As Told by Ginger copyright Viacom

Chapter 12: Miranda Finds It

Darren Patterson pedaled on his bike toward Dodie's house as quickly and as furiously as he could. Something was happening with Ginger, and he didn't like it one bit. And he was going to see what he could about it. And since Carl was staying there, he figured that was where he would find Ginger.

He took another quick glance at the sky. A lot more dark clouds had built since the last time that Darren checked. It was going to rain for sure at this rate. And of course he hadn't brought along a raincoat or even an umbrella. And he was still was several minutes form the Bishop's house.

Darren hated the rain. Especially when there was a lot of it. The rain started to fall and his clothes were already getting damp. But he did know one way of getting out of the rain faster. Get to wherever he was going to sooner. So he pedaled all the more harder. "At least it couldn't get any worse," he said.

Then it really started to pour. He cursed his luck. "Man, why did I have to say that? I always say the wrong thing. Will was right about…"

His voice trailed off when he saw the silvery saucer flying overhead. His mouth hung open as he continued to track the path of the flying saucer. He had to admit to himself that he had never seen a real-life UFO before. Not even that time in New Mexico. Though it did close. "What the hell?" he finally managed to say.

Just before flipping the bike over the curb and smashing his face onto a very hard surface. It was at that moment that he realized why his mother had always told him to wear a helmet whenever he rode his bike. He was glad that he had listened his mother that day. Oh, swift move, Darren Patterson, he thought. Where did you learn to ride? The Internet?

He slowly picked up himself off the street and looked around. At least nobody he knew saw him. But there was one little boy who snickered.

"Oh, like you could do better," Darren said.

The boy broke out laughing and strolled away. Darren didn't watch him leave. Instead he turned his attention to where he had last seen the flying craft. But when had turned to look, the ship had already disappeared. He sighed.

Ginger would never believe that he had seen a flying saucer from outer space.

He pedaled the rest of the way to Dodie's house.

-OOO-

Crack.

Ginger tensed when she heard the stick breaking behind her but didn't turned around. It was probably Mipsy or Miranda following them. But surely Courtney, or Dodie or Macie, heard the sound.

But Courtney seemed perfectly oblivious as she said, "We're almost there, Ginger."

"I know where the spaceship is, Courtney. It's Macie and Dodie who don't know where it is."

"Oh, right, sorry," Courtney said.

"There's no spaceship," Dodie decided.

"Yes, there is. I've seen it, Dodie," Ginger said.

They broke into the clearing. Within it, Ginger found it only the second time that day. She heard both Dodie and Macie draw in a breath to either side of her. "It can't be," Dodie said.

"But it is," Macie finished.

It was the flying saucer that Courtney had been telling them about, and Mrs. Gripling and Mrs. Foutley were standing beside it like it had always been there. Perhaps it had for all Ginger knew. She didn't know all that much about this sort of thing. "Mom, what are you still doing here?"

"Ginger, it isn't everyday that you get to meet a being from another world."

"True."

"Mrs. Foutley," Macie asked, "do our parents know about the alien?"

"No, they just know that you're going on a little trip, and that you're going to be perfectly safe."

"Trip?" Dodie said. "What trip?"

"Yes," a voice sneered. "What's this about a trip?"

"Miranda? What are you doing here?" Courtney said.

"Following you, duh," Miranda said. Her arms were crossed under her chest. "Just when were you planning on telling me about this alien?"

"That's very good question," Courtney said softly.

"Oh," Mipsy said from behind Miranda. "I hate it when people say that."

"Yeah, Courtney. I think that I deserve an answer to that question."

Courtney didn't answer right away. Ginger felt the tension between Miranda and Courtney. What's that all about? She wondered. The two girls had been best friends as far as she could remember, and she hated to see them fight. For one thing, she seemed to drawn into the crossfire for some reason.

"It's because of Ginger, isn't it?" Miranda demanded.

"Well, you see." Courtney was examining her templed hands. "It's like this." She groped around for an explanation. But Ginger wasn't entirely sure that Courtney had one to give. "The alien… you see, uhm…"

"Oh, I get it," Miranda said, taking advantage of the pause.

