Brisk Morning Walk

by

Kenneth A. Stephenson

(This story first appeared on Mid Michigan Writers in 2018)

I set out as I usually do, for a brisk walk on a cool, misty morning in May. I preferred to walk along county road 100 as there is little, if any, traffic and the gentle grade made for easy going. Vehicles traveling along the road had been diverted when the four lane highway, just a mile to the east, had opened. So I often had the road to myself and mostly uneventful. Yet on this particular morning I felt something extraordinary was going to happen.

As I strolled along, my mind on current events, I happened upon a young woman standing by the side of the road, a well worn suitcase in one hand and several colorful balloons held in the other. A rather unusual sight for this area, at this time of the morning.

I tipped my hat in greeting and noticed right away that she was rather plain, wearing a sensible blue shift and cream colored, high heeled shoes. Her tawny hair cascaded down past her shoulders. All very common. Except for her eyes. Even today, I cannot be sure it was not an illusion caused by the early light refracting through the mist, but I would have sworn her eyes went from black to emerald green to amethyst purple only to settle on aquamarine blue. All in a matter of seconds.

I regained my senses and asked, “Are you waiting for something? Perhaps someone is coming to give you a ride home.”

“I am waiting for the spaceship.” she replied and turned to look along the road.

I thought I would play along with the joke and said, “The spaceships don't run along here much since they opened the freeway.”

“This one will be along any moment now.”

Quickly tiring of the jest I tipped my hat and bid the young woman a good morning. I had scarce taken but three steps when a strong gust of wind nearly toppled me to the ground. I looked to see if an errant truck had passed by, but there was nothing in sight. Not even the young woman with the suitcase and balloons. She had vanished. It was then I surmised that spaceships must indeed still run along that road.

Extraordinary.