Zorp was a little alien from the planet Floof. Floof was covered in purple grass and smelled like blueberries. But Zorp wasn’t thinking about blueberries tonight. He was thinking about Earth! It was his first solo mission, and he was a little bit wobbly with nerves. His spaceship, shaped like a giant gumdrop, landed softly in Old Man Tiber’s pumpkin patch.
Old Man Tiber wasn’t scared when he saw Zorp. He’d seen a lot of things in his eighty-two years, and a small, green alien with three eyes wasn’t even in the top ten. “Well now,” he said, adjusting his spectacles. “You must be a long way from home.” Zorp, using his translator, replied, “I am. I’m Zorp, and I’m supposed to… to observe Earthlings.”
The problem was, Zorp was *very* shy. He’d practiced observing from his spaceship, but actually talking to an Earthling was much harder. He worried they wouldn’t understand his blinking language or his slightly wobbly walk. He worried they wouldn’t like his three eyes. Old Man Tiber seemed nice, but what if he shouted? What if he called for… someone with nets?
Old Man Tiber chuckled. “Observe away, young fella. But observing is much more fun with a friend. I’m Tiber. Would you like a pumpkin spice cookie?” Zorp’s translator whirred. “Cookie?” he asked cautiously. Tiber held out a warm, golden cookie. Zorp took a tiny bite. It tasted like cinnamon and happiness.
As they sat among the pumpkins, Tiber told Zorp about Earth – about autumn leaves, and fireflies, and the joy of a good book. Zorp, feeling braver with each cookie, told Tiber about Floof – about the bouncing trees and the singing rocks. He even showed Tiber how to make his antennae glow different colors, which made Tiber laugh a booming, friendly laugh.
Suddenly, a small, brown dog named Buster came bounding into the pumpkin patch, barking excitedly. Zorp yelped and hid behind Tiber. Buster sniffed Zorp cautiously, then wagged his tail and licked Zorp’s hand. Zorp giggled. Buster didn’t seem to mind the three eyes at all!
Tiber smiled. “See, Zorp? Earthlings aren’t so scary. They just want to be friends.” Zorp realized Tiber was right. He’d been so worried about being different, he’d almost missed out on making a new friend. He and Buster chased fireflies, and Tiber told stories until Zorp’s eyelids began to droop.
Before long, it was time for Zorp to return to his gumdrop spaceship. He hugged Tiber goodbye (a slightly squishy hug, because of his suit) and promised to visit again soon. As he blasted off into the starry sky, Zorp waved to Tiber and Buster. He wasn’t wobbly with nerves anymore. He was wobbly with happiness.
Zorp learned that even though he was different, and even though Earth was different from Floof, kindness and friendship could be found anywhere in the universe. And sometimes, all it takes is a pumpkin spice cookie to make a new friend. He knew, with a happy little alien sigh, that his first solo mission was a complete success.