The Visit
It was the first night in their new house, for which Solomon and Grace had worked and saved hard for over the past few years.
It was an old barn that they had converted to their own specification and, at last, after months of drawing up plans and then having to change things here and there because of regulations, and a whole host of upsets with things going wrong, at long last contracts were finally exchanged and they were able to move in. The day was a hot summers day in July and, after all the trials and tribulations of moving, they were both quite exhausted.
They had so looked forward to this moment, alone in their new home, situated in the heart of the English countryside amidst some of the most beautiful scenery of beautiful green rolling hills. Their nearest neighbour was almost two miles away and the nearest town some four miles away. They were now, at last, relaxing after finishing their evening meal. It was a simple meal, a fish and chips take away from the local chip shop in the nearby town which Solomon had gone to get. They were both enjoying the peace and tranquility of the hot summers night over a nice glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc which, they said laughingly, was a bit over the top for a fish and chip supper, but they wanted to celebrate their move, so a nice glass of wine seemed appropriate.
They were both enjoying this moment when suddenly, the silence was broken by a strange pulsating humming sound that seemed to be coming from all around the house and was gradually getting louder and louder until, just as suddenly, the humming stopped. With that there was a strange eerie green glow that was shining through their living room window. Solomon said he was going to go out and find out what it was, but Grace became frightened and asked him not to go. As he was trying to comfort and console her all the lights in the property went out, plunging them almost into complete darkness apart from the eerie glow of green coming from outside the window.
With that, Grace became almost hysterical and Solomon cuddled her close and tried to console her and quieten her down, although he too was wary, if not frightened also of what was going on, but he didn’t want to show any fear in front of Grace because he knew that it would make things worse for her. Moments later the main street door began to slowly open,
“Didn’t you lock the door? Cried Grace with a look of desperation on her face,
“Of course I did”, replied Solomon
Then, it opened fully, and silhouetted against the green glow was an eerie looking figure of what appeared to be a giant of a man. His shadowy form almost completely filling the doorway in both height and width. Both Solomon and Grace were stunned into a complete frozen fear and silence as the figure calmly closed the door and seemed to glide, rather than walk, toward them, there was no sound of any footsteps on the new parquet wooden floor. They both stood completely transfixed and found themselves unable to move. They couldn’t make out a face but could hear a soft, almost comforting voice whispering to them, it was saying,
“Do not be afraid, we are not going to harm you, we just want to ask you some questions”
Their hearts were beating wildly and the sound of each of their hearts pounding could almost be heard in the moments that followed and their minds were racing, it was as though they could each read the others’ thoughts and both were wondering if this was really happening or were they both somehow caught up in the same dream.
They looked quizzically at each other, not knowing what was happening and unsure of what to do, unable to stop themselves being led outside and walking toward a large circular vehicle of some kind, it was this vehicle that emitted the strange green glow. They did not want to go on, but a strange, inexplicable force, seemed to be compelling them to go on and they were powerless to stop. They were unable to make out what exactly this vehicle was, all they could really see was the eerie green glow around it, they thought it might be some large military vehicle but, as they reached it, a large panel on the side slid silently open to reveal inside a most beautiful summer country scene, complete with green rolling hills, flowers and trees, and the sound of birds chirping, just like the place they had come to live; it was their paradise, but how could this be inside a vehicle? As they entered, the panel they had entered through slid silently closed behind them.
Then, the strange figure that they had seen in the doorway of their house was standing in front of them, it was standing quite still and, although they could not make out any features on the face, there was something reassuring, almost calming, about it. Their fear had subsided a little and now and it was mostly confusion that occupied their minds. Just as Solomon was about to ask what was going on, a voice instructed them to go through a doorway on their left. The voice was not that of the being in front of them, but came from all around them, just like a public address system you would hear in a supermarket, except that this voice was far more serene and calming, similar to that of the one they heard from the being that first entered their house.
They followed the instruction and when they passed through the door they found themselves standing in a large brightly lit room in front of at least a dozen more of the same kind of beings as the one they first encountered and had led them to this place, only now they could make out the faces. Smiling, welcoming faces that were warm and friendly; faces that comforted them and no longer frightened them. They were all seated around a large beautifully carved long wooden table and one of them spoke and invited Grace and Solomon to join them, there was just two empty seats left at one end of the table, both seats were large, soft and sumptuous and immediately they sat in them they felt most comfortable and a strange feeling of ease with the situation seemed to engulf them.
