Flash! Earth Contacts Pluto!
My seams were crooked and I was late to the lab. I was the first woman scientist at the base and I couldn't allow things like this to happen! I ran. My high heels had been made specially for me with thicker heels and small straps to keep them in place for times like this.
I flew through the door right under the wire and the head lab tech frowned at me, but what else was new? He felt I was wasting myself as a woman and when would I have babies? Sheesh!
I was monitoring communications, okay - sounds, from outer space. That is all I did. I sat at a desk and wore uncomfortable headphones and listened. Boring and fruitless to date, but it was my field and I did it proudly.
The door banged open and I didn't need to look up to see that it was the military who governed the base. I was never sought out for my mind, but for my looks. I buttoned my lab coat over my bountiful bosom and slumped over. I also made sure my skirt was well over my knees.
They ignored me today. It seemed that something was afoot. I slid off one headphone and listened. I heard Pluto and Spaceship X and a few other words worthy of note.
***
Evening had arrived and the suitors came with it. Each day I would have close to a dozen suitors vying for my time and they would walk me home hoping for an invitation inside. All were denied. I had to hide inside every night with the lights low or off and sit close to the small black and white set or radio for a little fun.
I made sure to cook foods that weren't enticing, as well. Life here was a big bore with bouts of fighting off men. I was ready to leave, but had a few months left to fulfill my contract so I wasn't blacklisted.
Bed was calling me and a Reader's Digest book. I turned on my reading lamp and was asleep before I finished page one.
***
I was shaken from the bed and threw my hands up, thinking it an over ambitious man. All I saw was a red glow outside the window. I grabbed my robe, slid into my slippers and pulled up the blinds. The hillside was flaming. The phone began to ring and I grabbed it.
A rude and abrupt voice said, "Get dressed! A jeep will be there in five minutes and we are evacuating." The line disconnected.
I put on slacks, a blouse and a cardigan sweater and chose socks and loafers. A scarf covered my hair and my handbag was on my arm. That would have to do for now.
A jeep squealed to a stop and I hopped inside. A soldier fastened a safety belt on me and we were off.
The ride was bumpy and dangerous, but something was driving us forward. I didn't know what it was, but felt the danger. No one said a word and soon we were driving into an opening in the mountain. I had never noticed it before.
It was cold and damp at first, but soon opened into a large chamber with every need we may have.
I stood to the side and waited to be told what to do, for this was beyond my scope of experience. I hated that too! I sat on the floor after an hour, but the cold was intense.
I saw a coffee center and headed that way, where doughnuts and coffee were available in major amounts. I took two doughnuts and a large cup of coffee with cream and sugar. I sat with the chaplain and we began to discuss trivialities and then I offered my help until they found a job for me. He agreed readily and went for another chair for me.
Time passed and I slept with my head on my arms until an alarm rang out. Jumping to my feet, I was pushed back down by a lab coated man.
"Stay down!" I stayed.
A disembodied voice came over the loud speaker after the alarms stopped. "We are under attack by aliens. Stay where you are if you are safe or head to the mountain if you are in the open. The mountain is safe."
***
Days passed and no one left or arrived. We heard explosions outside, but they had stopped a day before. I suggested that we listen at the cave entrance for activity. They found headphones and attached them to a super stethoscope device. I heard nothing, but authorities listened as well.
The cave entrance was opened and troops filed out to inspect the area. All was gone; not one building still stood. There were strange markings on the surface of the ground and the side of the mountain.
The generals decided they looked like a dog, so also decided that Pluto had contacted us.
I told them that Pluto was a dog only in Disney films, but no one listened.
I served out my time in the mountain and then left for a position in teaching at a place called Area 51. Maybe it wouldn't be as boring...
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