1 Home, at Last

THE ALIEN NEXT DOOR BOOK UP, UP, AND AWAY!

one home at last, HARRIS WALKER AND HIS FRIEND Zeke were walking home from school. They were both in great moods. "Spring Break!" Harris shouted. "A whole week off from school! We can hang out and do whatever we want!" "And this happens the same time every year?" asked Zeke.

"Pretty much," replied Harris. "Hmm..." said Zeke. "Back home on Tragas, breaks only happen after we learn how to do something really well. Then we spend the whole break in meditation pods reviewing all we've learned up to that point."

Harris smiled. Zeke had very quickly become one of his best friends. He still found it amazing that Zeke was from another planet. "That sounds okay, I guess. Since you're probably learning how to move things with your mind!" Harris said. "But is it as much fun as the time we went camping?"

"I have to admit, I didn't understand at first why anyone would want to sleep outside," Zeke said. "But once we did it, I did have fun." "And I'll never forget the look on your face when you first saw a waterfall here," Harris said. Zeke smiled. "I could not believe that the water flowed down from the top," he said. "On Tragas, waterfalls flow up!" "I'd love to see that!" said Harris.

"You never know," said Zeke. "Maybe some day, you'll get to visit Tragas." "I don't know if I could survive eating only Tragas food," said Harris. "Remember the first time my parents saw food from your planet?" "I sure do," said Zeke. "They were polite to my parents, but I could see that they were a little freaked out." "I was, too!" said Harris. "When I saw those slimy purple slugs your folks brought..."