Doug and the Zhoraphoras
Doug gazed across the table at his beautiful girlfriend, Linda. The romantic atmosphere in the expensive restaurant would make a perfect backdrop for the marriage proposal he planned to make shortly. As he gathered his thoughts and how he would pose his proposal, he thought back about his life over the last few years. What a change had taken place since he finally got his medication regulated. He had stopped using the name Calvin, which was his middle name and was now using his first name of Douglas, or Doug so as to not be so easily recognizable by former acquaintances. Wow, it’s weird how a small stuffed tiger can so easily ruin your personal life. It has now been five years since Hobbs had last spoken to him. Although he still sometimes saw certain things that were not there, his hallucinations had become less frequent the longer he took his medication. His doctor had warned him to never even think about stopping his medication and he planned to follow that advice.
But now back to the present and this wonderful vision of loveliness sitting across from him. Reaching into his pocket, he fingered the expensive engagement ring he would soon give to her. It had cost him plenty, having had to purchase three cases of Cracker Jacks before getting the ring he wanted. It was a neat ring that was adjustable with a large diamond-like stone and like the ring, his plan was beautiful and simple. It had come to him in a flash of brilliance during one of his episodes. She was a shy, old-fashioned girl, and this was a very busy and quite elegant restaurant. It had pretty checkered tablecloths and when all those tables were full, he would slip out of his chair onto his knee and propose. She, being shy, would accept his proposal quickly to get him back in his chair and avoid embarrassment. He believed his plan was brilliant and even though this was only their third date, he felt sure she would accept his proposal.
Their food had arrived and they had enjoyed the sensual delights of a gourmet meal complete with an after dinner sherry. His doctor had advised him to avoid alcoholic beverages while taking his medication, but he was certain one small drink would not be a problem. Both were relaxed and he felt this was the time. As he reached for the ring in his pocket, he suddenly felt a little lightheaded. Surely nothing was going to spoil this evening and he blinked his eyes rapidly in an effort to clear his head. But as he clinched his eyes, then snapped them open again, he realized Linda had morphed into a Zhoraphoras, a vicious, flesh-eating prehistoric reptilian dinosaur with a huge head and three rows of razor sharp teeth from the planet Zog in the Umberion Belt that wrapped around the back side of the Milky Way Galaxy. As he pulled the ring from his pocket, she opened her mouth and bellowed at him almost knocking him over with the foul, acrid stench of its breath.
Doug for a second wished Hobbs was here to help him deal with this menace, but he knew what to do. The Zhoraphoras have an allergy to anything with a tomato base. The acidic nature of the tomato causes its thick skin to melt letting it wither and die. Doug was thankful they had eaten Lasagna for it was the perfect weapon against the Zhoraphoras. He scooped up a handful of the Lasagna and hurled it directly into the face of the beast. It howled even louder indicating he had made a direct hit, but one shot would not kill a beast this big. He quickly scooped up another handful and let go a second volley. Not enough was left on his plate and looking to his left, he noticed the man and woman were eating spaghetti with Marinara sauce. Scooping up a double handful from each, he drenched the angry beast again and again. But what’s this? Four others had joined the beast. Doug had obviously stumbled onto a nesting area of Zhoraphoras. The skin of one was dark making him appear to have a black coat on and something white was draped over his arm, possibly the remains of a former victim. A second had a strange thing growing out of his head that resembled a hat with a shiny black bill around the front and a small pointy silver thing on his head and chest. He had never observed colorations such as this on these beasts in all his travels around the universe. Right behind those two were two more whose skin was white making them appear to have white suits on.
As they advanced on him they were holding something out in front of them making quiet mewing sounds as if they were trying to coax him to them, while the first one continued to bellow wave her arms about her head. Clearly she wanted the other four to catch him for her meal.
Doug had to get out, but he couldn’t leave Linda. He frantically searched the area for her and wished that Hobbs were there with his eye-of-the-tiger eyes to locate her. Tigers were so good at that. Suddenly he saw her. It had to be her. But, why she was sitting at another table with another man, he did not know. Maybe she had fallen in love with someone else during his scuffle with the beasts. Losing his one true love would disappoint him, but whether she still loved him or not, he was obligated to save her from this menace from Zog. Maybe a heroic effort to save her might win her back to him. He grabbed her hand, but she protested his assistance. Even her new boyfriend protested and attempted to push Doug away, but he would have none of that. He jerked her up out of the chair and bolted for the door with Linda in tow. But those alien dinosaurs were not ready to give up a tasty meal yet and followed them.
As the hungry dinosaurs roared and began to chase the unlucky couple, Doug let out a cry of anguish. This experience certainly had not been in his plans for the evening!
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