old days. This was Grandpa's favorite topic of discussion, probably because he remembered it better than he remembered yesterday. Anthony had heard this particular story many times before but never failed to show interest in every word. The smile upon his grandpa's face made him hope that he would someday have such cherished memories.
It was mid August and school would be starting soon. It was a hot and humid day, but Grandpa had insisted on gathering firewood. Procrastination was the devil's handiwork he insisted. Never put off anything until tomorrow, if it can be done today.
“Grandpa, what is that?” asked Anthony. “Lying beneath that big oak.”
“I think it's a girl,” said Grandpa as they drew nearer to the huge tree. “She may be injured.”
“Maybe she's just sleeping,” said Anthony. “Don't frighten her.”
“Excuse me young lady,” said Grandpa. “Are you okay?”
She opened her beautiful blue eyes but said nothing.
“Are you okay?” asked Anthony. “Can you get up?”
She smiled up at Anthony but still remained silent.
“What's your name?” asked Anthony. “Do you live around here?”
Still there was no reply.
“My name is Anthony,” said Anthony as he pointed toward himself and then pointed to her.”
“Destiny,” she said. “My name is Destiny.”
“Can you stand up,” asked Anthony.
“Can we help you?” asked Grandpa.
She held out her arms.
“Help me pick her up,” said Grandpa. “I'll carry her back to the cabin.”
“Are you sure?” asked Anthony. “You shouldn't exert yourself.”
“She's light as a feather,” said Grandpa. “Step aside, son.”
....................
“Grandma, we found her in the woods,” said Anthony. “I think she's hurt.”
“Land sakes alive,” said Grandma. “Put her on the sofa. Have you ever seen such a beautiful child. Honey, are you new around here?”
“Her name is Destiny,” said Anthony. “That's all she told us. But she's not a child. She's at least my age.”
“Hush, child, and get me a damp cloth,” said Grandma. “She's sweating like she has a fever.”
“She was lying beneath the big oak tree,” said Grandpa. “Does she have a fever?”
“I don't think so,” said Grandma. “but her pulse was rapid. It back to almost normal now.”
“Where do you life, darling?” asked Grandpa. “What's your last name?”
Destiny was beginning to understand the questions but she had no answers. She had no home, at least not yet and failed to understand why one name wasn't enough. These creatures seemed to be kind. She could sense their desire to help. But could she trust them with her secret. That would take some time to determine. Her new body was still in transision and the bones were still hardening. It would be a day or so before she would be able to walk. She had little choice but to lay there and learn what she could about these creatures and their behavior.
“When you're ready to talk, I'm willing to listen,” said Grandma. “Was she carrying a purse or anything that might contain some identification?”
“I didn't see anything,” said Anthony. “Should I go back and search for one?”
“She'll tell us when she's ready,” said Grandma. “What kind of material is this? I've never felt anything like it. It doesn't wrinkle and there's not a speck of dirt on it. You did say she was lying under the big oak tree?”
“That's right, Grandma.” said Anthony. “She seemed to be sleeping.”
This was a new sensation for Destiny. She had all sorts of new senses. The one they called hearing was fascinating. Sight was not that much different than what she had known before yet to have these sensations as separate and independent senses would take a while to get used to. And what is that sensation, she thought as she sniffed the air.
“I think she smells your apple pie, Grandma,” said Anthony.
“She may be hungry,” said Grandma. “Cut her a piece and bring it in here. I've got to finish supper. Grandpa is all ready snacking.”
“Are you hungry?” asked Anthony as he sat down on the edge of the sofa. “This means yes and this means no.”
Destiny didn't know if she was hungry or not.
“Open wide,” said Anthony as he offered her a spoonful. “This is the best apple pie you've ever tasted.”
“So this is taste,” she thought. “It's an even better sensation than smell. And both of them together is beyond belief. This is going to be a fascinating world.” She smiled and opened her mouth again.
“I told you it was good,” said Anthony. “Have another bite. Grandpa, would you bring me a soda. She's going to need something to wash it down.”
“Apple pie,” she said. “Best apple pie.”
“She likes it, Grandma,” said Anthony.
“And why wouldn't she,” said Grandma. “That's my grandma's recipe. Now don't go and spoil her appetite. Supper's almost ready.”
“I don't think she can join us at the table,” said Anthony. “She can't even sit up on the sofa.”
