[My Daughter's an Alien Child] by Steward McOy & SciFiRejex - Blue Strokes

Dead-end job, dead-end life.

It was his day off, but George Beckman was working from home. While his useless coworkers were out having fun, George was carrying the entire company on his back. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad if his talents were being rewarded. After all, he had no friends or family. Might as well live for his work. His boss, however, was a sadistic man, and one with connections in the business world. If George resigned, he knew he’d never work a good job again.

“Only three more drafts to write,” he sighed, glancing longingly at a photo of his ex-girlfriend, Kirstine. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her voice. She was shouting—Arguing, as she often did, with her parents. The three of them lived next door, and thought that she lived so close, yet was so distant from him now, ate at him.

Unable to resist, he glanced out the window. The sight of her walking up to her new boyfriend was the last straw. Something snapped inside him, and he furiously opened his desk drawer and retrieved a rope. He’d come so close a number of times, but this time, he was really going to do it.

“Fuck it all,” he grunted, throwing the rope over a support beam, but he was interrupted as a large, metal ball smashed through the window. Glass flew everywhere, and a few small shards embedded in his arm. The ball stopped in the middle of the floor, and then, with a hissing sound, cracked open.

There was a baby inside, a young girl with unnaturally large eyes. With his uninjured arm, he lifted her, and as he did so, a note fell to the ground. It read, “Please look after her for…” but the rest was smudged.

“I couldn’t…” George mumbled, causing the girl to start crying. The lightbulb above them shattered, and George instinctively shielded the baby. “I guess I don’t have a choice,” he smiled. “Perhaps you’ll give me something to live for.”

⁂

Three years passed in the blink of an eye. Iris, as he had named the girl, quickly learned to walk and talk, and she was surprisingly intelligent for her age. George knew her rapid development wasn’t normal, but he couldn’t bring himself to question it.

“I want my hat,” Iris demanded one evening as George tucked her into bed. Sighing, he handed the hat to her. It was the only piece of her baby clothes that he had kept, and it had “15” embroidered into it. Although it was too small for her now, she treasured it like a stuffed animal.

As he stood up, he noticed a videotape on the nightstand labeled “The Truth.” He had nothing else to do that night, so he went to the basement and dug up his father’s video player.

To his dismay, it was a sex tape, starring Kirstine and her new boyfriend. He was furious and sick at the same time. He leaned forward to turn it off, but stopped when he noticed the date in the corner. He and Kirstine had still been dating at the time.

On the tape, Kirstine said something George couldn’t make out, then her new boyfriend slapped her across the cheek.

“Don’t even think about it,” he threatened. “I won’t just upload your videos. I got dirt on George too.”

It wasn’t true, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Kirstine thought it was true. Her new “boyfriend” was blackmailing her, and she was trying to protect George.

He pulled the tape from the player and ran outside. His only thought now was to apologize to Kirstine, and because of this, he forgot that he had found such an obscene tape in his daughter’s bedroom.

Stumbling over to Kirstine’s window, he found the room dark. She wasn’t there. Doubtlessly, she was with her new boyfriend.

“I was never there for you,” he sobbed, collapsing to his knees and covering his face with grass as he cried.

Iris watched from her bedroom. She didn’t know why George was crying, but she wanted nothing more than to run to him and hug him. She didn’t though, as she worried she was somehow responsible for his sadness.

After a few minutes, George stood up, and Iris flopped back down into bed, pretending to be asleep. George returned to her room and watched her sleep with a smile on his face. The world was cruel, but there was still good. Iris had given him a reason to live, and he would do everything he could to protect her from the kinds of cruelties he had suffered.

As he was reflecting upon this, he saw Kirstine’s boyfriends car pull up next door. Kirstine got out and walked into the house. His anger reignited, but he paused. He wanted to punch the scumbag, but he knew if he let it go, he could live in peace with his daughter. Did he want to be the better man?

