by Beth Terranova
(Author’s Note: I got the idea for this story after a "Tuesday Topics" show in 2 parts, starting on September 23, 2025, having to do with blindness myths. Though I have always had life accommodations, I grew up thinking in the sighted realm, since there is only one world, sighted, which we all live in. Even questions some call intrusive and stupid really come, I believe, mainly from curiosity, and we should treat them as coming from interest, just as the above beings desired. By the way, those beings are derived from an actual object, and I thank Envision Ally, a specialized blindness AI agent, for describing said object. Know what it is? Give up? It's a dryer ball, with the addition of faces and extremities. So, next time someone sighted annoys you with questions, just imagine a discussion with a dryer ball from VentureQuest; that should bring lightheartedness to the mix!)
All canine, human and location names are purely fictional.
"Okay, Kona," Jane patted her regal black Lab guide dog's head as she turned to grab her harness. "Good girl," Jane enthused as she buckled the harness on. "Let's go, girl!" she said as the pair exited their apartment. Once outside the building, Jane encouraged Kona to go faster, and they happily and quickly strode down the sidewalk toward the first intersection on the way to work. The weather showed great promise; the air was dry and the breeze inviting. Jane, totally blind, wondered aloud if it was a little overcast this morning, since she didn't yet feel the sun. She chuckled at the thought that Kona might verbally respond. "You'd better not, girl," she warned, "or you will find yourself living somewhere else. Fast!"
"Hey, Jane." She instantly recognized Noreen's pleasant voice. They were neighbors and they said hi to each other about every morning.
"Hi yourself," replied Jane teasingly. "How is this morning treating you?"
"Well, I don't know." Jane immediately sensed that something was amiss. "What's going on?"
"I don't have any idea how to say this so I'm just going to spill it."
"Honesty is the best policy," Jane offered supportively.
"Okay, but you won't believe me," replied Noreen. "When I came outside a few minutes ago, I saw quite a few ... well ... beings standing around. Not human. They are round, about tennis-ball sized, I think made of rubber, with a smooth surface but also with small spikes and bumps, with expressive faces, eyes which look very different from ours, thin but very detailed arms and legs, with very long fingers. Jane, they talked to me, just said hi, but that was enough for me!"
"What?" Jane stopped short, to the point that Kona's head snapped up to look quizzically at her.
"I am not kidding," replied Noreen. "I am puzzled and concerned about this."
"Was there anything on the news?" wondered Jane.
"I didn't hear any news this morning."
"Well, guess there is nothing we can do about it now." Jane turned back in their travel direction. "I will tell you if I have any encounters of the spikey kind. 'Bye for now."
As Jane and Kona walked along, Jane was mulling over what Noreen had said when she heard a high-pitched, fairly soft voice behind her ask, "Good morning, what are you and that beautiful canine up to this morning?"
Trying to be matter-of-fact, Jane answered cordially, "On our way to work. I answer phones at the nearby hospital. Who, or what, are you? My neighbor just saw some of you guys."
"Yes, we did run into her, not literally," laughed the being. "So, what about that four-legged friend? You mean dogs can go to work with people? Cool!"
"Well," Jane explained with a grin, "she can because she is a guide dog, which is a service dog for the blind. They help with many things, including not bumping into things, people or ... beings. Noreen described you guys, since I have no vision. Do you also have 5 senses? Where are you from, and how and why did you get here? Do you marry, have children, live in houses, go to the bathroom? What is going on here? Are we being invaded?"
"Whoa, hold on there," quipped the being. "No, you are not being invaded in a bad way. We are from a planet you earthlings know nothing about, called VentureQuest, and we decided to come see you. We have tech you would drool over, and we thought you would want to learn about us, as we have learned about you."
"Wow!" Excitement flooded Jane. "I would, but I think my fellow earth people will mostly freak out about your coming. I hope not, because sharing info and lives instead of one-way education is the name of the game, to my way of thinking."
"Well, at least we have one fan!" Tinkling laughter came from the being. "Well, I'm going to see who else I can scare, ha ha!"
"Okay, good luck," chuckled Jane. "I know how you guys possibly feel about us. Being totally blind means I often feel like I am on another planet, since people can be so cruel and can ask so many intrusive questions, as I did before," she added ruefully. "Sorry. I have no leg to stand on when I complain about sighted people doing that to me if I do it to you guys, too."
"Oh, don't worry about it," the being said reassuringly. "How are you going to find out about anything or anyone unless you ask? The unusual brings questions out in the same way honey brings out flies, and that is great! Fear is sometimes a part of it, but I tend to think that curiosity is the main reason for the questions, and curiosity is never to be disdained; in fact, it is to be celebrated and rewarded with kind and open answers. Hope to see you around again soon."
"Okay, and thanks for your understanding," stated Jane. "My boss won't be understanding if I'm late."