Archie Smith: Boy Wonder

By Mr. Hodgson, as inspired by The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Archie Smith fell asleep that night, dreaming of space travel. It may have been the result of the comic book he was reading about alien invaders after dinner, or maybe it was the TV show on cable he had watched the night before that showed the first manned mission to the moon. Whatever it was, his dreams that night were all about traveling beyond Earths orbit. Make sure you close your window, his mom had yelled up the stairs. Yeah, OK, Archie had screamed back, but he had forgotten about the window just a few seconds later. Much of what his mom said barely registered with him these days. It was a warm summer night anyway, so who cared if the night air came in. He had drifted off to sleep, pulling the covers up. He awoke the first time sometime later. He thought it might have been the neighborhood dogs howling, or maybe some cat getting into the neighbors trash again. Some sort of noise woke him up. Archie thought about shutting the window but he was feeling lazy. He pulled the covers up a bit more and drifted off again. The second time he woke up, he heard were strange voices that seemed to be coming from inside of his bedroom. They sounded a bit like his grandmother and grandfathers voice, if their voices had been put through a tin can first and stretched with helium. The sound of the voices was high-pitched, almost squeaky, but still, he could not shake the thought that it must be the memory of his late grandparents. Thats impossible, he thought, still keeping his eyes shut. Theyve been dead for at least a year. I must be dreaming. Still, he didnt open his eyes. He liked this connection with his grandmother, in particular, who always made him apple pie with a huge scoop of ice cream in top. Shed call him on his birthday and

bring him honey when he had a sore throat. Shed give him a hug goodbye and a hug hello. She was the only one he let do that. His connection with his grandfather was not nearly as strong. There was a certain gruffness to his grandfather that Archie always found odd. There was no hugging his grandfather, even if Archie wanted to. But he missed him just the same. Hes the one, the little voice said. Are you sure? Of course. At last, Archie opened his eyes. He half-expected to see his grandparents there, right in front of him. What he was not ready for were the two shimmering lights, hovering just inside the window above his bed. They looked like little orbs, and inside the lights, he thought he could just make out swirling rainbows and flashes of color. Hes awake. The lights seemed to talking about him. Archie felt fear rise up in him. Even if it was a dream, as he suspected, it was extremely strange to be talked about in this way. He reached under the covers and pinched his arm. Nothing changed. Boy, if you understand us, respond, one of the lights demanded. Archie could not tell which one was talking. They both were flashing colors now. See? a light said. He is not likely the one after all. The one we seek would understand us. We agreed on that. I understand, Archie suddenly sputtered out. I understand you. The lights remained hovering above him now. Just behind them, through the open window, there were even more lights gathering. Archie could see the reflection of them on the trees. It was as if he were standing in a galaxy now, full of stars. And they were here, looking for him. Why do you want me? Why are you here? Who the heck are you, anyway? he asked, in one breath so that all of his words came strung together into a single question.

So, one light responded, it seems we may still have a chance, yet. Yes, the other light replied, although we have such little time, it will require much of the boy. What will be required? Archie asked, suddenly aware that he was part of some larger plan underway. What is it you expect me to do? The lights fell silent and even dimmed a little bit. Or maybe that was just Archies impression. Then the first voice began. We need you to save our world. Save their world? Archie could not believe what he was hearing. Then again, he could not yet believe that lights in his room were talking to him. He pinched himself again and thought wake up. Again, he didnt. This wasnt a dream. This was real. I dont understand. Let us explain. The two orbs then began to tell an amazing tale of a race of creatures who could convert into energy and move through the universe faster than the speed of light. While their planet had a history of peace, there had emerged among them a society that wanted to take over the world. These outcasts had inadvertently invited predators from a nearby solar system who fed on the energy of light, and had now begun to devour the entire planet. Archie listened in disbelief. It was like the story of some adventure movie unfolding before him. And now, he was connected to it in some way he could not quite figure out. Why would you need me? he repeated. What can I do? Im just a kid from Earth. Its not like I have special powers or anything like that. I mean, I feel sorry for your planet but I dont see how I can help. One of the lights began to glow brighter. There is a prophecy, it said. The trail of the prophecy led us here, to you. You are the One. You must be. The other light then explained, There is an ancient story that tells of our planet in difficult times, and how a boy from Earth will

be able to save us. Were asking you to leave here and it pointed around the room and return with us to our planet, before it is too late and our people are destroyed. What? How? I cant travel through space! That has been taken care of. Come. We have to leave now, while there is still time. Archie got up out of bed. He stumbled towards the window, letting the lights lead him forward. Now that he could see, it was clear that the front yard was full of lights, all shimmering and glowing in the dark. Off to the left, there was some sort of device, although it was unlike anything Archie had ever seen. It reminded him of a canon, in a way, but sleeker and more powerful and much larger. The shaft of the device opened up at the end. You must climb down and then enter the Converter, the light said. In there? What will happen to me? You will be converted. Into what? Light. Light? That didnt sound right to Archie. He was used to be solid, not part of the spectrum of light. He now began to wonder what these creatures may really look like, if the form they were in now were orbs of light. He wanted to ask but didnt feel this was the time. He sensed the urgency of the moment. The needed him to save their planet. Him! He suddenly remembered how the voices had reminded him of his grandparents. There had to be some connections here, but he couldnt quite figure it out. Were these lights from a place where the souls of the dead ended up? Like heaven or something? It was too difficult to think about. OK. Lets go, Archie declared and started to crawl out the window, using the fire escape to make his way down to the ground. -- to be continued