Learning To Fly Read online

  Franklin came back with three bottles and a bottle opener, handing one bottle to Mike and the other to Kendra.

  “Perhaps we should forego the intoxicating beverages for the time being,” Mike said.

  “Just root beer, not intoxicating, and hopefully as good as Kendra says it is.”

  “Pardon me. I still have some things to learn about your culture.”

  “This is the best root beer you can get around here. My dad loves it.”

  “You get it from that new place in Norwood…what’s the name?” Walter asked.

  “B.J’s.”

  “Yeah, that’s it. Keep meaning to stop in there. I hear their beer’s decent.”

  “So, we gonna get Mike’s story sometime today?” Franklin asked.

  “He zapped me,” Walter said, “Made me like this.”

  “Oh, why’d you go and do that?” Kendra asked.

  “I’ll get to the why soon enough,” Mike said, “but maybe I should tell you who I am and where I come from.”

  “Maybe that would be a good start.”

  “For starters, my name isn’t really Mike, but since you aren’t capable of speaking my language, we’ll stick to yours.”

  “You seem to speak English well enough. Where’d you pick that up?” Franklin asked.

  “I am…what is your word for it…I study alien cultures. I’ve been coming and going here for centuries, among other places.”

  “And you can speak English but we can’t speak your language?”

  “You’re not physically capable of speaking it. There are sounds your body simply can’t produce.”

  “I’ll take your word for that. Did you say centuries?”

  “Yes. We have a bit of a longer lifespan than you do. Most of us live what would be 1200 of your years.”

  “How old are you then?”

  “Only 620.”

  “Well, you look darn good for your age,” Kendra said with a wink.

  “Thank you, young lady. The same could be said for you.”

  “Why, thank you. Where are you from then, not close by I would gather?”

  “My home planet is much as yours, third rocky planet from our star, roughly the same size and same atmospheric makeup. The gravity isn’t quite the same, but close. You could survive there just fine. In fact, our solar system is extremely similar, even with the larger gas giants farther out that protect us from stellar debris.”

  “How far is it from here?”

  “We’re on another edge of the galaxy, 54000 light years from here, as the crow flies, to use one of your expressions.”

  “But what about relativity, faster than light travel and all that?” Kendra asked, “From what I’ve learned in school…”

  “What you have learned is correct, but we don’t really travel faster than light. There are…how do I explain it in a way you would understand…shortcuts through space. What some of your science fiction writers call hyperspace. Those can get us within a light year and then we use a warp drive for the last bit of distance. The ship doesn’t really move faster than light, but warps space around it and goes along for the ride.”

  “Sounds cool.”

  “Yes, it rather is. Not many cultures have the capability. Most that we know of are in different stages of technological development.”

  “How many other people are out there?”

  “Counting your planet and mine, there are eighty four inhabited planets that we know of. Many of them are like yours. They have no contact with anyone else and think they’re the only ones in the universe.”

  “But your folks know of them and have been studying them?”

  “For the most part, yes. We don’t want to interfere and we just let them take their own course with technological development.”

  “If that’s the case, then why the threat here? You’re saying that this other dude is here and there might be trouble?”

  “We’ll get to that.”

  “This is all out there,” Franklin said, “If there are all these other alien planets with beings on them, what do they all look like?”

  “I’m afraid all your science fiction books and movies have it wrong on that account. They all look like you and me, with the usual different color shadings you have here.”

  “Man, so you’re saying we don’t have weird looking aliens out there?”

  “I’m afraid so, but why is that a shock to you?”

  “I don’t know. I just always imagined…”

  “Your holy book says that you are made in the creator’s image, does it not?”

  “One of our holy books, the Bible…yes it says that,” Kendra said.

  “Then there you have it,” Mike said, “If the creator is making people in his image, then why does he need to make all sorts of different images? You already have a vast diversity on this planet, and most others are the same. There’s one that has a group of somewhat blue tinted folks, but for the most part everyone looks human. There are other physiological differences based on different gravity levels, but you don’t see the crazy differences that your movies let on.”

  “I always thought the bit about his image was…I don’t know…in a spiritual sense.”

  “Perhaps it is. I’m not a theologian.”

  “But you’re a believer?”

  “I suppose you could say that, but it may be different from your definition of that word. Do I believe there is a creator? Sure I do, and oddly enough our holy books are strikingly similar.”

  “The basics are all there. The creator set up a standard, we fall short of it, and there is a price to pay for that. Well…and he provided the sacrifice. Our planet is much like yours though. Some believe that, some follow other spiritual paths, and some follow nothing at all. It does seem to me that there is one creator over the whole universe, if you ask my opinion.”

  “You’re rather sure about that?”

  “Look. This planet, my planet, the others that have life…what are the odds? Everything has to be fine tuned to an overwhelmingly exacting standard. The odds of there being one planet that can support life are long, but there are several. I just don’t see how there could not be an intelligent creator behind all of it.”

  “That’s all rather fascinating, but what’s up with this potential threat, the reason you zapped me?” Walter asked.

