As Told by Ginger doesn't belong to me, and I have intention of violating any copyrights. 20-21 October 2004

Chapter 3: Claire & Ginger Wait for Lois

Mrs. Gripling drew a slow drag on her cigarette. Ginger didn't exactly approve of smoking, but had already warned Mrs. Gripling of the dangers many times, so she didn't say anything and merely watched the woman. They were waiting just outside the hatch for the return of Courtney with Ginger's mom. Ginger had the feeling that it was taking twice as long as the trip from her house.

"What's taking her," she asked aloud.

"Convincing your mother, no doubt," Mrs. Gripling replied. "It is the middle of the night."

"But we're talking about a visitor from another planet, aren't we?"

For that Mrs. Gripling had no answer. She just drew another puff from her cigarette.

Ginger watched the spot where she had seen Courtney last. She had been gone quite awhile. Ginger hoped that nothing had happened to Courtney and that she was all right. But she had the feeling that if something did happen to Courtney, she would know. The same thing with Ms. Foutley, Carl, Dodie, Macie and Darren. It was the sort of feeling that she had never had before. While Nomar had said that he couldn't read minds, apparently he still had an affect on them. She would have to ask him about it the next she saw him. Which hopefully would be sooner than later.

"Mrs. Gripling," she asked.

"Mmm?"

"How did you find out about this Flying Saucer?"

"I... I don't remember."

Ginger frowned. Mrs. Gripling's answer didn't surprise her. Nothing seemed right since she first laid her eyes on this flying saucer.

Mrs. Gripling's cigarette was just about down to the butt. Then she did what Ginger found a bit odd. She pulled out of her purse a coin pouch and clicked it open. Into this she snuffed out the cigarette. After she dropped the cigarette into it, she closed the pouch. Then she noticed the odd look on Ginger's face. "You can't leave trash everywhere you go."

Ginger nodded her agreement. But if Mrs. Gripling wanted a clean environment, then she wouldn't fill it with clouds of toxic smoke.

The sky was noticeably brighter now. Ginger knew she should get some sleep, but there wasn't sleep to be had in her. She was wound up tighter than the thread on the spools in Aunt Suzie's sewing kit. She might fall asleep later. But not now.

"Courtney had better not have fallen asleep on the job," Mrs. Gripling threatened. Perhaps she would have said what would happen if she did fall asleep on the job. In any case, that was the precise moment that Courtney appeared. With no Ms. Foutley. "I couldn't find her, Momma."

"What? How hard did you look?" Why Mrs. Gripling interrogating her daughter so?

"I looked everywhere in the house, Momma. In the kitchen, in the living room, in her bedroom, in the bathroom, even in freaken attic. I even had to wake up Ginger's brother."

"Carl?" Ginger was now worried. "You woke up my little brother?"

Courtney nodded. "Yes, that's what I said."

Ginger stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders. "Now, are you absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure that you weren't you followed?"

"I do know what I am doing, I'll have you know."

"Now, did Carl go back to bed before you left my house?"

"Actually, no," Courtney thought back. "He had said that it was too late to get any more sleep."

Ginger let of Courtney's shoulders and walked behind her. "You were followed, Courtney."

She was aghast. "How can you say that, Ginger? To me?"

"I know my little brother." She called out to the wilderness that was all around them. "Come on out, Carl Foutley. I know that you're right there."

No answer came back.

"What do you know about your brother?"

"He's into this strange and... rather unusual sort of things."

"You mean UFO's."

"Uh-huh."

"Relax, Ginger," Courtney gave Ginger a pat on the back. "I said nothing about Flying saucers or aliens to him."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm very sure, Ging-er."

"I believe that it's now time for you two to get ready for school," Mrs. Gripling said. "Courtney, would you take Ginger here home to get her things for home?"

"Okay, Momma."

Mrs. Gripling approached Ginger. "We are welcome to stay at our house until your mother is found."

"Thank you, Mrs. Foutley."

"Fortunately, that won't be necessary."

"Mom?" Ginger watched her mother emerge form the woods holding the lease of a big brown bloodhound. "What are you doing here?"

"Actually I was going to ask you the same thing."

"Well... Actually..." Ginger struggled for words. She didn't know how to explain this one.

She didn't have to. "Mrs. Foutley," Courtney said, "I was supposed to fetch you, but I got Ginger instead. And she didn't return home because she met the alien inside the spacecraft behind us."

"From outer space?"

Courtney nodded.

Ms. Foutley snorted. "Everyone knows that there's no such thing."

"Just take a look inside, Lois," Mrs. Gripling told her.

Ms. Foutley eyed her. "Alright. I think I will." She turned to Ginger. "Please hold Bowser for me, will you?"

"Alright, Mom." Bowser? She took the lease from her mother's hand as took the journey to landed Flying Saucer.

"What do you suppose her reaction will be Ginger?" Courtney said.

"I hope that she's going to come out a believer. Otherwise I'll have a lot of explaining to do."

Ms. Foutley reached the hatch of the Flying Saucer. And paused. "You'll have to knock, Lois," Mrs. Gripling said. "He still might be out from the drugs I gave him."

Ms. Foutley looked back incredously. "You gave an alien drugs."

"Well, he was such great pain," Mrs. Gripling replied.

"Are you sure that was a good idea?"

"I don't know. He asked for it, so I gave it to him."

Ms. Foutley frowned. Nevertheless, she kocked on the hatch. A second later, it opened up. Apparantly, Nomar was up and awake. After a final look back, Ms. Foutley went in. And the hatch closed behind her.

Something grabbed Ginger's sleeve. "Well, come on, Ginger," Courtney told her. "Momma told us to leave."

Ginger nodded and complied. "Alright, Courtney." She turned to Mrs. Gripling. "Could you hold on on to this dog, Mrs. Gripling?"

"Of course, Dear. See you after school."

As Ginger left the clearing, she saw Mrs. Gripling get out her cell phone. Then Ginger hurried after Courtney. "What about your books, Courtney?"

"Oh-h, Winston will bring to me when at your house. Momma is making arrangements right now." That explained the cell call that Mrs. Gripling was making.

"Ah."

They went along through the forest for a few mintes more. It was a pleasant stroll through the woods in the early morning light. It was the prefect spring morning for a walk through the woods. It wasn't too cold or too cold, and a slight breeze blew through the trees. There was no sign of man or beast at all.

But Ginger still got the feeling that they were being watched.

"Don't look now, Courtney," Ginger said, "but I think we're being followed."

"Don't be silly, Ginger. There's nothing..."

But Ginger had already broke off running as silently as she could toward the sound of a twig breaking she had heard. If she ran hard enough, and quietly enough, she would be able to nab the guy before he could get away. Of course it hadn't occurred to her that the guy following could be bigger and stronger than she was. In a matter of moments she had her quarry.

"Carl Foutley. What are doing skulking around the woods at this time of day?"

I'll try to update this every Saturday until it's done!