A Pleasant Story

Chapter Thirty-Four

Close Encounters of the Sim Kind


Stella couldn’t sleep. The idea that had come to her at Mitch’s birthday celebration would not stop nagging her brain. She looked down at Lilith sleeping soundly and her thoughts became resolute.

“Tomorrow,” she said to herself, “I will consult domicile compatriots and initiate exploration of options.”



The next day, the Shifting Paradymes household were gathering for dinner, spaghetti made by Zoe. As she served, Gunnar commented favorably on her outfit, but Mitch just thanked her.




Once the girls were seated, they all dug in to her delicious spaghetti.


All except Stella. She stared vaguely and was not touching her food. Lilith inquired, “Not hungry, Stella?”

Stella looked up, startled.


“Appreciative of your inquiry, sharer of subset domicile Lilith. Appetite has fled after revelation of distressing information,” Stella explained.

They all turned to her and asked her to explain what was wrong.

“Recent acquisition of new acquaintance was greeted with feelings of felicitation and delight. But new acquaintance revealed melancholy happenings within the dwelling of Goth,” Stella said. She then explained to them about Mortimer’s situation and Dina’s kidnapping by aliens.

“Two-fold is my distress. Regret that alien comrades may have been involved in mishap to earthling Dina, and ancillary regret that new acquaintances are experiencing distress. Appetite may experience restoration upon arrival of solution to predicaments.”




“Okay, team,” Mitch said, “Maybe we can brainstorm a way to help.”

Stella looked confused. “Brain is currently in state of turmoil. Additional turmoil may not be of assistance.”

“Oh, no,” Mitch explained, “’Brainstorm’ means that we all use our brains to try and come up with ideas.”

Stella looked relieved at this, and nodded. “Additional brainpower added to phenomenal powers of self would be welcome. Proceed.”

The group began throwing out suggestions, but each received a negative from Stella as being impractical or not of help. The entire group joined in the response when Gunnar suggested he could be kidnapped and seduce the aliens.

Jasmine said, “Stella, what about the other alien students here at school? Do you think any of them might have information? Maybe we could talk to them.”

Stella looked more cheerful at this and said, “Proposal of sharer of domicile Jasmine has merit. After consumption of nutrition, commencing of encounter will occur.”

Stella then began on her dinner, which the others had finished long before.




After they cleaned up the dishes, Stella invited them to come with her to Cygnus House, where the other alien students lived. The boys declined as they had a previous engagement to go dancing with the college sorority members, but the girls accepted.

Stella nodded agreeably. “Bonding of same-gendered domicile dwellers is traditional college activity. Glad am I to partake. Modest alert of coming encounter is that other alien groups participate in greeting rituals that may be unfamiliar. Is participation still desired?”



Zoe laughed and said that unless any of the rituals were dangerous, they wouldn’t miss it!

Stella nodded and said, “Forthwith we navigate from the dwelling,” then led them off to the alien dorm.


As they approached, Lilith stopped suddenly as the building came into view. “Holy cow,” she said. “Have you been here before? This looks amazing!”

Zoe and Jasmine confirmed they’d seen it before, and Zoe said, “Rumor has it that it appeared overnight after the aliens finished negotiating with the college to allow their students to come. Some people think it’s an actual spaceship.”









Stella had instructed them that the alien students had some unusual rituals when greeting visitors, and the girls steeled themselves to approach.

“Well,” said Jasmine. “Here goes,” and led the others toward the entrance.



Stella was waiting for them on the sidewalk and said, “Arrange selves in singular direction at side, awaiting detection.”





They stood near the sidewalk and waited while Stella went inside the building. In a few minutes the alien students had come outside and faced them in two rows on the opposite side of the sidewalk.

Stella told her alien friends the names of her housemates.

“First acquaintance is Zoe,” she said.

The aliens repeated, in unison, “Zoe is greeted.”



They repeated the same procedure for Jasmine and Lilith. Lilith thought they all looked amazing—cool clothes and cool looks. She couldn’t believe she was talking to eight beings from another world—nine if you counted Stella!



“Enter now,” Stella called, “and arrange selves in seating area.” They followed her inside the dorm and sat in a comfortable lounge area. The aliens milled around sort of aimlessly and Zoe tried to make conversation.

“So, were you all friends back on your home planet?”




The entire alien group wandered away then and stood in a group, exchanging whistling sounds. Lilith nudged Zoe and asked, “Did we offend them?”

“No idea,” Zoe replied, and shrugged.



They stopped speaking as two aliens left the group and sat down opposite them. The humans sat quietly, feeling awkward, and waited.



The silence stretched out until suddenly the female alien said, “Designation Lyra Cygnus.”

The humans stayed silent, not quite sure how to respond.



The male alien looked toward the other and shrugged, then said, “Designation Corvus Ursa.”