  “Yes, the one we shall call Jack. Jack represents another…what is a word for it you would understand…faction, on my planet…similar to what you would call another country, but not quite the same. His group is more militaristic than we are, even expansionistic. We fear that they have designs on other planets, to exploit people for forced labor, to take resources, or to just take over. We’re not entirely sure what his ideas are for your planet yet. It could be anything I mentioned. I thought it best that you would have a champion to defend against whatever he tries, which is where you come in.”

  “But you said you hit me by accident?”

  “Yes, but it turned out well. The young lady was ideal. I had studied her for a few months and she had the virtue and idealism I was looking for, plus she’s somewhat younger.”

  “Why does that matter?”

  “She has more time to live than you do, if all things take their natural course. Which brings me to this.”

  Mike reached into his pocket and withdrew a metallic cylinder about nine inches long.

  “When the time comes, either when you’re getting older and ready to pass the torch, or when you’re near death, you can use this to transfer your power to another. You hold one end and the other person holds the other, you depress this button in the end, and in a few seconds, all of your powers will go to the other, and you will take on the state of that person.”

  “When should I do that, and how will I know who to transfer it to?”

  “You’ll know the time, and you’ll know the person. Just keep your eyes open.”

  Walter took the cylinder and put it in the drawer of the end table by his recliner.

 
“Make sure you keep that in a safe place,” Mike said.

  “I’ll put it in my safe before I go to bed.”

  “If it’s all the same to you, would you mind too much if I stayed here for the night? We can resume your training in the morning, but for now I would rather like some rest.”

  17

  It didn’t take long for Walter to find trouble that evening. He had just dropped Kendra off at her parents’ house, gently setting her car down in the driveway, when he heard a scream. He flew up and focused his hearing to try to pinpoint where the sound was coming from and flew in that direction when he heard it again. It was near downtown. When the woman screamed again, he spotted her at the corner of 14th and Race, and a block away and running fast was a young man with a purse. Walter swooped down and scooped the man up in one arm and deposited him on the top of the Kroger building.

  “Hey, you can’t just leave me up here,” the man protested.

  “I’ll be back for you, just gotta return this,” Walter said as he took the purse and leapt off the roof.

  “Here you go ma’am,” he said a moment later, handing the purse back to the woman on the street.

  “Thank you, Walter.”

  “The pleasure was all mine,” Walter said with an exaggerated bow, “Are you heading home? Can I escort you to your car?”

  “Thank you very much, but I have an Uber coming.”

  “Well, take care, ma’am.”

  A minute later, Walter had dropped the would be thief off at the police station and overheard something on the police radio about a high-speed chase near Lockland. He followed the highway north and spotted a car doing nearly 100 mph on I-75 with two police cars in pursuit. The driver of the car spat out a string of expletives when his car suddenly lifted into the air and flew slowly toward the next exit. The cops took the exit and were waiting by the time Walter set the car down in the Wendy’s parking lot.

  “Thanks Walter,” the officer said after he had secured the suspect in the back of his cruiser.

  “No problem, officer. Can I drop the car off anywhere in particular?”

  “You know where our impound lot is?”

  “Sure. Just let ‘em know I’m coming.”

  “Will do.”

  Over the next few hours, Walter stopped six burglary attempts, two carjackings, four convenience store robberies, six muggings, and sped a heart attack victim to the hospital in time to save his life. He stumbled into his apartment, grabbed a beer, and collapsed into his recliner.

  “Busy night?” Mike asked from the couch.

  “You could say that. It’s like the crooks all decided to have a go at the same time. I’ve never seen anything like it around here.”

  “Then I’ll give you a bit of time to recover, but I have some things to show you later.”

  “Yeah, let me finish this beer and grab some Zs.”

  Walter was still grabbing Zs when Kendra pulled up to the street. Franklin was out the door before she got to the porch.

  “Walter’s still asleep. Had a busy night,” he said.

  “Does he usually stay out all night?” Kendra asked.

  “Sometimes, but he was real busy last night. Alien dude said he just got in a couple hours ago.”

  “Alien dude has a name.”

  “Not one anyone can pronounce.”

  Franklin got in the car and Kendra put the car in gear and pulled out.

  “Whoa girl, what’s this?” Franklin said, grabbing a basketball out of the back seat, “I thought the gym has their own.”

  “It’s a nice day. There’s this outdoor court near there. I saw it yesterday driving down Paxton.”

  “Now you know you don’t stand a chance against me on an outdoor court. Where do you think I honed all my mad skills?”

  “Mad skills, huh? Could have fooled me.”

  “Still got a better shot than you do, with your chicken wings. Bock, bock, bock.” Franklin put his elbows out and flapped them.

  “Careful dude, I’m driving. And I’ve worked on my shot.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  They arrived at the playground and Kendra grabbed the ball and put up a jumper, with much improved form, but still missed.

  “Well girl, that looked better, but it’s still a brick.”

  Franklin got the rebound and dribbled around in circles, switching hands and doing a couple behind the back dribbles.

