Roger's Rocket

Roger's Rocket

         "Hold on, T-Rex . . . we're gonna crash!" I shouted to my fellow space traveler.

         T-Rex's ears perked up, and he braced himself. What a brave crewman he is, I thought, as our spaceship rocked from side-to-side, tossing us wildly.

         Through a porthole in the side of the ship I could see the ground rushing up to meet us.

         It looked like the end.

         At the last possible second, though, I pulled back hard on the landing stick and set us down safely, with barely a bump.

         Whew!

         According to my galactic map, we had landed on Smooch, a planet much like Earth, but inhabited by large animals known to slobber messily on unwary visitors. Sure enough, as soon as T-Rex and I left the protection of our ship, we were attacked. The creature towered over us. Its claws reached for my face, but, before it could strike, T-Rex came to my rescue. He ran past me and jumped up on the Smoocher, warding it off with his large paws.

         The startled alien made a loud noise, then turned and ambled away.

         "Thanks, friend," I said, hugging T-Rex's sleek, black neck. "You saved me from the Smoocher! Let's go repair our ship and leave this hostile world."

         As always, T-Rex followed me obediently. I started working on the ship, fairly sure the problem was in the "this side up" stabilizer flap. While I worked, T-Rex walked a circle in the grass, flopped down on his belly, laid his head on his paws and began to snore.

         Not having eyes in the back of my head, like some species, I didn't know the Smoocher had returned until I felt his claw on my shoulder! I whirled around. Too late!

         The creature's other claw was already coming out of his pocket. I ducked, not knowing what sort of weapon he might have. Then I saw it. Paper. Green paper. How horrible!

         In desperation, I grabbed for it and got lucky. I snatched the colored paper from his claw! But I hadn't dodged fast enough.

         Before I could move, the alien creature slobbered all over my forehead! Ugh!

         "C'mon, T-Rex," I commanded. "We're leaving this planet."

         The huge engines roared, making a sound like "Rrrroger, Rrrroger", and the ship lifted off.

         Above the noise I could hear the Smoocher, trying to communicate in his weird language. "Roger! Roger! Come out of that cardboard box and give your Grandpa a hug. You don't get the dollar unless I get a hug to go with my kiss. And keep the dog down off of me this time -- his paws are muddy," the alien croaked.

         Then the mighty ship gained speed, forcing T-Rex and me back into our seats as we left the planet Smooch and headed off to find new adventures.

The End

Note: Images kindly provided by Shaara