ONE YEAR ON EARTH

ONE YEAR ON EARTH

BY LISA RAO

CHAPTER ONE: SEPTEMBER.

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. So that’s why nobody cared that we were brought here against our will, Nix thought. He yawned. He was weary. It had been a long day at school. He stared at his reflection in the mirror. His violet blue eyes were bright and clear; there was no indication of the weariness he felt. It’s a lot tougher being the “new kid” than I imagined, Nix thought to himself.

Then he unzipped his fake human skin and floated into bed.

Nix and Hydra (named for two of Pluto’s moons), are brother and sister, and also aliens. They were adopted by their Earth parents, Jill and Lou Ryan, two prominent astronomers, at the request of NASA, and told to keep their true identities secret. The story being told to the general public is that they are Jill’s cousins; their parents died tragically in a car crash, and so Jill and Lou decided to legally adopt them.

Their Earth “costumes” are as realistic as possible; the only things that couldn’t be altered was their unique eye color; an intense violet blue. Earth contact lenses hurt their eyes, but fortunately the color was found attractive by humans, and since Nix and Hydra were twins, their unusual eye color was just chalked up to “lucky genes.” They also lack the same number of bones as a human; their “human costume creators” from Planet Kepler didn’t bother to put full sets of every human bone in Nix and Hydra; this gives them both a cat-like slinkiness. When they are out of their costumes, while they have a human-like shape (one head, two arms, two legs, torso, etc.) they are completely translucent, glowing beings.

Nix and Hydra are here to observe the behavior of Earth children for one year before returning to their home planet. Neither one relished the idea of leaving Kepler, but they were told over and over how they were “specifically selected,” and that they were very, very special. “You should feel honored,” they were told. “You are pioneers. You have been chosen as the only two students worthy from Kepler 186-F to visit Earth.”

Nix and Hydra are learning about middle-school from their totally unique perspective. They are confused by bullying; because everyone on their planet looks similar (although not exactly alike.) And everyone is programmed with the same intellectual capacity. Nix is having a slightly more difficult time than Hydra adjusting to his new home; he is grateful that he and his sister can send each other thoughts through mental telepathy.

Nix tossed and turned on the mattress. He was exhausted but unable to sleep. “Check out the new kids.” How many times did he and Hydra hear that on day one? They knew of course, human kids would be interested in them, but they never realized to what extent. This is mainly because on Kepler, everyone is just a sheer glowing mass, so visually “new people” aren’t that exciting.

But the presence of the two, tall, lanky twins with amazing purple eyes caused a huge stir in Devon Middle School. Everyone wanted to meet them. They were openly stared at and whispered about in homeroom. Were they smart? Were they athletic? Were they wearing contact lenses? Did Hydra have a boyfriend?

Meanwhile, Nix and Hydra were observing, too; they just weren’t quite as obvious. They were amazed at the diversity they saw: dark hair, light hair, red hair, curly hair, straight hair, tall, short, fat, thin. To them it was dizzying. Hydra was disappointed their costumer on Planet Kepler didn’t give them more interesting outfits. “We’re supposed to be twins, so he kept us alike,” Nix explained. “Easier for him, too.” “But boring,” Hydra responded. She wished now she had more of a say in her appearance. She would have looked amazing as an African-American girl with violet eyes! Oh well. Too late now, Hydra thought.

After homeroom, Nix was putting books in his locker when a girl approached him. Her name was Jenna, and she had long wavy brown hair, bright blue eyes and a perpetual smile. Someone told Nix she was a cheerleader, but he wasn’t sure exactly what that was. But he knew the word “leader”, so he was extra polite to her.

“Hey, Nix,” she said. Her smile got even wider. “Cool name, by the way,” she added.

“Thanks,” Nix said. There was a brief pause. Nix felt a bit anxious. What did this girl—Jenna—leader of cheers, want from him?

“So…” Jenna finally said. “Do you know my friend Leah?” Nix shook his head, impatient and slightly annoyed. It’s my first day here, he thought. In a new school, ON A NEW PLANET! How would I know your friend Leah?!?