“Nah!” he said to himself, running outside. Kirstine was returning to the car, her parents shouting after her. The boyfriend snuffed a cigarette and climbed back into the driver’s seat. George was too late.

“COME BACK HERE RIGHT—” Kirstine’s father shouted as the car drove off. He huffed, knowing his daughter hadn’t listened to a word he said, then turned to go back inside, only to find George standing on his lawn. “Oh, George. Were we bothering you again?”

“I’ve gotten used to it,” George sighed, “but it appears the other neighbors haven’t. Maybe we could talk inside?”

“Of course,” Kirstine’s father replied. “What brings you here?”

George racked his brain for an excuse. He didn’t want to explain why he suddenly felt the need to punch Kirstine’s boyfriend’s lights out. Her parents didn’t deserve to be burdened with the truth.

“Parenting advice,” George said sheepishly. “Iris is three now, and I keep making mistakes.”

“You’d come to us for advice, knowing how Kirstine turned out?”

“Figure that might have given you some ideas on what not to do,” George smiled.

“I oughta hit you for that,” Kirstine’s father said, a smile on his own face, “but you’re right. Come on in.”

As George followed the man into his house, he could feel the hatred slowly leaving his body. Maybe living peacefully as a father wouldn’t be so bad after all.

⁂

Another eight years passed. Iris was now eleven years old, and her father was feeling less miserable. Despite being a single parent, he made sure that his daughter could have a perfect life. They moved out of the house, away from Kirstine, into a bigger house that George’s cousin left him.

Work continued to be dreadful, and four-year-old Iris had urged him to resign. He’d resisted at first, wanting to provide a stable income for his daughter, but when she pointed out he had enough savings to last them for years, he bit the bullet and started his own business. At first, his old boss pulled every trick in the book to ensure George failed, but a string of good luck, and some sage advice from Iris, kept the clients coming in.

There were ups and downs, but George had to admit it had been worth it. He couldn’t shake the feeling, however, that his success was all due to his unusual daughter pulling the strings.

One day, Iris asked if he would drive her to her friend, Avery’s, house. This had become a common occurrence, and George thought nothing of it. Iris always made sure to make the appropriate arrangements with Avery’s parents ahead of time.

Not long after he returned home, the phone rang. It was Avery’s father.

“Hey George. Can you tell Iris that we might be a little late returning home, and that she should come at another time? … Hello? George?”

George dropped the phone and rushed back to his car. Something felt wrong. There had been lights on in Avery’s house. The lights were still on, but the doors were locked. George ran around to the back of the house, hoping the back door was open, when he spied Kirstine and her boyfriend through the window. Neither of them were looking in his direction.

“Get out of the way,” the boyfriend demanded.

“This is kidnapping,” Kirstine protested. “We could go to prison.”

“I’d rather take my chances with the cops than the mob,” the boyfriend shot back. “They know we’re together. If I don’t pay up, they’ll come after you. We both know George has the money, so outta my way.”

As Kirstine stepped aside, she noticed George. Her eyes went wide, then she dropped her gaze and nodded slightly towards the back. George ran as fast as he could, and Kirstine unlocked the door for him.

“They’re in the basement,” she whispered.

“Make the call. Tell him to pay us 99% of his savings, or he’ll never see you again.” As he creeped down the stairs, George heard the boyfriend threatening Iris.

“I know everything about you,” Iris replied. “You’re the one who stole her from my dad!”

“Served him right,” the boyfriend laughed. “He’s been nothing but a nuisance since high school, and—”

Iris kicked him in the shin as hard as she could, causing the man to yelp in pain.

“Looks like you need to learn your place,” he growled, raising his hand to smack Iris.

“No!” George yelled, jumping at the man, but the man caught George and pinned him to the ground.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the piggy bank himself. Nice of you to come!” He placed his foot on George’s hand and demanded money, but George shook his head. “Shame,” the man said. “Guess I have to hurt you for real.” He reached for a crowbar on the ground.

