Yes, this is another "Captured by Aliens" story

The Meeting

By Thelma Mary Caroline

A N (from the real T M C) -- I've thought about doing these in a kind of (maybe) weird way.  Like, using different p o vs and stuff. There's four chars -- Sheila, Blaise, Hai, and Kade, and three points of views -- 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person.  And different tenses too -- past tense, present tense and future.  So I'm going to take the stories and rewrite them so when they are told by different chars, they are told in their own way.  Future tense?  Hmm.  So Sheila, being somewhat (adjective) here, she'll write third person (limited) and in past tense.  Traditional, in my opinion.

Blaise writes first person present (I suppose as though she's narrorating as she goes along, in her head).

Kade, being probably the least important chars in the stories, does not have a p o v yet.

And Hai, last and least, second person (I hope) and future tense.  Weird.  But here goes.

You won't do it.  You won't bring Sheila to the meeting tonight.  This is a fact, and everyone knows it.

Still, you'll encourage her to dress nicely, to impress your friends.  You'll even let her drive the car to Thursday's.  Even though you hate cars.

You'll make small talk.

"Oh yeah," you'll say.  "These guys I all met on the fishing boat."

She'll smile, knowing you aren't telling the truth, and wondering why you insist on keeping to that story.

And why, Blaise?  Why are you so obsessed with this fishing boat in Canada?  What does it really mean?

The two of you will walk into Thursday's, and you'll have to show I D.  Sheila won't, she'll look older than her years in the bouncer's eyes.  But you -- you'll look fifteen at best. 

"So where's the group?"  Sheila will ask, looking around at all the different tables.

"I guess we're the first ones here," you'll answer, and lead her to a table.  The two of you will have a few drinks.

You're good at that -- getting people drunk without them knowing what's going on.  You're good at getting them drunk enough so they don't remember.

And you'll take her home when she's drunk enough not to care that no one else showed up.

You'll go out and smoke on the porch not feeling the least bit bad.

It's just another game to you.