They both looked at each other, and in their minds, they knew that they were with aliens from another world, but this no longer seemed to matter. They reached out and clenched each other’s hands tightly. Another of the group of people (if that is what they were) apologised to them for disturbing them so late at night and said that they hoped their ‘technician’ did not frighten them as he was quite harmless. They were then asked if they would like something to eat or drink and would they mind answering some questions. By now both Grace and Solomon were too tired, confused, curious and, in part, enthralled to refuse, and so they said that they did not require any food but would like a drink of tea if that was possible. Within a few moments a selection of different teas was brought in and served to them in the finest bone china they had ever seen; and then the questions began.
“What do we do here? How is this country governed? How is the world governed? What is religion? Why do different parts of this world constantly battle with and kill each other? It seemed as though the questions would never stop and all of them was, in one way or another, about all the various aspects of this world of ours. Despite everything that was happening and even with all the questions that they were being bombarded with, both Grace and Solomon felt a warm glow flowing over them and, after a time, despite their attempts not to, were unable to stop themselves from falling into a deep, deep sleep.
When they awoke they were both amazed to find themselves back on their own bed, still fully clothed in the same clothes they were wearing when their ordeal began. Both said they felt completely refreshed and it was the best nights sleep they had had in ages. Grace looked at their bedside clock and said to Solomon,
“Do you know what time it is”?
Before he could answer she said,
“It’s two o’clock, and it’s light out, we’ve slept through most of the day!”
Neither of them could believe it, then Solomon looked at his watch and, sure enough, it was two o’clock in the afternoon. The date on the watch showed the 10th. July and when Solomon showed this to Grace they looked at each other in disbelief. The day they saw their mysterious visitor was the day they moved in, which was the 8th. July, which meant that two whole days had passed, not just one night!
For a few moments they just stared at each other and then Grace said, with concern in her voice,
“What happened to us, what happened to the last two days”?
“I don’t know”, said Solomon, “I can’t remember much of what happened after we went outside, can you”?
‘No”, said Grace, “I can’t either”.
“Surely it wasn’t the government, what would they want with us? I know this is going to sound crazy, but it must have been visitors from another world, aliens, I can vaguely recall them asking lots of questions, and mostly all about this world of ours. Thankfully, whoever they were they were obviously friendly and just wanted to find out more about us, I’m not injured in any way and feel absolutely fine and must have slept really well, what about you”?
“No, I don’t have any injuries and I also feel fine and slept well, but do you think they’ll be back”, said Grace.
“I don’t know, maybe they’re not too impressed with our world and………….”
Then, before they could say anything else the telephone rang and it was Solomon’s sister. Not being one who minces her words, and instead of asking how they were, she simply said in almost a very aggressive voice,
“Where have you been”, I’ve been ringing you almost every couple of hours for the past two days and at first I thought that the phone wasn’t connected yet, but then I tried your mobile and still got no response. If you hadn’t answered this time I was going to call the police, where have you been and why haven’t you answered the ‘phone, what’s been the matter”?
“Well, you probably won’t believe this”, Solomon replied, “But I think we were visited and taken by aliens”.
At this comment he could hear his sister laughingly say,
“Oh yes, and I suppose they’ve made you millionaires as well”
“You may laugh, oh, and thanks for asking how we are, but we are both well”, he said somewhat sarcastically.
“Grace and me both feel the same and are absolutely convinced that this is what happened to us, where do you think we’ve been for the past two days? Thankfully we haven’t been injured in any way and it seems they just wanted to find out more about us and this world of ours, we can only presume that it would seem that they didn’t like what they’ve seen and heard otherwise they would make themselves known to everyone”.
With that, Solomon proceeded to tell his sister the whole story, or at least what he could remember. His sister told him that she reckoned that they must have got into a drunken stupor and simply lost all track of time, she said that she thought his story was a stupid one, she didn’t believe in aliens and said they both must have been drunk out their tiny minds. Eventually the telephone call was ended and Solomon slowly placed the ‘phone back on it’s stand, he and Grace just looked at each other.
Would anyone ever believe their story of what happened on that hot summers day in July, and would their visitors ever come back?