“Oh! I thought maybe you did…she said you were staring at her in homeroom. She has red hair and freckles…”

Red hair and … freckles? Nix didn’t know the word, but he remembered checking out his classmates and one girl did indeed have deep red hair, and some curious little spots all over her skin; her face, her arms her legs. He probably did stare at her a bit longer than the kids. Were those little spots freckles?

“Freckles?” Nix said, and lightly touched his face with his fingers.

Jenna laughed. “Yeah! That’s Leah! Her freckles really come out in the summer. Anyway…” Jenna took a deep breath. “I just wanted you to know. She likes you. Likes-likes you.”

“Like-likes me?” Nix repeated. He was confused by the repetition. Maybe Jenna accidentally stuttered over the word. He wasn’t teasing her, he just wanted to make sure he understood.

“Yes!” Jenna said brightly and said it again. “She like-likes you!” Her blue eyes sparkled, and Nix got the impression that she thought she was giving him good news. Nix hesitated. Should he repeat his words as well?

“Okay, okay,” he said, and hoped that was a proper response. Jenna laughed and tapped Nix lightly on the arm. “You’re so funny!” she said. “Well … cool. I’ll let Leah know you’re interested. Later!” She practically bounced down the hallway. Huh? Nix thought.

Seated in his next class, Nix closed his eyes and sent Hydra a message. He didn’t know what room she was in, but it didn’t matter.

Nix:

Hey. Jenna just told me her friend Leah like-likes me. What does that mean?

Hydra:

I think it’s a term that indicates affection and/or attraction. I think it means Leah finds you appealing and visually attractive.

Nix:

Hmm. The feeling is not mutual. I mean she’s pretty and I guess she’s nice, but I don’t think I care for freckles. Do I tell Jenna I don’t like/don’t like Leah?

Hydra:

I don’t think that’s how you say it. You don’t have to repeat it. I think the correct Earth term is “You like her as a friend.”

Nix:

Oh. Okay. Thanks. See you at home…

Hydra, meanwhile, was having her own first day issues.

On Kepler since everyone looks similar, there is no need for flattery or politeness regarding physical appearances. So, when a girl in gym class confided in Hydra and confessed that she “hated her teeth,” Hydra agreed with her and said, “I can see why. They stick out a bit and aren’t very white. They are definitely not as visually appealing as some other teeth I’ve seen. But on the plus side, I don’t think their appearance interferes with your chewing at all, does it?” Hydra was completely baffled when the girl stormed off in a huff. That night when Hydra retold the incident to her “mom” Jill Ryan, Mrs. Ryan explained to her that she needs to consider other people’s feelings since Earthlings are very sensitive regarding their appearance. Hydra realizes she has a lot to learn about being an Earth girl.

Still, Hydra is a bit more outgoing than Nix, and she quickly becomes friends with Annie. Annie is feisty, tomboyish, and funny. She thinks Hydra is quirky and hilarious and declares that she is her new “BFF.” She sits next to Hydra in the cafeteria.

“You don’t eat much, do you?” Annie remarks and looks pointedly at Hydra’s cafeteria tray. Hydra has taken a container of milk, and about two spoons of macaroni and cheese. Her Earth taste buds have not been activated yet, so eating is not a pleasurable experience for her.

“I, uhm, heard the mac and cheese was burnt today,” Hydra says thinking quickly. (And this statement is true enough, she did hear some kids complaining about the food when she was on the cafeteria line.)

“Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend it,” Annie agrees. She suddenly brightens and says “Hey! So next weekend is my birthday and I’m having a sleepover. Do you think you’d be able to come? My mom can call your mom if you want.”

Hydra hesitates. She is actually a nervous wreck at the thought of having to spend the night at someone else’s home. She’s afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing in front of a bunch of human girls, not to mention the fact that she’ll have to spend the entire night in her human suit. She will be really hot and itchy! But she just nods calmly and says she will check with her parents.

The rest of the lunch hour goes smoothly until Annie asks, “Hey, by the way, do you have any relatives out in Long Island?” Startled, Hydra says no, and asks why. “I went to a party over the weekend and I saw some kids that had purply eyes exactly like yours! They’re too freaky to be a coincidence. Maybe you’re related and don’t know it yet! Wouldn’t that be cool?”

Cool isn’t exactly the word Hydra has in mind. But she closes her eyes and sends her brother Nix a message: There are more of us here.