my son, the novelist

Short on my own original material today, I'm "publishing" a story that Simon wrote. He's been working on it for his writer's journal, dictating a portion each night this week. The writer in me is in awe because he so unselfconsciously told his story. I could see his wheels turning as he tried different plotlines, delighted with the possibilities inherent in creativity. I found it inspiring!

Simon did not give me permission to print this, but I'm so proud of him that I want to share. Besides, John, all puffed up with parental pride, has been sending it to friends. Earlier today, we had lunch with friend Steve, who said, "Hey, this sounds like a [Hollywood] treatment." So, Hollywood, if you're reading, you can contact his agent (me) via e-mail.

The New Invaders

Como-Tech is in Argentina. The scientists at Como-Tech build robots. Scientists start making little robots to be servants in people's houses. If a robber breaks into a house, the robots turn big, and scares them off.

But the scientists miscalculated and made the robots think that all humans were threatening them, so the robots attacked the humans.

Because the robots were destroying the planet, and most of its living beings, scientists started tests to make Mars into a planet that people could go to.

The scientists got a rock from Mars and put a seed in the rock and sent the rock back to Mars. As the plants grow and grow and grow, they eat carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

Back in Argentina
The robots are starting their own civilization.

Back in Costa Rica
The scientists from Como-Tech [CT] flee to Costa Rica. The CT scientists need to continue their tests for making Mars a paradise like Earth. They need a new laboratory to do their tests at. They went to Costa Rica because their friends work at a laboratory there named Secret-Test [ST]. The CT scientists want to use their friends' laboratory. The scientists at Secret-Test are trying to make birds talk like parrots do. Because of the new danger they stop their work and help Como-Tech.

One of the CT scientists says that they need 100 gallons of water that can be dropped into a small valley on Mars and see if the white faced monkeys can swim and breath and live on Mars for 1 day.

One of the ST scientists asked “how are you going to do it?” CT scientist says, “We will need a rocket. Once it touches something, it blows up and the water comes spilling out.” One of the CT scientists says “Do you have a white faced monkey that is trained to go to outer space?” Then one of the ST scientists says, “yes”. Then one of the CT scientists says, “O.K. Let's get to work.” It takes them two days to make the rocket and one day to add all the details to it.

Back in Argentina
The robots are spreading around. When they see Como-Tech Laboratory they look around inside. Robot 708 spots small little robots and turned one on. The little robot got super angry because it thought the robot 708 was a robber. The little robot turned big and tried to scare 708.

Back in Costa Rica
CT scientists look at Mars from a conservatory. They see the plants and water but where is the monkey? Then they see a black blur running around. They look closer at the picture. The blur was the monkey. The CT scientists were successful.

The big rocket was done too. Then one of the scientists from Secret Test says “How will we get people's attention?” “We will send raffle tickets to the Galapagos Islands” answered one of the CT scientists, “and all of the people who get the raffle tickets will win and will come to Costa Rica. On the bottom of the raffle tickets it will say, 'When you see the biggest rock, turn West, and you will find a test base. There, you will find a rocket and bring some seeds of corn and some animals.'”

“We will start making some of the raffle tickets today” said one of the CT scientists.
“How many of them will we make?” asked one of the ST scientists.
“79.”

Back to the Robots.
The little robot was number 78. When he saw a person he thought it was evil and started attacking her. Now he was like the other big robots. Then they went to turn on more and more and more robots. The other little robots started walking around. The numbers of the robots that were just turned on were 87, 110, 900, 3000, 79, 56, 17, 43, and 700.

Back in Costa Rica
4 days later, the people who won the raffle tickets came with some crops and some animals. “Come to the rocket ship now, the robots might be swimming here already.” said a Pearl Kite, one of the tested birds. Only 60 of the 79 raffle ticket winners came.

They blasted off to Mars and safely landed. One of the farmers from the Galapagos Islands kept the monkey as a pet.

~ The End ?~