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.