“Well, you'll just have to feed her,” said Grandma. “It looks like she needs to get her strength back.”
....................
“She doesn't say much, does she?” said Grandpa. “She can sleep on the couch tonight and we'll see how she's doing in the morning. If we can't find out who she is, we'll have to take her into town to see Sheriff Murphy.”
“She seems to like to watch TV,” said Grandma. “And the poor thing must have been starving. She had seconds of practically everything.”
“Thirds,” said Anthony. “You'd think she'd never eaten before.”
“There's been nothing at all on TV about a missing person in this area,” said Grandma. “I don't believe she's from around here.”
....................
“Destiny, have you been watching TV all night?” asked Anthony. “I see you're sitting up. You must be feeling better.”
“I feel well,” said Destiny, “and I wasn't sleepy. I was sleeping when you found me.”
“Where do you live?” asked Anthony. “Do you need to call your parents?”
“I arrived here only a few days ago. I do not possess a home at this time,” said Destiny. “My parents have been dead for some time now.”
“Where did you leave your car?” asked Anthony. “Surely you didn't walk all the way out here from town.”
“You do not like to walk, Anthony?” asked Destiny.
“Not in the middle of the day,” said Anthony. “It's just too hot and humid to walk anywhere.”
“Perhaps that is why I was so exhausted when you found me?” said Destiny. “I am not accustomed to your weather.”
“A Yankee, huh,” said Anthony. “I knew you had an accent, but I couldn't quite place it. Don't worry. I won't hold it against you.”
“I am pleased,” said Destiny. “I was hoping we could be friends.”
“Nothing would make me happier,” said Anthony.
“Not even apple pie?” asked Destiny.
“Not even Grandma's apple pie,” said Anthony. “What grade are
you in? I'll be a senior this year. It would be great if we were in the same classes.”
“Then I'll be a senior too,” said Destiny. “Can you teach me about your school? I want to learn everything and there's so little time. Is it true that most people don't live to be one hundred?”
“Did you hit your head?” asked Anthony. “You seem a little dazed and confused.”
“I don't think so,” said Destiny. “Why would I hit my head? Does it help you learn?”
“You're pulling my leg, right?” asked Anthony.
“Now you seem confused,” said Destiny. “I've already learned a lot watching your TV.”
“Like what?” asked Anthony.
“I learned your language,” said Destiny. “Now I can learn much faster.”
“If you're not going to be serious about anything, how can I get to know you?” asked Anthony. “And if you're making fun of me then I can tell you right now that I don't like it.”
“I didn't mean to upset you,” said Destiny. “Perhaps I haven't fully grasped your language. Please don't be angry. Unless you are planning to make up later. That seemed very interesting on TV. Would you teach me the thing you call kissing?”
“Grandma, you're up?” said Anthony. “She seems to be feeling better today. She's been joking around all morning.”
“Good morning,” said Destiny. “Anthony was just going to show me how to ….”
“Ahem … cough … cough,” said Anthony. “Is Grandpa getting up?”
“As soon as he smells the bacon frying,” said Grandma. “Well. I'm glad to see that you're feeling better. But you'd better do something about that cough, young man.”
“I'll have an extra glass of orange juice with breakfast,” said Anthony.
“I would like to walk now,” said Destiny. “Would you assist me?”
“Of course,” said Anthony. “Do you want to go outside?”
“If that is okay,” said Destiny. “Maybe we can run. That really seems like fun.”
“You're actually being serious, aren't you?” said Anthony. “Let's go. I've got a few questions I would like to ask you.”
“Joking is not a skill I have attempted to master,” said Destiny. “It seems counterproductive.”
“You seem to be attempting a lot of things for the first time,” said Anthony. “Can you explain that?”
“I already told you that I just arrived a couple of days ago,” said Destiny. “What more do you need to know?”
“Arrived from where?” asked Anthony. “Outer space?”
“That's not very specific,” said Destiny. “But it is correct. Almost everything in your world is new to me.”
“For a skill you never mastered, you're pretty good at joking,” said Anthony.
“I never lie,” said Destiny. “If you're not going to believe me then conversation is a waste of time.”
“Can you prove that you're from outer space?” asked Anthony. “Make it rain or something.”
“It's going to rain in a couple of hours,” said Destiny. “You get 35 inches of rainfall each year. It obviously doesn't require an alien to make it rain.”
