29
“You’re a MONSTER!” I cried again.
The Molecule Detector Light shook in my trembling hand. Iforced myself to hold the bright beam steady.
“That’s why my parents made me invisible,” Brent saidsoftly. “They thought I might survive if you couldn’t see me.”
With my light still focused on him, Brent stepped towardme.
I leaped back. “What are you going to do?”
“Whoa—he is so UGLY!” Simon groaned. “Yuck! He has only onehead!”
“And look. He has only two arms—and they’re so short!”Roxanne cried. “He can’t wrap his arms around and around himself. How does hekeep himself warm?”
“And what’s that dark stuff growing on top of his head?”Simon pointed. “Why doesn’t he have tendrils and suction pods like we do? Whereare his antennae? And how can he see with only two eyes?”
“Calm down, everyone,” Dad instructed. “You’re not going toharm us—are you, Brent?”
“No. Of course not,” Brent replied. “I just want to beSammy’s friend.”
“No! Be my friend!” Simon cried. “I need you for myscience project!”
Simon turned to Dad. “Can I have him, Dad? PLEASE! Can Ihave him for my science project? I really need him!”
“That wouldn’t be fair,” Roxanne replied. “Sammy found himfirst!”
“Everyone—quiet!” Mom ordered. “Brent—I’ve seen pictures ofyour species in a textbook. Hmm… let me see… what are you called?”
“I’m called a human,” Brent answered shyly.
“That’s right!” Mom snapped her fingers. “Now I remember.Human.”
“Yuck,” Roxanne muttered, making a disgusted face.
“I know I’m ugly,” Brent said sadly. “That’s why I didn’twant you to see me…” His voice trailed off.
I stared at Brent in disbelief. A human. I’d never heard ofone before.
I tore my five eyes away from him and turned to Dad. “Iknow he’s ugly, Dad. But I think I’d like to keep him,” I said. “Can I? I’lltake good care of him. I promise!”
“No. I don’t think so, Sammy.” Dad studied Brent for amoment. “I think we’d better take Brent to the zoo.”
“Huh? The zoo?” I cried. “Why, Dad? Why does he have tolive in a zoo?”
“Well, he’ll get much better care there,” Dad answered.“After all, humans are an endangered species!”
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