The humans were again befuddled.



Jasmine hesitantly said, “Are you guys telling us names of stars?”

The aliens looked befuddled.



They were saved from further awkwardness by the arrival of Stella, who said, “The appropriate time for abbreviated conversation has concluded. Humans are requested to repair to meeting area.”



Somewhat relieved, they followed Stella over to a large dining area and took seats among the alien students. Conversation was a bit livelier here, as it was clear the aliens were discussing the abductions of Dina and Bella.



Lilith told them what she knew, including that she had experienced an abduction during her teen years, but had been returned promptly.



The aliens all seemed startled that humans had been abducted without being returned, and Jasmine asked if that had ever happened before. The aliens all agreed that they’d never heard of such a case before.



Some of the aliens began whistling in their native language, and Stella stood and spoke to Lilith.

“Friend and sharer of dwelling Lilith, rudeness is disreputable and I request your forbearance. Alien siblings must discuss matters peculiar to our being and would request a brief departure of human comrades. Would Lilith and Zoe and Jasmine care to explore unusual dwelling of alien beings?”



Lilith nodded and gestured to Zoe and Jasmine. “Hey, they need us to make ourselves scarce. Stella said we can explore the dorm.”

As Zoe and Jasmine stood to join Lilith, Stella said, “Friend Lilith will inform me of proper rebuttal to return rudeness.”

Lilith smiled and said, “It’s all good, Stella, we understand.” She led the other two toward the door that led outside to the stairs. They heard the bird whistles and chirping of intense concentration beginning as they exited to the outside.



They climbed the outdoor stairs that led to the second floor and Jasmine asked, “I wonder why all their stairs are on the outside? Might be inconvenient in rain or snow.”

Zoe replied, “Maybe they can levitate through the floors on the inside in inclement weather.”

They all laughed, but wouldn’t really be surprised if it turned out to be true.



On the second floor, they found a room with skill-building items like a piano and exercise machines.

“This dorm is awesome,” Lilith said. “A setup like this must cost a bundle!”



On the third floor, they found rows of fun alien beds.



Then they climbed the final stairs that led to the roof. There they found enough telescopes for all the aliens to stargaze at once, and the remains of a spacecraft half-buried in the desert in the distance.



“I wonder how long we need to wander?” Zoe asked.

“I don’t know,” Jasmine said. “I imagine Stella will call us when they’re done. What do you think they’re talking about?”

“I’m not sure,” Lilith said, “But Stella got really focused and intense yesterday at my brother’s birthday party. We’d been talking about how aliens were born on her planet—something about ‘fibrous husks.’ And I think she wants to ask the other students about human abductions.”

“You know what?” Zoe said, “I think those words the aliens were saying when we were on the couch might have been their names. Corvus and Lyra? We’ll have to ask Stella later.”



They heard Stella’s voice then, summoning them back downstairs. When they got there, the other aliens were at the front of the house and Stella said, “Departure is imminent. I will demonstrate procedure. Pursue subsequently.”

They walked behind Stella out the front door where all the alien students were assembled to say goodbye.



As they left, Zoe said, “Hey Stella, what were the names of your friends? We weren’t sure.”

Stella began reciting a list, “Octans Circinus, Ara Lynx, Hercules Hydra, Lyra Cygnus . . .”

Zoe exclaimed and interjected, “I knew it! Names! Go on, Stella.”

She continued, “Volans Crater, Tucana Columba, Corvus Ursa, and Andromeda Serpens.”

Jasmine gulped. “That’s quite a mouthful.”

Stella explained, “All designations are chosen prior to earth arrival. Chosen designations indicate universal phenomenon. Compatriots’ names reveal galaxies.”

They all nodded in understanding, and continued walking down the sidewalk, rather amazed and enlightened by their recent encounter.




After she walked her roommates home, Stella returned to Cygnus House to confer with her alien friends. In chirps and birdsong, they agreed that it would be necessary to contact pollinations technicians from the galaxies to find out why some humans had not been returned from their abduction experiences.



Each of them manned a telescope set to the “Summon Aliens” setting.



They stayed at the telescopes the whole night, but no alien contact ever came.




As dawn was about to break, they gathered to discuss this development. Stella whistled that she’d never been unsuccessful in talking to other aliens, and the rest agreed. They decided to try again soon, then Corvus chirped, “Stella, would Lilith be agreeable to social outing?”



The next day, Mitch was relaxing at his easel when he answered a knock at the door. He opened it to find three green people standing there.

“Uh, hello,” he said awkwardly.



One of the aliens stepped forward and said, “We bring greetings to the dwelling mate of comrade Stella and new acquaintances Lilith, Zoe, and Jasmine. Interruption of their sojourn is requested for pursuit of conversation and invitation.”



