"Kids want the darndest things."

ALINJA, JAREN, AND OJNAU

By Chris Bartholomew

Alinja was a beautiful woman from Ojnau, where there were no wars. The goal of Ojnau was peace and happiness. When there was need for replenishing, the men would go by spacecraft and pick little children from other planets.

They had known for a long time that there was other life, indeed, that there were warmongers, haters, mean people in the universe. Jaren had promised Alinja that he would bring her someone worthy of her time, her teaching, and that all would be right with her world. At that same time, there would be one brought to take his place.

Since there were people within various stages of development to being old and moving on, it was some years before Jaren had to worry about bringing someone to Alinja, but he kept his ears open for the perfect one. They had to be selective in their searches; they could not bring back anyone with genes that would develop into something that would change things, because this world was exactly as they wanted it. They always picked ones who would benefit from the association and be happy on Ojnau.

This was a developed race of people, but the fact that they could not reproduce now was a mystery. Some thought it was strictly for bringing good but unfortunate people to this world so that they wouldn't have to suffer where they were any longer. A long time ago, when it was certain that there would be no more children, the Ederies of the race decided on an age of entry. They picked up children who were over the age of ten.

On this planet of Ojnau, the people were able to conjure up anything with their minds, so boredom was not a problem. If the children wanted anything, they made it out of ideas, using their minds as they were taught.

The time had come for Jaren to find someone for Alinja.

"My dear Alinja, tell me what she should be like, and him also." Said Jaren

Her answer surprised him, "Please make them be two who will appreciate our world, and our peace. Please try to bring two who like to laugh and who would appreciate us and not miss their own planet too very much."

Jaren knew he would have to choose wisely. If he made the wrong choice, there was no taking the children back; they would have to destroy them. This was not something any on the planet liked to do, but it was imperative that the world stayed as it was.

Within a couple of days, Jaren came and told Alinja that he had the pair that they would get. He gave her the report of the two children and she sat and read it with great interest.

The girls name was Heather, and she lived in New York. Her parents had died, and she had gone from home to home, abused and hated for most of her life. She had been seen crying numerous times, and she was feeling the pains of hunger. Right now, at ten years old, she was on the edge of being homeless.

The boys name was Ryan, who was living with a father who beat him and a mother who drank wine to oblivion every night. The boy had actually been daydreaming of other worlds where he could be free and happy.

Alinja was happily preparing for the two children to come into her life. She wanted to teach them to carry on so that her peaceful planet would survive. She was proud and honored that she would have a chance to contribute.

The children were brought and life was grand. Alinja taught them to use their minds, and even if they could not do everything the inhabitants of the land could do, they were never hungry, never bored. They were happy and very smart.

When the children were fourteen, they became very sad. Alinja could hardly comprehend why, but here they were, unhappy as could be. She asked Heather what was wrong.

"We love you and Jaren. We lack nothing, you have taught us how to do so much and given us this privilege of caring for your planet, made us a part of you. However, we both miss something very much. There were buildings where we spent much of our time, Ryan in one and I in another."

Alinja smiled; "Why not make it with your mind then?"

"We tried that, but it's not the same. We can make the buildings, but the smells are not there. We do not remember the buildings new, and part of the missing is what it felt and smelled like. These were grand buildings." Ryan said.

That night Alinja talked with Jaren, and he talked with his friend at the center. He got pictures of earth buildings and brought them to the children.

"Which of these is yours?" He asked Heather and Ryan.

"I spent my time here, it's called the Woolworth Building, and Ryan spent his here, in his dreams, it's call the Eiffel Tower." Heather told them.

"Bizarre request if you ask me, I mean, bringing back two buildings when we could just make them here is ridiculous. Luckily, Jaren you are well thought of. I have two ships ready to get them. First, we have to devise a plan so that the buildings will not be missed." Said Frakl, who was chief in charge of operations.

Alinja and the children clapped for joy. Wonderful plan. The two crews who were going to pick up the buildings were going to use a shield so that no one could see what they were doing. In mid air, and with their minds, they would transfer all of the people out of the two buildings and into the made ones, while grabbing the two and bringing them home. All of this made possible by stopping time to each individual in the buildings.

They lived happily ever after.

- THE END -