THE END
©️ Sid Weiner (pseudonym David De Wynter) 2017
It was the first night in their new house, for which Solomon and Grace had worked and saved hard for over the past few years.
It was an old barn that they had converted to their own specification and, at last, after months of drawing up plans and then having to change things here and there because of regulations, and a whole host of upsets with things going wrong, at long last contracts were finally exchanged and they were able to move in. The day was a hot summers day in July and, after all the trials and tribulations of moving, they were both quite exhausted.
They had so looked forward to this moment, alone in their new home, situated in the heart of the English countryside amidst some of the most beautiful scenery of beautiful green rolling hills. Their nearest neighbour was almost two miles away and the nearest town some four miles away. They were now, at last, relaxing after finishing their evening meal. It was a simple meal, a fish and chips take away from the local chip shop in the nearby town which Solomon had gone to get. They were both enjoying the peace and tranquility of the hot summers night over a nice glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc which, they said laughingly, was a bit over the top for a fish and chip supper, but they wanted to celebrate their move, so a nice glass of wine seemed appropriate.
They were both enjoying this moment when suddenly, the silence was broken by a strange pulsating humming sound that seemed to be coming from all around the house and was gradually getting louder and louder until, just as suddenly, the humming stopped. With that there was a strange eerie green glow that was shining through their living room window. Solomon said he was going to go out and find out what it was, but Grace became frightened and asked him not to go. As he was trying to comfort and console her all the lights in the property went out, plunging them almost into complete darkness apart from the eerie glow of green coming from outside the window.
With that, Grace became almost hysterical and Solomon cuddled her close and tried to console her and quieten her down, although he too was wary, if not frightened also of what was going on, but he didn’t want to show any fear in front of Grace because he knew that it would make things worse for her. Moments later the main street door began to slowly open,
“Didn’t you lock the door? Cried Grace with a look of desperation on her face,
“Of course I did”, replied Solomon
Then, it opened fully, and silhouetted against the green glow was an eerie looking figure of what appeared to be a giant of a man. His shadowy form almost completely filling the doorway in both height and width. Both Solomon and Grace were stunned into a complete frozen fear and silence as the figure calmly closed the door and seemed to glide, rather than walk, toward them, there was no sound of any footsteps on the new parquet wooden floor. They both stood completely transfixed and found themselves unable to move. They couldn’t make out a face but could hear a soft, almost comforting voice whispering to them, it was saying,
“Do not be afraid, we are not going to harm you, we just want to ask you some questions”
Their hearts were beating wildly and the sound of each of their hearts pounding could almost be heard in the moments that followed and their minds were racing, it was as though they could each read the others’ thoughts and both were wondering if this was really happening or were they both somehow caught up in the same dream.
They looked quizzically at each other, not knowing what was happening and unsure of what to do, unable to stop themselves being led outside and walking toward a large circular vehicle of some kind, it was this vehicle that emitted the strange green glow. They did not want to go on, but a strange, inexplicable force, seemed to be compelling them to go on and they were powerless to stop. They were unable to make out what exactly this vehicle was, all they could really see was the eerie green glow around it, they thought it might be some large military vehicle but, as they reached it, a large panel on the side slid silently open to reveal inside a most beautiful summer country scene, complete with green rolling hills, flowers and trees, and the sound of birds chirping, just like the place they had come to live; it was their paradise, but how could this be inside a vehicle? As they entered, the panel they had entered through slid silently closed behind them.
Then, the strange figure that they had seen in the doorway of their house was standing in front of them, it was standing quite still and, although they could not make out any features on the face, there was something reassuring, almost calming, about it. Their fear had subsided a little and now and it was mostly confusion that occupied their minds. Just as Solomon was about to ask what was going on, a voice instructed them to go through a doorway on their left. The voice was not that of the being in front of them, but came from all around them, just like a public address system you would hear in a supermarket, except that this voice was far more serene and calming, similar to that of the one they heard from the being that first entered their house.
They followed the instruction and when they passed through the door they found themselves standing in a large brightly lit room in front of at least a dozen more of the same kind of beings as the one they first encountered and had led them to this place, only now they could make out the faces. Smiling, welcoming faces that were warm and friendly; faces that comforted them and no longer frightened them. They were all seated around a large beautifully carved long wooden table and one of them spoke and invited Grace and Solomon to join them, there was just two empty seats left at one end of the table, both seats were large, soft and sumptuous and immediately they sat in them they felt most comfortable and a strange feeling of ease with the situation seemed to engulf them.