Mitch stood silently, not quite sure what he was supposed to do. They stared at each other for a bit, then Mitch asked, “Did you want to see the girls?”

The alien agreed enthusiastically. “Of a certainly, appreciation would be offered for the beckoning of the named dwellers of this abode.”



Mitch finally figured out what to do and hollered for Zoe and the girls.



The girls came downstairs to talk to the aliens, and this time understood when they introduced themselves. Lilith was talking to Corvus, Zoe spoke with Octans, and Jasmine chatted with Hercules. They seemed very friendly, but their topics of conversation were a bit random.



Corvus then spoke and said, “Purpose of our visitation is inquiry that Zoe, Jasmine, and Lilith will accompany us to location of gyration and merriment.”

The girls looked at each other, then Zoe said, “Dancing? Hell yeah!”

They went to the local club on campus and proceed to bust moves and jam enthusiastically.



As the evening progressed, the girls enjoyed their vermillion escorts more and more. They were a little odd, but polite and solicitous of their feelings. It had been Jasmine’s idea to teach them to slow dance, and they participated with enthusiasm.



As Corvus and Lilith pivoted slowly on the dance floor, Corvus said, “Accompaniment of Lilith is enjoyable. Would a future encounter be welcome?”

Lilith figured out he was asking her for a date and replied shyly, “Sure, anytime.”



The next morning, Lilith’s studies were interrupted by a call from outside.

“Fair Lilith! I beckon thee!”

She went outside to find Corvus dressed for the snow and gazing up at her on the balcony.



She waved and greeted him, then smiled as he began to speak. It was familiar, somehow.

“But, soft!” he said, “what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Lilith is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon.”




Lilith laughed and pretended to swoon. “Nice job, Romeo, but that speech only works at night.”

Corvus looked startled. “Many ministrations of regret I proffer. Pleasing I thought such words would be.”



He turned and began to leave, and Lilith called out to stop him, then ran downstairs.

“It WAS pleasing,” she said. “And I’m impressed you took the time to learn Simspeare.

Corvus looked relieved and said, “Will fair Lilith accompany in my snow revels?”



She agreed and they headed off to the Plaza to enjoy the crisp winter day. Corvus changed back into his everyday clothes, and Lilith asked if he was warm enough.

“Matters of temperature affect sensation little. Beings of my variety regulate selves,” he explained.




They had a fun day. First Lilith showed Corvus how to make a snow angel.





Then Corvus showed her how to do a happy snow dance.



Their pillow fight was interrupted by a streaker, which made them both laugh.



Lilith introduced Corvus to another green-skinned person, but he seemed a bit suspicious of her.



They’d spent the day laughing and talking, but as the sun went down, Corvus was hit by lightning.



Lilith wanted to end the date so he could go home and clean up, but he told her he barely felt it, and if she didn’t mind a little soot, he’d still like to continue.

Lilith agreed, and was amused when he toasted her by saying, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” She refrained from mentioning the weather wasn’t the best match for his sonnet choice. His heart was in the right place.



After they finished their meal, Corvus stood and said, “In preparation for today’s festivities, I memorized poetry and studied human customs regarding social interactions among your species. I believe it is customary, at the end of such an engagement, for the partners to touch lips together and . . .”

Lilith stopped him right there.



She skipped off happily towards home. She couldn’t remember when she’d felt so carefree, and FUN. When Lilith got home, she found her housemates standing out in the snow by the pool, and noticed flowers by the front door.



When she got to her housemates, she asked what was going on

“Stella’s in there decorating and said we had to leave while she worked on the house,” Mitch said.



They looked through the side window and saw Stella swimming through the air. Literally.

“What in the world?” Lilith exclaimed.




Then she stopped swimming and just . . . hovered.



When she disappeared from view, they moved to the front window and found her in a new location.



“If this is how aliens decorate, I can’t wait to see what she’s done,” Gunnar said. “Hang on, she’s going upstairs now. Does that mean she’s finished?”



The inquiry was answered quickly as Stella came out in a new outfit and said, “Fellow inhabitants may now view the dwelling.”

She led them inside and asked, “Do alterations meet with your approval?”



The roommates scoped the room to take in the changes, and indicated approval.



Zoe liked the new painting.



Jasmine appreciated the abstract art.



Gunnar spotted a new addition and simply commented, “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?”



Stella approached Lilith and asked, “Approval is forthcoming?”

Lilith reassured her. “Yeah, Stella, it all looks great! What made you want to do this tonight?”

Stella replied, “Mortimer Goth and family suffer bereavement from loss. It is desirous to extend beneficent invitation to them.”

Lilith nodded. “Yeah, that would be nice. I can’t imagine how they’re handling it.”

“Appreciative that you concur with instincts.” Stella turned and went back upstairs.



Lilith admired the cute cow in the kitchen.