THE NIGHT THE STARS FELL FIRST CONTACT

When the door suddenly opened Ellen tensed, praying this was not just her imagination running completely wild, she couldn’t tell Dr Forbes that an alien dog had cured him…He’d have her committed! She almost jumped off the chair as Doctor Forbes entered and sat behind his desk, for seconds he said nothing, Ellen could hear the clock ticking loudly in the office, sweat lined her brow as her eyes fixed anxiously on the doctor. Doctor Forbes looked as shocked as she had been when Todd had told her.

“Mrs Harper…I don’t know how, or even why. However, the results show no brain tumours present in Todd’s brain…It is as if they were never there in the first place, there is not any sign of unusual brain function at all.”

“I told you, Mum, I told you!” Todd rose from the chair, looking as healthy and well as any fifteen-year-old boy.

Ellen’s tears flowed; all her emotions came together at once. “OH God THANK YOU!”

Doctor Forbes smiled broadly; a small tear rested in the corners of his eyes. “I have never, ever, in all my years as a cancer specialist experienced anything like this, it defies medical science. I mean the tumours have gone completely; I have no medical explanation for it! Unless all the treatment Todd had before somehow had a delayed reaction, which may I add is next to impossible.”

“I’ve no idea Doctor, but right now I feel as if I have one million on the lottery, whatever, or whoever cured him I will be dedicated to him for the rest of my life!”

“I’m so very happy for you both, of course, I will have to report this to the general medical council, and I’m sure they will contact you shortly for an interview, of course, we will need to see Todd every six months for check-ups just in case.”

They walked to the car park hand in hand, Ellen still had the tissue to dab at her eyes to stop the tears that just would not stop flowing, and her mascara smudged her eyes making her look like a startled panda. Todd resembled a grinning Cheshire cat, neither of them could believe it! This morning Ellen had woken up with that terrible feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach that this could be Todd’s last day on earth, and now, here they were facing a long and healthy life for many years to come, it was like something out of a fairy tale.

***

By the time they got home, Lasko was waiting by the door, wagging his tail furiously, his eyes anxiously waiting for the key to turn in the lock, so when they finally came in Lasko was almost out of control of himself. He shook from head to paws. And when he saw the absolute excitement in Todd and Ellen’s eyes, he almost lost control of his bladder, he fell to the floor and rolled around several times, then jumped to his feet shook himself then yelled. “SO, WHAT HAPPENED!”

“LASKO MAN! YOU CURED ME THE TUMOURS HAVE ALL GONE.!” Lasko gave a big shudder and sat down on his haunches.

“I told you, didn’t I tell you.” He said his lips curling into the biggest doggy grin ever.

“Lasko, you saved my life…How could I ever repay you?”

“I have been paid already, by seeing the look on your faces, my mission has been accomplished.”

Ellen still had tears in her eyes as she got down on her knees to hug Lasko, she took his furry face between her hands and kissed his head.

“Thank you so much boy, thank you for what you have done for my son, I am eternally grateful and just to make that clear, you will live with us for the rest of your life, with all the comfort and food and walks you need, forever.” Ellen put her arms around his huge neck, sobbing and kissed him again, firmly yet tenderly on the cheek. Lasko kissed her back in his slobby way but felt a terrible sadness engulf him like a giant tsunami. He did not dare to tell her that soon his people would come for him, they would take him home. He was not meant to become attached, to feel real love for this boy and his family. He was on a mission, and these were the rules, and rules must be obeyed. So instead of answering, he said.

“Well, for a start you could buy me peanut butter every day, one jar only lasts a day, and I would love steak…Rump would be nice; with creamy mashed potatoes and that gravy thing you do; you know the thing with the brown cube.” He gave her the widest doggy grin he could manage and tipped his head to the side.

At this, Ellen laughed “You got it!”

Lasko looked up at her with guilt-ridden eyes, he knew he wasn’t allowed to accept gifts in any form for his healing gifts, but ’What harm could it do? No one will know but as soon as the thought entered his head it was gone.

Later that afternoon Todd took him to his favourite place, the woods. He loved it there, plenty of trees and nice smells to sniff at, a Place to run and be free. The grass had a lovely aroma, nothing like the planet he came from where plants and grass were different colours. He found it almost impossible not to shove his nose into the earth and soak up those earthy smells. Suddenly Lasko looked up, his ears stood up like wires had been inserted into them, he gave a low growl.

“What’s up, Lasko?” Todd asked with a frown.

From his left emerged a figure in jeans and a dark sweater, he had a camera around his neck.

“Hi there.” He said coming towards them: Todd looked surprised, there were not many people around at this time of the day, they were either at work or at school.

“Lovely dog you have there?”

“Thanks,” Todd grinned.

“Unusual colour, what breed is he?”

Todd looked down at Lasko and stroked his head. “I don’t know, Heinze 57 I think.”

Lasko was still edgy, he shrank back from the stranger, Todd laughed, “You being a wimp now?” The dog just shook his head.

The man stepped back, a little wary of Lasko’s size and the low growl he had just given him.

“I bet there’s got to be some kind of exclusive breed in there somewhere.”

“I haven’t a clue.”

“Where did you get him from?”

At this Todd found himself stuck for an answer, “Um, from a friend, he was too big for their small flat.”

“Lucky boy,” the man said. “Wish someone gave me a beauty like him.”

Todd changed the subject quickly. “Are you a tourist?”

“Sort of,” he replied. “I was born in London, I thought I’d give Cornwall a try, it’s such a beautiful place, I travel all over the world, I don’t have any ties so I’m free to go where I want.” He gave Todd a wide grin. Where do you live?”

“Oh, I live in the big house just up over the hill, you must have passed it on your way here.”

“Yes, yes, I did, the lovely big house on the right?” he indicated with a nod of his head.

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

All the time Todd was talking Lasko’s ears remained erect, uttering a low growl now and then. Todd knew there was something about the man Lasko felt uncomfortable with, he kept his hand on his head to reassure him, he felt safe with Lasko at his side, if there was anything wrong nothing would happen anyway, Lasko would have him in a minute! Despite that, Todd decided, that now was the time to leave.

He smiled at the man whose eyes were still glued to Lasko. “Well, I had better be going, nice meeting you have a good day.”

The man stepped forward, “Yes, you too, maybe we’ll meet again?”

“You never know.” Todd smiled as he turned and walked towards the hill, he could not help but look over his shoulder to see the man still standing in the same spot, his eyes still glued on Lasko.

Lasko looked up at Todd, and when they were well out of earshot he said. “Something not right about him, I didn’t like him, I got a bad feeling.”

Todd rubbed his hand down Lasko’s back and said. “I gathered that, I thought you were going to eat him.”

***