They both looked at each other, and in their minds, they knew that they were with aliens from another world, but this no longer seemed to matter. They reached out and clenched each other’s hands tightly. Another of the group of people (if that is what they were) apologised to them for disturbing them so late at night and said that they hoped their ‘technician’ did not frighten them as he was quite harmless. They were then asked if they would like something to eat or drink and would they mind answering some questions. By now both Grace and Solomon were too tired, confused, curious and, in part, enthralled to refuse, and so they said that they did not require any food but would like a drink of tea if that was possible. Within a few moments a selection of different teas was brought in and served to them in the finest bone china they had ever seen; and then the questions began.
“What do we do here? How is this country governed? How is the world governed? What is religion? Why do different parts of this world constantly battle with and kill each other? It seemed as though the questions would never stop and all of them was, in one way or another, about all the various aspects of this world of ours. Despite everything that was happening and even with all the questions that they were being bombarded with, both Grace and Solomon felt a warm glow flowing over them and, after a time, despite their attempts not to, were unable to stop themselves from falling into a deep, deep sleep.
When they awoke they were both amazed to find themselves back on their own bed, still fully clothed in the same clothes they were wearing when their ordeal began. Both said they felt completely refreshed and it was the best nights sleep they had had in ages. Grace looked at their bedside clock and said to Solomon,
“Do you know what time it is”?
Before he could answer she said,
“It’s two o’clock, and it’s light out, we’ve slept through most of the day!”
Neither of them could believe it, then Solomon looked at his watch and, sure enough, it was two o’clock in the afternoon. The date on the watch showed the 10th. July and when Solomon showed this to Grace they looked at each other in disbelief. The day they saw their mysterious visitor was the day they moved in, which was the 8th. July, which meant that two whole days had passed, not just one night!
For a few moments they just stared at each other and then Grace said, with concern in her voice,
“What happened to us, what happened to the last two days”?
“I don’t know”, said Solomon, “I can’t remember much of what happened after we went outside, can you”?
‘No”, said Grace, “I can’t either”.
“Surely it wasn’t the government, what would they want with us? I know this is going to sound crazy, but it must have been visitors from another world, aliens, I can vaguely recall them asking lots of questions, and mostly all about this world of ours. Thankfully, whoever they were they were obviously friendly and just wanted to find out more about us, I’m not injured in any way and feel absolutely fine and must have slept really well, what about you”?
“No, I don’t have any injuries and I also feel fine and slept well, but do you think they’ll be back”, said Grace.
“I don’t know, maybe they’re not too impressed with our world and………….”
Then, before they could say anything else the telephone rang and it was Solomon’s sister. Not being one who minces her words, and instead of asking how they were, she simply said in almost a very aggressive voice,
“Where have you been”, I’ve been ringing you almost every couple of hours for the past two days and at first I thought that the phone wasn’t connected yet, but then I tried your mobile and still got no response. If you hadn’t answered this time I was going to call the police, where have you been and why haven’t you answered the ‘phone, what’s been the matter”?
“Well, you probably won’t believe this”, Solomon replied, “But I think we were visited and taken by aliens”.
At this comment he could hear his sister laughingly say,
“Oh yes, and I suppose they’ve made you millionaires as well”
“You may laugh, oh, and thanks for asking how we are, but we are both well”, he said somewhat sarcastically.
“Grace and me both feel the same and are absolutely convinced that this is what happened to us, where do you think we’ve been for the past two days? Thankfully we haven’t been injured in any way and it seems they just wanted to find out more about us and this world of ours, we can only presume that it would seem that they didn’t like what they’ve seen and heard otherwise they would make themselves known to everyone”.
With that, Solomon proceeded to tell his sister the whole story, or at least what he could remember. His sister told him that she reckoned that they must have got into a drunken stupor and simply lost all track of time, she said that she thought his story was a stupid one, she didn’t believe in aliens and said they both must have been drunk out their tiny minds. Eventually the telephone call was ended and Solomon slowly placed the ‘phone back on it’s stand, he and Grace just looked at each other.
Would anyone ever believe their story of what happened on that hot summers day in July, and would their visitors ever come back?
THE END
©️ Sid Weiner (pseudonym David De Wynter) 2017