Peter van Brakel’s Life Changes Course
by Charles C. Cole
Peter van Brakel was just north of 65 years old and recently retired. He was more than ready for a post-work life of videogames and bingeing sci-fi television. Then, at Peter’s last physical, his doctor said the lab work indicated he was borderline diabetic brought on by weight gain and lethargy: it was time for life changes.
So, Peter had recently, reluctantly started with gentle late afternoon walks through his quiet neighborhood and cutting back on evening snacks. It was dusk and Peter turned on his jogger’s headlamp for the last hundred yards to his house. Just his luck that his efforts to do the “right thing” would result in the wrong thing, namely getting hit by a distracted speeding motorist.
A bright light came up from behind him. Someone on the wrong side of the road? Peter turned back to see the vehicle’s approach. The “exotic transportation,” a glowing saucer about the size of a semi-trailer, was coming down from the sky, apparently slowing and lowering for a neat landing in Peter’s gravel driveway, uncomfortably close to his Nissan Versa.
Peter approached, more indignant than alarmed. “Hey! Ever hear of private property? This better be an emergency landing, fella.” All the lights went off and the vehicle, for all intents and purposes, vanished to the naked eye, though obviously still resting in front of him. “Show yourself, or I’m calling the cops.”
A bald, blue-gray man in a silver suit, standing maybe four feet in height, stepped into view under the glare of Peter’s porch light. Peter turned off his headlamp. The visitor held both arms over his head. “I mean you no harm, friend. I’m just a weary explorer looking for a temporary rest.”
Peter should have been scared by the unexpected alien in the yard, but he was still unhappy about being required to exercise, and he wanted to distribute his unhappiness. “What’s the big idea? I wasn’t expecting company.”
“I’ve been traveling. Extensively. Months on end. Alone. Surveying work that the ship’s computer can do on its own. Bored out of my mind. Then, suddenly, there was Earth. I’ve always wanted to meet a human. And there you were. I’m Spel-3000. Nice to meet you, Earthling.” Spel-3000 extended his small blue-gray hand. “Shake?”
Peter balked and stepped back.
“Am I doing it wrong?”
“Why me?” asked Peter.
“As I said, you were the first person I saw. You were alone. My scanners said you were unarmed. I thought: What’s the worst thing that can happen?”
“Where are you from?” asked Peter.
“You wouldn’t know it. It’s a long way. May I ask your name?”
“Peter.”
“Peter,” said Spel-3000, “you seem awfully calm. Have you met other off-world aliens?”
“You’re my first. Another time I might have been intimidated, but I’m just not in the mood today.”
“If you don’t mind, do you think I could take your picture?” asked Spel-3000. “It won’t hurt. I have an ocular implant. I just want to have proof when I get home.”
“I guess. Go for it,” said Peter begrudgingly.
“Done,” said Spel-3000, though Peter couldn’t detect any gesture or hear any mechanism click. Aliens were weird. “So this is Earth.”
“My little corner of it,” said Peter.
“Can you make me a list of things to see and do? I don’t have much time: I calculate I have two days before my onboard computer thinks there’s been a major malfunction and tries to signal my department.”
“You can’t see the Earth in two days.”
“Please. I must. It’s all I have,” cried Spel-3000. His face turned a deeper shade of blue as, apparently, his true emotions rose to the surface. “I may not have another chance.”
Peter looked at Spel-3000. He thought hard. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad circumstance. “You got food in that ship?”
“Unlimited,” said Spel-3000. “Quite delicious, really. I even think we cook replicate Earth food. Why?”
“And the computer does most of the work?”
“It’s very advanced. I am around for the repair work, but it never needs repairing. Where you going?”
“You need more time to see the planet, and I need a break from my world of worry,” Peter explained. “Any chance that I could fill in for you, for a while, while you do some sightseeing? We program the ship to return in, say, thirty days - ”
“Thirty days?!” said Spel-3000.
“Less?” asked Peter, defensive.
“Thirty days has a nice ring to it. I’ll teach all you need to know. The computer will guide you, if there’s a real need.”
“Let’s say we’re serious, that we do this,” said Peter, seriously considering the possibility, “what do you do to fill your time while your ship is surveying the cosmos?”
“I keep busy with virtual entertainment, simulated adventures. On your planet, I believe this is called videogaming.”
“Spel, my new blue friend,” said Peter, suddenly very pleased, “I think this is going to work out well beyond our mutual expectations. Come on in and sit a spell. Let’s get down to the details.”
Copyright © 2025 by Charles C. Cole
