Mark McGinnis - The Simpleton

As if on cue, her father’s cell phone began to ring. He’d offered it to her before she left his house. The smart phone, a gift from her to him the year before, was almost never used. He didn’t understand all the icons and buttons.

She looked at the screen, noting Brian was on the line, and answered the call. Why wouldn’t she? She had a life of her own that extended far beyond Cuddy…

“Hello?”

“Jackie? Finally, where the hell have you been? Do you know how long I’ve been trying to get in touch with you?’

“I know… and I’m sorry. It’s just been crazy. More than you could possibly realize, actually.”

“I think I have a good idea what you’ve been going through,” he said.

“What?”

“I’m here… at your dad’s place. Must have just missed you. Been getting the skinny on—”

“Wait! You’re… here?” she asked.

“Yes, and I want to see you. As soon as possible.”

“Well, I’m… I have to do some things, Brian. Maybe later we can connect.”

“Connect? You make it sound like a business transaction. I’m your boyfriend and I’m worried about you. I love you!”

“Sorry, bad choice of words. Not connect… connect is a stupid word. We’ll meet… meet up, okay? Just not right now. Later on.”

“You’re acting strange. What’s going on with you? Is it us? Are you having second—”

“No! Of course not! Well… not exactly,” she said, annoying even herself with her vague responses. “Hold on, Brian… I want to hear this news report.”

“Okay… I’ve got confirmation; the alien craft is on the move.”

“Peter, tell our listeners what’s happening.”

“Simon… I’m told the alien ship is proceeding slowly, just now leaving Earth’s low orbit… entering what is called the Exosphere… where space and the atmosphere merge. From there, the ship will descend to the Thermosphere, and then to the Mesosphere. This will take approximately five minutes.”

“Very exciting news, Peter. And where, exactly, will the U.S. squadron of F35A Lightning fighters be waiting?”

“That will be at the Stratosphere level, Simon. The same altitude where most military and commercial flights take place; where there’s enough oxygen. Oh my God!”

“Peter?”

“I’m sorry, Simon, but new reports are now coming in regarding a catastrophic explosion. Hold on… yes, it is confirmed… the alien spacecraft has exploded. I repeat, the alien craft, designated the Revenge , has exploded in midair. This is truly awful… a terrible…”

Their voices turned to static as the radio lost its signal. Jackie stared at the car radio in stunned silence. The Howsh ship had exploded! Oh God… Cuddy .

She pulled to the side of the road, letting the engine idle while she stared out the windshield, feeling numb within. In the distance, she saw the tall roofline of the Perkins’s barn. Hearing a distant voice speaking, she realized Brian was still on the phone and brought it up to her ear.

“Damn it, Jackie! Are you there?”

“Please stop screaming into the phone, Brian.”

“Tell me where you are. I’m coming to you…”

Without even looking at the phone, Jackie disconnected, letting her hand fall limply to her lap. She continued to stare blankly at the Perkins’ dilapidated old ranch house in the distance. They were all dead—she would never see them again . She would never see Cuddy again. Everything he was trying to do—for Tow—for a race of people, called the Pashier, was never going to happen. A single tear, rolling unconsciously down her cheek, led to uncontrollable sobbing. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she wrapped her arms around the old yellow Lab. Rufus licked her face—the tears on her cheeks.

A thunderous sound suddenly roared just above her. Jackie jolted upright and Rufus barked. What she saw out the windshield didn’t make sense. Powerful thrusters were churning up dust all around. The Howsh spaceship! The Revenge was landing on the same exact spot it had taken off from. She quickly wiped her cheeks and studied her shocked reflection in the rearview mirror. Assholes.

Jackie waited for the dust to settle a bit before climbing out from her car, then held the door open for Rufus to jump out. The now-landed alien ship rested twenty yards farther down the road, its gangway already descending. She leaned back against the car’s hood and waited, her arms crossed defiantly over her chest.

The first one down the ramp was Tony Bone. He spotted her and confidently nodded. He wore a pompous expression that only made her want to slap it off his pimply face. Next, came Kyle, then Cuddy. Both looked most surprised to see her.

“Jackie… what are you doing here?” Cuddy asked. “How did you know…”

“You don’t think I fell for that obvious ruse about your ship disintegrating in space, do you? I knew you’d be coming back here, so Rufus and I cruised on over. And guess what, here you are.” Jackie avoided making eye contact—afraid Cuddy would pick up on her load of bullshit.

She watched the AI orb emerge from the ship as the gangway began to retract upward, back into the ship. The three guys, looking highly satisfied with themselves, approached her.

“So what now?” she asked. “It won’t be long before you have a combination of U.S. military forces here… and they’re not going to be happy.”

Cuddy said, “That is why we have to go… take the Evermore back into space.”

“We? Who’s we?” she asked, gazing from Cuddy to the other two.

Tony said, “Me and Cuddy. Kyle’s a pussy and wants to stay home with his momma.”

“Screw you, Bone,” Kyle said back.

“No!” she said vehemently, as the three squinted at her in confusion.

Cuddy asked, “No? What do you mean no ?”

“I mean not this time… you’re not leaving without me.”

“We talked about that, Jackie. I’m sorry, but—”

“But nothing! I’m part of this too and there’s nothing you, or anyone else, can say that’s going to make me change my mind. The sooner you three get that through your heads the better. And as far as your momma is concerned, Kyle, it seems she’s got herself a new boyfriend.”

“What are you talking about? What new boyfriend?” Kyle asked, looking hostile.

Cuddy, too, looked ready to pounce.

“It’s my father. They’ve been making goo-goo eyes at each other ever since she collected him from the hospital and took him home.”

“Really?” Cuddy exclaimed.

“Your dad? I thought he died in the hospital… a heart attack, or something,” Tony said.

“Believe me, he’s still very much alive,” Jackie said, glaring at Tony, who was really starting to annoy her big time.

Both Jackie and Cuddy turned to Kyle, who seemed to be mulling the news about his mother over in his mind. He suddenly smiled. “Then there’s no reason for me to stay behind. I’m in.”

“And I’m going too… right?” she asked.

Cuddy smiled, then winked over at her. Jackie had never seen him do that—wink at her like that. It was so out of character, she laughed out loud.

The hovering AI orb approached them then stopped. “There are vehicles approaching at a high rate of speed.”

“From the sky?” Cuddy asked.

“No, on this same road.”

Then Jackie heard it, a car coming fast. She recognized it—it belonged to Dr. Horowitz. Dr. Brian Horowitz. Driving his pride and joy, a brand new red Mercedes 500 SL convertible, Brian was leaving a rooster tail of dust behind him as he sped toward them.

“Oh crap!” she said.

“Who’s that coming?” Tony asked.