Update

I never realized how convenient having internet service at home was until it wasn't there.  There seems to be a great conspiricy to interrupt the flow of thoughts from my brain to my blog sites.

Time is a resource that can be stretched and pulled any variety of ways and filled with so many things.

Douglas Kiddlehopper is still getting into all types of adventures and will be coming to a close soon.

With that said, I want to wish you all a great day and remind all of you out there:

Where ever you are if at all possible, tell your parents you love them.  They REALLY need it.

Upcoming posts

There are 3 more chapters waiting to be posted, internet at home is down and the word program at the library will not allow me to copy, paste, and publish the post.  Look for the next chapter in the next couple of days.

Chapter 2 Alongside

There they are standing at attention just like a modern day military invasion force. They have arrived and this is a warning to anyone that may read this; you may find them anywhere near that your eye may happen to wander; along a busy city thoroughfare or dotted through the countryside.  They are a quiet group, yet quite forceful, demanding hardly anything yet giving display of their strength to all that encounter them.

You may notice if a close inspection is given that there are some that have been performing their stately duties for many years, serving next to the new recruits; a mixture of experience and raw energy.  No matter the time or season each one is dedicated to doing their duty and because of that there are quite many people that have been helped out greatly.  I believe that this is a rouse, a distant thought enters my thoughts, are they trying to communicate with me in some silent, ominous way.

On a quiet Saturday morning I was taking a trip; the traffic around me was moving very slowly, if it could go any slower I could walk to my destination get what I needed and then walk back to my vehicle before the light changed to give this line the open door that was needed to continue along.

It was during this time those helpful servants caught my eye, and the thought occurred to me as to why I hadn’t noticed this crew before.  I dismissed the thought and focused on what my ocular orbs were taking in.

Four of them stood off to my right side, they almost seemed as giants, their arms outstretched to each side, reaching into the air.  They had no hands to grasp with, yet each one held something where hands should have been.  Metal tags were fastened to their bodies as medals given for varied acts of service. A blank stare met my eyes causing me to begin to worry about what I was seeing. 

A quick examination of the surrounding area revealed that their disguises were being removed and their true identity was being made known to me.  A dozen of them are grouped together, standing around as if a huddle for the leading football team; planning their next play.  I see an array of weapons strapped to their shoulders and the leader of the group has a long whip in what should be a hand.  He cracks the whip and they begin to move.

Flashing my headlights at the first sheriff deputy I saw failed to get his attention.  This was a great matter of life and death and I had to get the warning out.  It was unclear why no one else was seeing what was going on in our community.  Perhaps I had stumbled upon a secret switch alongside the road that allowed me to see what was going on.  Nevertheless, it was my duty as a citizen to warn my fellow suburbanites of the impending danger we were all facing.

The 911 operator hung up on me when an effort was made to report this strange happening, but, not before giving me a stern warning about making prank calls.

Surely the local newspaper would be interested in what was happening here.  All that the reporter kept saying was, “I see, I see,” it was obvious that he did not see.

My family had to know what was going on, and so I made my way to their house to let them know what I had discovered.  Surely when I told them that the world had been invaded by aliens from another world and that they had been here for some time disguised as…

I know that it was true, that it had happened to me just as I said it had, when I arrived near my sister’s house I discovered that they were encamped about her house and when I tried to make it to the front door the leader shot a bright ray from the single eye that extended from his body causing me to lapse into a state of obliviousness.

My sister says that since the incident at Troopers Market I have not been right in the head.  I pointed out the aliens to her and my doctors and they tell me that those are just phone and light poles.  I tried to tell them that was just their disguise and that the aliens are just waiting for the right time to take over.  Dr. Mon says the meds will help, I think they are in cahoots with the aliens.  Why do I think that?

I can see them from my small window; I saw the leader look directly at me with his one bright eye.

Chapter 1 The Apple Cart

The rain beat down upon my face as I made my way down the street to Troopers Market.  Tuesday morning was the day of the week that I usually fought the crowd to bring back the basic supplies needed for the week. My list was a small one and it would not take long to get what I needed. The plan was simple enough, go to the market and pick up a few things, then on to the cleaners for the week s dirty laundry.

My usual parking spot was taken and I had to find another one-two blocks away, I had considered going back home and coming back next Tuesday. I am a man that lives by a schedule. There must be order and discipline in all that I do. Certain things are done on particular days and at their scheduled times.

 Monday from 9:00am   11:00 is laundry time.  Tuesday is shopping day, from 9:00am   11:30am; I pull into the parking spot at precisely 8:57am and it takes three minutes to get to the front door at Troopers Market. Wednesday is the day that I take my walk through the park and feed the ducks in the pond. I had a feeling that today was going to be a bad day because the extra time it took me to walk from the new parking spot to the front door delayed my arrival by ten minutes. It was now 9:10am and I felt my nerves beginning to tighten and my heart rate increase. Even the clerk at the register made a comment about my being late and that they thought I was not coming.

I passed the remark off with a small laugh, but inside I felt that others were watching and talking about me.  I pulled out the list of things that I needed and proceeded to my first destination. I tried to hurry and make up the time that I had wasted already this morning. No matter how I tried to get back on schedule, I just could not reach my goal. I only had two items left on my list, a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread. In order to make up time I did something that I really am ashamed about doing; I took a short cut through the produce department.

The third Tuesday of the month is produce day, so I really had no business going through that department. I was a week early and I began to feel guilty for doing what I had done, I told myself that it was just something that I had to do to restore order for that day.

As I passed the apple cart something caught my eye and as I thought about it I found that this was something that bothered me more than having my perfect schedule upset. On the top row, mixed in with the shiny, red apples was something that definitely did not belong there.

There it was, staring me in the face, laughing at me and mocking me. I felt that I could almost hear it saying to me, "Hey you look at me, I refuse to live amongst those oranges and I am taking up residence here with the apples." Well, I just could not let this injustice go on; I quickly put the wandering fruit back in its proper place and finished my shopping. I told the manager about the mix-up and he told me not to worry about such things.

The rest of the week went on without any problems or mix-ups. Tuesday morning came around again and I made the weekly pilgrimage to Troopers Market. This was the week that I re-stocked my fruit cellar and I made the stop in that department at the assigned time. So far all had gone well, I was on time and I knew that today was going to be a great day. Everyone had a pleasant disposition there was a light airy feeling surrounding me.

That is when my world fell apart; I turned the corner and approached the apple cart. I could not believe my eyes, was I really seeing this horrible scene in front of me. There on the top of the apple cart were two oranges mixed in with the apples. I remember screaming out but what I said escapes me.

My sister tells me that two men in white coats brought me to this place. The doctor says that I have a problem, but I don t think so. I told him that he is the one that is crazy. The food here is not so bad, but they won t let me do my own laundry or go shopping for myself.

I sat down to eat breakfast this morning but I could not, something I saw made me sick. I don't know who sets the tables here, but they put the ketchup on the left instead of the right side of the mustard.