On Monday morning when he got to school Jake thought he’d been mistaken for a teenage movie star. Everyone was stopping him to ask about the story, whether aliens had really landed and if his dad was actually from another planet. Girls, who wouldn’t ordinarily have given him the time of day, suddenly were his best friend, following him around and hanging on every word. Jake liked the attention but didn’t have many answers for the barrage of questions. At lunch he was called to principle Paul Barnes’ office.
“Well, Jake. You’ve become quite the celebrity.”
Jake shrugged. “I guess. I really didn’t do anything.”
“You’re too modest Jake. I’m sure you were a big help to your father out there in the desert.”
“Well, yeah. I helped him set up camp and gather wood for a fire—that kind of stuff.”
“So, tell me about the landing site. Did it really look like a spaceship had landed there?”
Jake nodded. “Actually, it did. It must have been a big ship, too. The circle was fifty yards across.”
“Wow. That big?”
“Yeah, and the ground was all black where the thrusters must have burned away the brush. I’ve got a piece of melted rock if you want to see it.”
“Sure. Do you have it with you?”
“Yes,” Jake said digging into his backpack. He pulled out a black flattened rock and handed it to him.
The principal took it and studied it carefully. “This is extraordinary. It does look like it was subjected to some significant heat.”
“What about this living wall? Is it really growing?”
“Absolutely. I’ve been out there three or four times and each time the walls are taller than they were the time before. The first time the wall was up to my belt and now it’s up to my nose.”
“Holy cow!” Barnes exclaimed. “Where exactly is this wall?”
“I don’t know exactly. The truck went off the road about seven miles north of town. From there it’s about four or five miles.”
“Which direction.”
“Ah, east I think.”
“Well, thanks a lot for stopping by, Jake. You think your dad might be willing to come visit and talk to the other students?”
Jake felt proud that his father was being asked to visit the school. He smiled at the principal and nodded. “Sure, I’ll ask him if you want.”
“Do that. I think the kids, and maybe even their parents, would love to hear more about what’s going on out there.”
Jake left and went back to the cafeteria. He was immediately surrounded by students who wanted to know what the principal wanted. As he was talking his stomach started to tighten. He realized he’d screwed up. He’d told the Principal where the site was located. Crap! Dad’s going to kill me.