"You do?"

"Yes. You like Ginger better than you like me, don't you?"

"That's just true, Miranda. You're just going to have to trust me."

"Well, so far you haven't proven to be very trustworthy of late."

"Miranda," Ginger said before realizing. "Courtney knew that you wouldn't keep yourself from investigating a secret that your friends were keeping from you." She knew this from personal experience. "With that in mind, Courtney brought us out here to this spot in the woods, knowing that you would follow us here to the UFO." It might even have been true, for all she knew. Courtney had ever tells her anything that was very useful.

"Is this true, Courtney?"

Courtney nodded most vigorously.

"UFO, huh?" Miranda looked all around her. "Where is this UFO? I don't don't see any."

"Like I told you, it's in this clearing here," Courtney replied.

"You said nothing of the sort, Courtney."

"What do you think the thing behind us is, Miranda," Mrs. Foutley asked.

"Some kind of aluminum saucer, perhaps?"

"Believe me, Miranda. It ain't made of aluminum."

"What's aluminum?" Mrs. Gripling blinked her eyes.

"It's what soda cans are made of, Mrs. Gripling," Ginger said.

Mrs. Gripling's mouth formed an 'O.' "Ah, thank you, Ginger. I'll keep that in mind."

She didn't look like that she would keep it in mind.

"It's like aluminum to me," Miranda decided.

Courtney leaned in closer and whispered into her ear. Ginger barely heard what she said. "Go ahead. Touch it."

"Fine. I will."

She stormed toward the flying saucer. Ginger could tell that Miranda was looking for proof that the "alien craft" was made of aluminum. She wasn't sure how Miranda was going to react when she finds that there was absolutely no idea that the craft was made of any earthly metal, let alone aluminum. She watched Miranda as she placed her palm on the hull. Then Miranda froze for the longest moment, not even breathing.

It seemed like forever, but after awhile, Miranda suddenly spoke. "This isn't made of aluminum." She turned to Courtney. "Where did this come from?"

"Nomar didn't really say."

"Nomar?"

"The alien, Miranda." Courtney rolled her eyes. "I'm getting tired of explaining that."

"Then you would mind giving somebody else a chance to explain," Ginger asked.

"Yes. Yes, I would."

Mipsy suddenly said, "Can I have a ride on the flying saucer?"

"Of course, Mipsy," Courtney smiled indulgently. "That's why we are all here."

-OOO-

Darren rung the Bishops' doorbell for the third time. And waited for the third time. It usually took people to answer the door, but not this long. He sighed.

He turned to leave.

"Oh hi, Darren," he heard Hoodsey say at the door. "What brings you here?"

Darren turned back. "I'm looking for Ginger. Is she here?"

"No, she's with my sister. They and Macie are off doing something with Courtney."

"Do you know where that is?"

"No, not really."

Noelle appeared behind Hoodsey and looked Darren over. "He'll do."

Darren started. "Do? Do for what?"

Hoodsey answered. "Something about a flying saucer."

"Flying saucer? I saw one on the way here."

"Exactly." Noelle left.

"Wow! I knew she was telekinetic, but I didn't know she was telepathic as well."

"Don't mind her. That's how she usually talks."

The growl of a car pulling into the driveway attracted Darren's attention. It is Mrs. Bishop finished with an errand of hers or two. She stopped the car and got out with a plastic bag in hand. It seemed to have a videocassette in it. She came to the front step, where Darren was standing, watching her get closer. "Oh, Darren, what brings you here?"

"Looking for Ginger, Mrs. Bishop."

"Oh, she's at a barbeque with the girls in the woods."

"With Courtney?"

"Uh huh. Why?"

"Doesn't that seem a little strange, Mrs. Bishop?"

"Not really. Unlike some people, I don't judge others by how rich their families are."

Darren blushed. "Sorry, Mrs. Bishop."

"That's all right, Darren," she said. "I didn't mean you."

"So what movie did you get, Mom?"

Mrs. Bishop sighed. "The Day that the Earth Stood Still."

"The what?"

"It's a sci-fi classic, Hoodsey. You and Carl will love it."

Hoodsey still didn't look convinced.