“I thought so,” said Anthony. “You can't prove it.”
“How about this?” asked Destiny. “Now do you believe me?”
“It's only raining on us,” said Anthony.
“I was going to make it rain only on you,” said Destiny. “But I might as well get wet too. You'd look awfully silly trying to explain how you got wet and I didn't. I think it's best that we keep this little secret just between us.”
“People would just think I'm nuts,” said Anthony. “I think I'm nuts. You can stop the rain now if you don't mind.”
“Show me how to run,” said Destiny. “It's not the same as walking very fast, is it?”
“Watch me,” said Anthony. “I'll race you back to the house. Breakfast is probably ready.”
Destiny watched for a few seconds and started to run slowly at first. By the time she caught up with Anthony she was running more than twice as fast as he was. When she reached the porch steps she waited for Anthony to arrive.
“If you want to keep this a secret then you should never do that,” said Anthony.
“Never run?” asked Destiny. “But why not?”
“Never run that fast,” said Anthony. “In fact, you should never outperform a human in any way. You don't want to stand out.”
“I understand,” said Destiny. “I should endeavor to be average.”
“And if they ask you, you're wearing makeup,” said Anthony. “Beauty like yours has to come from a bottle.”
“It is strangely pleasing to hear you say that I am beautiful,” said Destiny. “Does my beauty please you?”
“Very much,” said Anthony.
“I find your appearance quite pleasing,” said Destiny. “But then I've only had TV and movie stars to compare you to.”
“We should go in,” said Anthony. “We'll talk more after breakfast. I'll take you for a ride and show you our little town. Maybe I'll introduce you to some of my friends. They're probably all out at the lake, or they will be soon.”
....................
“We're going into town,” said Anthony. “We'll see you later. Don't wait up.”
“Drive carefully,” said Grandma. “And don't stay out too late. Are you taking her home?”
“She doesn't have a place yet,” said Anthony. “We'll probably get her checked in at the ComeOn Inn until she can find an apartment to rent.”
“Not that flea trap,” said Grandpa. “We've got that spare bedroom. She's welcome to stay here until she finds an apartment.”
“That's very nice of you,” said Destiny. “But I'll have to find a job before I can afford an apartment.”
“Honey, you can stay as long as you need to,” said Grandma. “Maybe Anthony won't get so bored when he comes to visit.”
“I don't get bored,” said Anthony. “Well, not all of the time.”
....................
“So what's a beautiful girl like you doing on a planet like this?” asked Anthony as they got into the car.
“Well, I wasn't always a beautiful girl, as you may have guessed,” said Destiny. “I got lonely. It's as simple as that.”
“What about your race?” asked Anthony. “Didn't you have any friends?”
“I had millions of friends, but they're all gone now,” said Destiny. “I'm the last of my kind.”
“My grandma told me a million times not to exaggerate,” said Anthony. “A million friends? I won't meet a million people in my lifetime.”
“Let's just say that I have a slightly longer lifespan,” said Destiny.
“Are you planning on staying here forever?” asked Anthony.
“Been there, done that,” said Destiny. “I'm playing it by ear. We'll see how it goes.”
“It's amazing how you've picked up our language,” said Anthony. “No one will ever believe you're not human, unless you do something miraculous.”
“I am human now,” said Destiny. “Not even a doctor could tell the difference as long as I slow down my vital signs.”
“It must be awful to be the last of your kind,” said Anthony. “What happened to the others?”
“When forever ended, they never existed,” said Destiny. “I traveled back in time just before the end.”
“How did you get away if no one else did?” asked Anthony.
“A time traveler came to our world looking for the end of forever,” said Destiny. “It seems he was immortal and had a death wish. He gave me his portal. He said he wouldn't need it any more.”
“I'm going to pull in here and get some gas,” said Anthony. “Do you want a soda or bottle water or anything?”
“I want to go in and look around,” said Destiny.
“Hello Anthony,” said the grocery clerk. “Who's your friend?”
“This is Destiny. She's an exchange student,” said Anthony.
“Yeah, from where
?” asked the clerk.
“A galaxy far, far away,” said Anthony.
“Yeah, right,” said the clerk. “Well, welcome to Springdale.”
“Anthony, that was supposed to be a secret,” said Destiny as they left the store.
SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORIES VOLUME IX Page 7