Between two Worlds

Chapter 7

The last day on site was always a tense one. Even though the house was done, it still had to pass Mr. Hayes' last inspection. Just because there shouldn't be anything needed, didn't mean something hadn't gone wrong.

It was easier to build a house than repair what needed to be fixed. At least, that's what I'd been told. The only one me and Zack have worked for in construction is Mr. Hayes, unlike Willie, which means we've been fortunate.

His prior experience was with a foreman who wanted to be friends with his crew, rather than their boss. It led to laziness that cost time in mistakes made that could've been avoided.

Outside my house, the press is waiting with shouts. I think it's a good sign. There shouldn't be any federal agents, at least none I can spot.

There weren't any American agents hidden among the press. It was possible foreign agents were there. There were rumors that came out later that never quite died down. But no idea if they were true.

Just like the previous day, I ignored them. Silence waits in my car along with the weather station.

Two days in a row of listening to nothing else while I drive came from me not wanting to hear anything about aliens. A few minutes before changing to something Christian was the norm. Regardless of what's on, it doesn't stop me from praying while making my way to the same diner.

It was my stubbornness that kept me from wondering why God sent them to Earth. Rather than praying to be a humble servant, I prayed for Willie, and good weather, which means it was a mostly selfish prayer.

The short drive gives me a bit of peace, before reaching the same diner we always stop. There's something comforting about the three of us going to the same place, almost every morning.

Willie was just pulling in, leaving a space for me to park between his car, and Zack's. The good thing about being early is there's no problem with parking or getting service. We haven't gotten into a position of rushing to eat to get to work.

I get out and hear the news vans driving close. Willie waits for me and holds the door open to bring pleasantly familiar scents.

Entering, we find the TV's off for a second day. It seems like I'm not the only one keeping my mind off the ships in orbit. In a strange way, except for the press, everyone I've come across is treating the aliens like they aren't there.

For much of the world, that was the case. Two sentient species with unknown intent was a bit difficult for most to grasp.

I used to wonder if most people would've reacted differently to one alien showing up, rather than two. After a lot of prayer, and contemplation, I don't think we would've. But don't have an answer for something that never happened.

Sitting with friends at the booth, we talked like we always had. Zack occasionally looked up to ponder something. His eyes never drifted for long. It was never a long process to gather what he needed, before saying something.

Zack was the only one of us who sensed something was happening, before they announced themselves. He was having just as hard a time as we were. Though, he just never told us until years later, I believed something was off without bringing it up.