Crop Circles

Nothing interesting ever happens in the town of Inklin. Biggest news around here was the local harvest festival and it's contests' winners. That was until last season's festival. It all started with farmer Johnson. Everyone knew he wasn't all there up top, but we soon knew something wasn't right.

Inklin was located 75 kilometres east of the nearest city, 20 kilometres to the nearest highway. It was largely a farming community, making 90% of its income on autumn harvest. The other ten percent was generated by Johnson ranting about aliens. Tourists from all over came to see his field.

He came yelling and screaming to the festival, claiming something came at midnight and stole moonshine from his still. There were burn marks in a circle, strange patterns upon the ground. He said the aliens, had come down to our little town Inklin. He was so sure he was right, that he even brought his concerns to the Town Hall. He took his hat off, open mic in front of the Town Council. He said, "We have visitors sitting among us, from somewhere beyond the stars. You'll know them cause they like trouble, they drink our beer, and they like to have fun. I've even seen them with the mayor's daughter, driving around in a local boy's truck."

After this, the town wrote him off as crazy and we went on ordinarily. The truck he described as seeing an alien in, was mine. So I was asked by the Council to bring in my truck for investigation. Nothing unusual was found so, no one felt the need to check his field.

That was 1 week shy of a year ago, till this day, Johnson still rants about his story, going door-to-door trying to convince people he was right. I was sitting up in the hayloft, playing with our cats and watching sheep graze below me. When I saw farmer Johnson's truck rolling down the driveway, I knew it was our monthly visit.

I climbed down from the hayloft and walked to the house where Johnson was getting out of his car. He was an older, grey-haired man who was in good enough shape to run a farm alone. I never knew if he married and I was certain he didn't have any children. His face was creased and his skin didn't seem to fit right around his head. I wrote it off as old age and approached him, eager to hear him tell his story again.

He noticed me coming and waved me over frantically. Without saying a word, he directed me to my front door where he knocked and we both waited. My mom, Barbara, answered the door. She saw us both standing there and I could tell what was going through her head.

Every year, after the festival, the older kids have a party in a field, much to the dislike of the field's owner. I've attended this party ever since I was 14, and for the three parties I've been too, I can tell you, they get pretty wild. If there was one thing the kids of this town knew how to do, it was party.

That's where she had thought I'd been, even though it was midday and the parties were only ever held at night. Once Johnson started talking though, Barbara knew what was about to happen. Johnson told her that the day of reckoning was upon us. That in one week from today, those monsters would return to take the town for themselves.

I could tell she was having a hard time holding in her laughter, my feelings exactly. Johnson noticed this and scowled, "Just you wait Barbara! They're coming for us all!"

He walked back to his truck, slammed the door and drove away. I laughed and waved him goodbye, then headed in for lunch. Barbara makes some of the best food I ever tasted; spaghetti, lasagne, and this strange delicacy, macaroni and cheese.

§

Mother had left for awhile and was going to arrive back in two days, the same day that Johnson said was the day of reckoning. Only two more days until I would be home. It was a Thursday, I was driving through town in my blue Ford pickup, Holly was sitting next to me. She was explaining to me that being the mayors daughter wasn't all that great. She told me how everyone expected her to know exactly what her dad knew and that they could get mayoral advice from her. I looked over at her and studied her, she had a flustered look on her face with a slight hint of relief, finally saying her mind.

She was a specimen of beauty, I continued to study her, but no matter how hard I tried, the brain of a human woman can never be unlocked.

I stopped at Johnson's field and got out, so did Holly. We were both in charge of preparing this year's party for after the festival. She drew lines in the freshly harvested soil as to where some tables would be set up and where the music system would be.

§

Today the festival was being held in the town square. Everyone brought a small portion of bread made from their freshly harvested crop to share with the townsfolk. Mother would be arriving later that night and after the party, I could finally go home.

During the festival, Holly and I took place in many events, including apple bobbing, axe throwing, and beanbag toss. We both had a great time, but we were really looking forward to tonight.

At lunchtime, Holly and I sat next to Barbara, and we all ate delicious bread and burgers. My mom and Holly had never met so while they were talking I looked up at the sky, waiting. Only 12 more hours and I would be heading home.

§

The festival was coming to a close and all the kids started filing away. Their parents weren't worried, what trouble could be caused by kids in such a small town? It was 11:30 pm. Johnson was outside sitting on his porch all night watching us dance and have fun. Someone had gone over to ask him why and he said that if we were in his field, then we would see them too.

It was 11:45 pm. Mother was scheduled to arrive soon and then I would head home, maybe Holly could come with me. I quickly erased that idea out of my head, it was against mother's rules to bring anyone along.

It was 11:50 pm. We danced harder, the music got louder. Everyone was having such a great time. Too bad I had to leave soon.

It was 11:55. The party was starting to get insane. People were jumping from truck to truck, they were dancing on the speakers. It was all under the light of the moon.

It was 11:59. The party was untameable. I looked up to the sky as I danced. My heart skipped a beat. A star was moving, quickly. I looked over at Johnson. He had seen it too.

He ran out to the field, shotgun in hand, yelling at us all to look up at the sky. Some did, others didn't hear him. The few that looked gaped at what they saw. A large ship was flying down above Johnson's field. A UFO.

The ship floated right above us, right above me. I looked over at Holly, she was in awe at the sight. Everyone was looking now, the music still blared, but no one was dancing.

Johnson ran right up to me, so close I could smell the tobacco. He looked at me smiling as he yelled to everyone that he had been right.

I told him had been right, about everything. The moonshine, the truck, and that they were listening when he spoke to the town council. His smile dropped.

The ship above us made a deep rumbling noise and a yellow beam shot down from it. I looked at Johnson, gave him one last smile, and jumped into the beam. As I felt myself fly up into the ship, I couldn't help but think, I was going home.