Submitted for the July 2025 prompt: Aliens Among Us

I’ll take care of you, Tommy, you know that.

 

I just wish I knew what you could eat. Everything I bring you, you throw right back up. I tried hamburger, chicken. I tried mashed potatoes. Grits. Even vegetables. Up it all comes.

 

I know you’re hungry. I can tell you’re not well.

 

But I’ll take care of you. You know I will.

 

* * *

 

You were knocked out cold when I first found you. Damn, I said, what’n tarnation? A spaceship? Just laying out here in the field next to the junkyard I call home.

 

I was able to pry open the front hatch even though it was already bent out of shape. There you were, sputtering green ooze out of your mouth. Other than that, you weren’t alien-looking at all. No sir. Just like a miniature person, in a suit! Small enough I could pick you up and put you in my knapsack.

 

Which I did.

 

Thank the Lord I did, because that little ship of yours up and dissolved minutes later. No fire, no explosion. It just melted into the ground. Nothing left.

 

Now, look. If I told this to anyone, they’d lock me up. I don’t know where you’re from, maybe some other planet, maybe the future. I don’t know because you don’t talk. But I do know this much: I’ve got to save you.

 

* * *

 

Twenty-three years I worked in my food cart, day in, day out. I had dogs, burgers, Italian hoagies. Fries and chips.

 

Do they have food carts where you’re from, Tommy? Where are you from? I wish you would talk.

 

Anyway, twenty-three years and then whaddya know, the bureaucrats decided there were too many carts downtown and I drew the short straw.

 

You don’t know what that means, do you? Short straw? Means I got screwed. I had to move, and my new location on the outskirts didn’t draw enough foot traffic. Gave up after a year.

 

I wish you would eat. Do you want to try one of these? It’s called a Cheeto. It’s a snack food.

 

Hey! You like it! You smiled!

 

Damnation, all this time I was trying to feed you healthy food, and all you needed was some good old junk food! Here, have some more.

Don’t eat so fast, though.

 

Anyway, I lost my cart, my wife Louise had already left me, taking our boy with her, and I couldn’t really afford my apartment anymore, so I just started living around town.

 

On the streets.

 

I said slow down. I don’t want you throwing up Cheetos!

 

I found this trailer in the junkyard about eight years ago. It was rusty and gross, but I moved in. The owner of the yard knows I’m here, but he don’t bother me. In return, I provide security. When kids try breaking in or druggies sneak in to shoot up, I chase ‘em out.

 

Ok, I’ll give you some more. But slow down!

 

* * *

 

I’m glad you’re feeling better, Tommy. Look at you, running around like that.

 

Tomorrow I’ll go into town and get some more Cheetos.

 

What’s that thing you’ve got? A radio? Some kind of phone?

 

Now you’re pointing at the window. You want to go outside? Not a good idea. There may be people looking for you. There’s always reports of UFOs.

 

Me, I never believed in that stuff.

 

At least, until you.

 

* * *

 

I'm back. Where’d you go? I got more Cheetos. I got four bags. That should last a bit.

 

There you are. Wow, you look good. Happier.

 

Are you able to talk now? Anything?

 

Truth is, I'm not complaining that you don’t talk. My ex-wife talked non-stop. When she left me, I was almost relieved.

 

Except, she took our boy with her and moved to Colorado. Tommy was his name.

 

I guess that’s why I took to calling you that. Hope you don’t mind.

 

He’d be an adult by now.

 

Sometimes at night I lie there wondering where he is, what he looks like.

 

* * *

 

Tommy! You’re growing! You’re up to my elbow now! How did that happen? Was it them Cheetos?

 

You know what’s crazy, Tommy? Not just that you’re growing so fast, but that your clothes are growing with you. They’re not tight at all. Soon you’ll look just like an adult. A businessman, actually.

 

Where are you going, Tommy? I told you not to go outside.

 

Why are you pointing? You trying to tell me something?

 

Wait. I get it. You have to leave soon.

 

Ah, Tommy. I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m happy for you. I really am.

 

* * *

 

Well, it’s official now. You’re as tall as me. Tall as a regular person. You’d easily pass for human if you went out in the real world.

 

Oh, damn! I’m such an idiot. That’s what you’re doing, isn’t it, Tommy? You needed to get to full size so you can go live with us humans.

 

And you have to go soon, right? Okay.

 

I can promise you one thing: I won’t say a word to anyone. Not a soul. And if you get into trouble, you can always come back here.

 

I guess that’s two things.

 

* * *

 

What’s going on? Someone’s knocking on my trailer door, Tommy. No one ever comes here. Let me look.

 

There’s five guys, Tommy. They have the same grey suits as you. Same expression.

 

They’re your people, right, Tommy? And they’re here for you.

 

Yes, you can let them in.

 

* * *

 

Well, that was crazy, your friends pointing those weapons at me. I guess they wanted to silence me? Well, whatever you told them, I appreciate it.

They’re waiting outside for you, Tommy.

 

Remember: if you ever return to your home, I’d love to come along. I got nothing here.

 

But you’re not going back, are you? You have something you have to do here, I can tell.

 

What are you waiting for? Go! Don’t worry about me. I’m used to being alone.

 

Thank you for hugging me. Now, get going!

 

* * *

 

Bye, Tommy.