  “Hand me that ball. That first one was just a warmup.”

  “You want the ball…come and get it,” Franklin said holding it out with his arm outstretched. Kendra reached for the ball and he pulled it away, going into another array of fancy dribbling.

  “Come on, see if you can take it from me.”

  Kendra kept reaching for the ball, but Franklin was quicker and she couldn’t even get a hand on it. After the third attempt, she leaned in, but instead of reaching for the ball, she planted a quick kiss on Franklin’s cheek. It had the desired effect, causing him to lose concentration and dribble the ball off his foot. She picked it up, dribbled in, and made a layup. One look at Franklin’s stunned expression sent her into a fit of laughter. When she got control of herself, she grabbed the ball, stepped back to about fifteen feet, and drained a jumper, nothing but net.

  “Take that, fancy boy.”

  Franklin recovered from his shock and took the ball, putting up a poorly aimed jumper that clanked off the back of the rim. He attempted two more shots, missing both of those as well.

  “What’s wrong, that famous shot of yours not shown up yet?”

  “I’ll get it, you just got me, is all.”

  An hour later they were both sitting on the park bench, gulping down water and catching their breath.

  “You know, I ain’t never had this much fun shooting hoops,” he said, “Thanks.”

  “I had fun too. I never thought it was much fun when I was on the team.”

  “Why are you doing all this?”

  “All what?”

  “All this? Hanging with me? I mean…I like it…but you…man.”

  “Cat got your tongue?”

  “Lot of other dudes better than me, for a girl like you.”

  “What if I don’t think so? I’ll tell you the same thing I said the last time you talked like this. You’re not your past. I don’t know. You’re a good dude, no matter what you say. I like hanging with you. Is that good enough?”

  “Yeah…I guess. Just don’t think I deserve—”

  “Don’t talk like that. Sure, you’ve made some mistakes, but you got a big heart, and you’re not bad looking.”

  “Well…I…”

  “Franklin, if you weren’t black you’d be blushing.”

  “I…what does your dad think?”

  “Dad…well…I just told him I was hanging with a friend.”

  “Just hanging with a friend?”

  “For now. Isn’t that what we’re doing?”

  “Yeah…just hanging out…but sometimes…”

  She rested her hand on his. “Yeah, dude…I don’t know, really. I think I like you. I haven’t done much dating, you know. Dad’s kind of strict, wants me to have the perfect guy. He scared off the last two that were interested. Now I meet you, and you’re…I don’t know…different. Maybe it’s what you’re been through, or maybe you’re just a great guy…I don’t know. Does that make any sense?”

  “Maybe. People our age are supposed to be confused all the time, right?”

  “Where’d you get that idea?”

  “From people older than us.”

  “I suppose so. It sure feels confusing. I haven’t ever had guy friends before. Now you’re a guy, and you’re a friend…and…maybe more someday?”

  “Uh…well…”

  “Is this how it’s supposed to happen?”

  “How what’s supposed to happen?”

  “People just become friends and then maybe…I…I’m blubbering again.”

  “I dig you, girl. I might…you know…oh heck…I
think I know what you’re saying, and it kind of scares me a bit.”

  “How about we just have fun and see what happens?”

  “Sounds like a good idea. You might have to tell you dad sooner or later.”

  “We’ll get to that. I don’t know how.”

  “I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You’re a smart girl.”

  “And you’re not so dumb either.”

  “Man, you know what I’ve done.”

  “Yeah, you made some mistakes. I’ll tell my dad. I’ll tell him I kind of like you. Is that okay?”

  “Yeah…sure.”

  “You gonna tell your dad about me?”

  Franklin stared ahead and didn’t reply.

  “Oh, I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have gone there.”

  “That’s okay.”

  “No it isn’t. It’s still a touchy subject?”

  “I told you the other day. I haven’t spoken to that man since I was nine years old.”

  “You ever thought about it?”

  “Not really.”

  “Not even a bit?”

  “Come on girl. I told you what he did. I don’t give a rat’s behind for that jerk, not after what he did to Mom.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  “Nobody ever means anything. It happened. Can’t do anything about that now.”

  “You think he’s changed?”

  “I don’t care.”

  “You can’t mean that.”

  “I do mean that.”

  “Everybody deserves a second chance. The Lord—”

  “Not him. Where was the Lord when my mama died all strung out? Where was he when Dad pulled the trigger on that dude? Tell me, where was he?”

  “Franklin, I…I…”

  “Yeah that’s it. People talk great, but when it comes down to it, nobody knows what I’ve been through, and all of that great talk don’t change a darn thing. The Lord’s great in the church pews, but it’s different on the street.”

  “I don’t know about that. I haven’t seen the things you’ve seen. I got both my parents at home and they haven’t done drugs or shot anyone. I got a pretty good life, but you gotta look at what you have and where you’ve come. You got one hell of a second chance and now things are looking up. Yeah, your dad did some terrible things, but you can’t take your second chance and not want to give him his.”