Cows From Outer Space

I love anything fantastically fantasy... and in my own way I'm experimenting with writing fantasy stories for kids... which was why when I came across this story by Jeanne Modesitt I was awestruck by its simplicity! Who would have thought that meeting 26 bovines could be such a fun experience!

 

Cows From Outer Space

One day a large spaceship landed in a park just outside

New York City. The doors lifted up, and out walked twenty-six

cows. "Greetings!" said one of the cows to several children

who'd gathered round the ship. "Please allow me to introduce

us. I'm Claude, and these are Cathy, Clyde, Carlos, Clark,

Connie, Cooper, Calvin, Casey, Clara, Carmen, I Cory, Cindy,

Christy, Conrad, Calli, Carol, Cleo, Clifford, Clive, Curtis,

Chester, Clarence, Clint, Carl, and Candy." "We're on vacation,"

said Candy, and each of the cows gave the children a big smile.

The children were absolutely delighted with the cows and were

soon helping them set up their lounge chairs and unfold their

umbrellas. Friendly chatter filled the air. After more than an

hour of amiable talk, the cow Carol said, "I've got an idea.

Why don't we have afternoon tea in London?" "Wonderful," said

the rest of the cows.

"Can we come, too?" asked the children, jumping up and

down. "Of course," said the cows, "but you'll have to ask your

parents first." And so off the children ran. "Mom? Dad?" they

asked. "Can we have tea in London with the cows from outer

space?" The parents looked at each other and winked. What

charming children they had! What imaginations! "Of course,"

they said. "Just be sure to be back before supper." "Thanks!"

said the children, and back to the spaceship they ran. "We can

come!" they cried when they reached the cows. "We can

come!" "Splendid!" said the cows, and they all boarded the

spaceship and flew off. Twenty minutes later-cow ships travel

awfully fast-the travelers arrived in the middle of London.

Several people gathered round the ship, watching the cows and

children step out. The adults shook their heads at the scene

before them. "What a foolish thing!" they said. "A bunch of

people dressed as cows." "Probably trying to sell a new brand

of cheese," others grumbled. "What a waste of money. " The

English children, however, knew cows from outer space when

they saw them. They ran up to the spaceship and said, "May

we please join you?" "Of course! Of course!" said the cows and

the American children. And so it was that they spent a most

delightful afternoon together.

They drank tea, visited museums, and strolled . the

promenades. After a while, however, it was time for the cows

to go home. They hugged and kissed the 1 English children and,

together with the American children, boarded their ship and

flew back to New York. When they landed, the cows bid their

farewells. "Adieu! Good-bye!" they said tearfully to the

children, whom they'd grown quite fond of by now.

"Good-bye," said the children, who were equally sad to

see the cows go. "Don't forget to write." "We won't," said the

cows, and then they boarded their spaceship and flew up into

the evening sky. II During supper that night, both the English

and the American children told their parents of the wonderful

afternoon they'd spent with the cows. And the parents smiled

to themselves and thought, What imaginations children have! I

wonder what they'll think of next.