Aliens for Breakfast Read Online Free Page B

the night. Richard planned to tell him all about the Dranes then.
    The only bad thing about the day was that Aric was leaving.
    “Can’t you stick around for a while and hang out at the mall?” asked Richard. School was over, and he and Aric were back home. In a few minutes the Interspace Brigade was going to beam Aric back to Ganoob. He was leaving from the same place where he had landed—the Bickerstaff kitchen table.
    “Sorry, the universe calls. Those Dranes never sleep,” said Aric. “By the way, if you ever want to join the Brigade, just let me know.”
    “Would I get to fly around at light speed and blast monsters?” asked Richard. “Or wear a shiny red-and-blue uniform?”
    “Mostly you have to travel fourth class in things like cereal boxes. And they make you wear baggy overalls, to blend in,” sighed Aric.
    “Oh,” said Richard. That sounded almost as bad as school.
    “The work is okay, though,” added Aric. “Every now and then you run into a really brave freedom fighter. Someone who risks his life to save the world. That is truly satisfying.”
    It sounded like Aric was paying him a compliment. But Richard wasn’t sure. “You mean me?” he asked.
    “Absolutely.”
    “Wow. Thanks.” He blushed. Then he asked, “Will I ever see you again?”
    “Usually we do not go to a planet unless it is under attack,” said Aric. “But sometimes we can work in a short stopover.”
    “That would be great! We could go to Mutant Splendor. And Pizza World. Just like old times.”
    “I would like that,” said Aric. “And if you are ever near Ganoob, drop in. You would love Ingbar. Even if she is a girl Ganoobian.”
    Richard’s heart sank. He knew he could never visit Ganoob. It was hard enough visiting his grandmother in California. But he managed to smile. “Sounds good. I’ll try. Meanwhile, maybe you could send me a postcard sometime?”
    “Maybe. Or maybe I will send you something else.” By now Aric was standing on the salt shaker waiting for the Ganoobian transport beam. Suddenly he began to fade like a TV picture in a thunderstorm. “Goodbye,Richard. Thank you.” He waved.

    “ ’Bye, Aric. I’ll miss you,” said Richard. Then the alien was gone, and Richard started to cry.
    The next morning Richard woke up suddenly. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. Henry opened his eyes at the same moment. He sat up too.
    “Wow, Richard,” he said. “I just had the most amazing dream. I don’t know if it was all that stuff you told me about Aric, or what. But I dreamed I saw all these funny little pink creatures. They were bouncing up and down together in a big circle.”
    “Me too!” said Richard. “I had the same dream! Did you see two of them, sort of floating in the middle of the circle? Looking really,
really
happy?”
    “Yeah. I wonder what was going on?” Henry yawned and got out of bed. He started to get dressed just as Mrs. Bickerstaff knocked on the door. “Rise and shine, boys!” she called. “Time to get up.”
    “I bet I know,” said Richard. “I think it wasAric’s homecoming. And that was Ingbar with him in the circle.” He smiled. “They sure looked like they were having a great time.”
    Richard opened his closet door. There on the floor was a brand-new black satin baseball jacket. On its back, in big gold letters, were the words “Interspace Brigade.”
    Richard picked it up and put it on. It was
really
cool. There was a note in one of the pockets.
    “Thanks again,” it said. “Wear this and have a pizza for me! See you, Aric.”

About the Authors
    J ONATHAN E TRA was a humorist, playwright, and journalist, as well as a children’s book author. He lived in New York City until his untimely death in 1991.
    S TEPHANIE S PINNER is a children’s book editor and writer. She lives in New York City and has always wanted to go to Ganoob.

About the Illustrator
    S TEVE B JÖRKMAN is an illustrator whose work often appears in magazines. He notes, “I have been drawing