“Don’t!” screamed Kirstine, throwing herself at the man, but he backhanded her and brought the crowbar down on George’s head.

The world spun for George. The last thing he saw was Iris, fear and shock writ large upon her face. She was looking right at him, looking at him lying limp on the ground, and George could swear he saw hair spurting from her skin. Her muscles grew larger. The ropes holding her snapped, and she let out a ravenous roar.

Then George lost consciousness.

⁂

“Dad! Dad! You’re finally awake!”

Iris’s voice was the first thing George heard upon coming to. He was no longer in the basement, but it took him a moment to realize he was in a hospital.

“How long was I out?” he groaned.

“Three years,” Iris answered. She handed him a newspaper showing that Kirstine’s boyfriend had been arrested for blackmail, assault, attempted murder, kidnapping and sexual assault. Police never found the wild animal that mauled him within an inch of his life.

“I want to apologize to you,” Iris said.

“What for?”

Iris hesitated. Learning the truth had already once driven her adopted father to the brink of despair, but he had recovered. Perhaps he could be trusted with the whole truth. No, he deserved it. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a VHS tape and held it out to him, her arm trembling.

George gasped. He hadn’t seen the tape since that fateful night. “How did you find this?”

“I’m… the one who gave it to you in the first place. I was trying to help, but I guess I only made things worse.”

“You didn’t,” George said, hugging his daughter close to him. “Sure, I was devastated, but you saved me. You’re the most important thing in my life. Next to that, my past doesn’t matter.”

Iris hugged her father back. When next she spoke, she was choking back tears. “I didn’t know I was that important to you. That makes what I’m about to say next even harder. I… will have to leave on my fifteenth birthday. Our time together is almost up.”

“What are you talking about?” George asked.

“I’m not… human.”

“I know,” George said after a lengthy pause. “I’ve always known, but I guess I didn’t want to face that reality. Even so, we can still be together. I won’t let—”

“No,” Iris interrupted him. “My kind must roam the galaxy when we come of age. I can’t stay, and I can’t take you with me either, but if you try to keep me here, I will wither and die.”

“I…” George croaked. “I always knew you’d grow up some day, and that you’d do great things, but travel to space? To experience new worlds and new wonders? What kind of a father would I be if I held you back?”

“You’re a great father,” Iris sobbed, hugging him tight. “Don’t you ever doubt that. You’ve done more for me than I deserve, and I promise to make the most of our time together.”

“And when the time comes, I promise to see you off with a smile.”

⁂

They both kept their promises. That’s not to say there weren’t ups and downs, but for the most part, they spent the next year in happiness. Iris had somehow managed to keep George’s business alive while he was unconscious, and she helped him retake the reins after he left the hospital. For his part, he was a devoted, loving father, and not in an Usagi Drop way. He spent every spare moment with her, often taking her on trips to see as much of what Earth had to offer as possible.

He never saw Kirstine again. While he was out, she had managed to turn her life around, and was now a moderately successful author. She wasn’t famous, but she was earning a living, and she had reconciled with her parents. Not long after he recovered, she sent him a letter, asking if perhaps he wanted to pick up where they left off, but he could only respond with an apology. Even after learning the truth, he had hardly lifted a finger to help her, choosing to pursue his own happiness instead. He didn’t regret being there for Iris, but neither could he ignore the choices he and Kirstine had both made.

But life offered many opportunities to start over. Iris had taught him that. Even if neither Iris nor Kirstine would be with him in the future, he knew he could find something to live for if he looked hard enough. He’d been so lucky to have a purpose thrust into his arms with Iris. Not everyone was so lucky. Perhaps, after Iris left, he would devote himself to helping others find their purposes.

After all, we are all visitors in each others’ lives, constantly saying our greetings and farewells, and we can bring light or darkness to those we visit. From now on, George hoped, he would bring only light.