1 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, and welcome to sleep Tight Stories. This is 2 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: part three of our story about Red. Remember she has 3 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: told her class that she is from Mars. Mars, Pennsylvania, 4 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: she said quickly. After her day at school, trying to 5 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 1: stay away from Charlie, she finally gets home. When Red 6 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: walks into the house, she sees two mountainous people waiting 7 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: in her kitchen. Completely in black. Mom says read, we 8 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:24,839 Speaker 1: need to talk transfer student Part three. Hi, mom, uh, 9 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: what's up? Red said, hesitantly. Read this is miss Misty 10 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 1: and mister Shade of the AID Bureau. They are here 11 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: on a friendly visit and would like to ask you 12 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:46,559 Speaker 1: a few questions. Nothing about these two looked friendly, Red thought, 13 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: in an abnormally deep voice. The larger of the two 14 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: spoke first, I read, I'm Misty from the AID Bureau. 15 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: Are you familiar with the work that we do? Not exactly, 16 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: Red said, following the scar line from the top of 17 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: Misty's hair line as it disappeared under her sunglasses. Okay, Well, 18 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: AID stands for aliens in disguise, and we are in 19 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: charge of security for all people coming from Mars to 20 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: live here on Earth. We are part concierge, part support. 21 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: System and a little bit like the Secret Service. Oh okay, 22 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: Red said, with an eye roll. Sure, concierge, Sure, you 23 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: don't look like any concierge I've ever seen, though I 24 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: don't think I have actually seen any. She thought. Anyway, 25 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: I have been notified that you have broken protocol with 26 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: regards to your relocation here, Misty continued, without really opening 27 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: her lips. I am not sure what you mean. Red mumbled, well, okay, 28 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: to be blunt, you told a group of people that 29 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 1: you came from Mars. The room was quiet for an 30 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: uncomfortable length of time. What how could you possibly know 31 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: what I was saying? And to whom Red said? Breaking 32 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: the silence, The center of gravity seemed to shift in 33 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: the room as the large mass known as mister Shade 34 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: looked like he was going to speak. Where the sound 35 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: was going to come from, Red was not sure, because 36 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: where a mouth would beyond most people was just a thin, 37 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: pale line, a line surrounded by muscle. Who has muscles 38 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: where their lips should be? In an abnormally high pitched 39 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: voice which still seemed like it had the ability to 40 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: shatter glass, mister Shade said, hesitantly, we have the. 41 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 2: Means to monitor the communication of those under the protection 42 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 2: and service of the program. 43 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,239 Speaker 1: You have been listening to what I have been saying, 44 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: said Red, incredulously. No, not exactly, said mister Shade. How 45 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: is this even possible? 46 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: Well, I'm not at liberty to say, but needless to say, 47 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: we take your security and the security of the program 48 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: very seriously. 49 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: Red's face turned a brighter shade of red. Red's mother interrupted, Now, Red, 50 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: calm down. There is nothing gained from raising your voice. 51 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,679 Speaker 1: We all knew that when we moved here that certain 52 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: sacrifices would have to be made over the short term, 53 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: at least until we are completely settled and integrated within 54 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: this society. Well, what's next? Listening to my thoughts, mumbled Red, 55 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: Misty continued, I can assure that everything we do is 56 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: in your best interest. Red raised her left eyebrow with 57 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: a look of doubt. Red, can you tell us what 58 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: you said and to whom we need to ensure that 59 00:05:54,279 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: we have a convincing story if people should inquire, Misty continued, 60 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 1: As you know, few people here on earth know about 61 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: the Mars Project, and for your safety and the safety 62 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: of others, we have to keep it that way. Is 63 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: it the security of the program or the safety of 64 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 1: the people. Red thought before she answered she wasn't so 65 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: sure these officers, if they were officers, had her best 66 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: interests at heart. It was just a slip of the tongue. 67 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: When I was asked to introduce myself in class, I 68 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: said I was from Mars. But but I backtracked and 69 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: told everybody I meant Mars in Pennsylvania. Red's mother sighed, oh. 70 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 2: Are you sure you only mentioned it this one time. 71 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: Mister Shade asked, yes, it was a one time mistake, 72 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: and no one believes what I say or listens to 73 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: me anyways, Red said, Red, don't say such a thing. 74 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: Her mother retorted, well, it's true. If I didn't have 75 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: such unique taste in clothes, no one would notice me, 76 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: she said, with the redness in her face changing to 77 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: a color representing her feeling of having lost. Okay, I 78 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: think we can deal with this this time. We haven't 79 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: noticed any unusual online chatter, and we are conducting contact 80 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: tracing to ensure no one in your class was convinced 81 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: enough to tell others. But please read remember your script. 82 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: Remember how important this program is to many people, said 83 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: Misty with a somewhat concerned tone, unbefitting of such an 84 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: imposing person. Yes, yes, Red said, with a sigh, and 85 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: just wanting this whole conversation to be over with so 86 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: she could go up to her room, lay on her bed, 87 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: and forget she ever arrived in this small town. Thank 88 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: you for your cooperation, started Misty. 89 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: We can see ourselves out. 90 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 1: Finished mister Shade. Miss Misty and mister Shade then made 91 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: their way out of the kitchen, almost hitting the ceiling 92 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 1: light and with the floors creaking under their weight as 93 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: they went. They walked unbelievably quietly, like mice as they 94 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: disappeared out the front door. Now that they were gone, 95 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: the atmosphere in the room seemed to shift. It was 96 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: brighter and lighter, like it always was, at least before 97 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: those incredibly large people were here. When she knew they 98 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 1: were gone, Red's mother, face read from embarrassment, started talking. Now, read, 99 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: We've been over all this so many times, and you 100 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: agreed that you would follow the script that we had 101 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: to follow in order to live here safely. We've rehearsed 102 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 1: everything over and over and over. Don't you realize how 103 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: important this is? Don't you understand what would happen if 104 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: everyone knew where you were really from the implications of 105 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: such a thing. But it was simply a mistake. Don't 106 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 1: you always say? We all make mistakes, retorted Red, trying 107 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: in vain to defend herself. Her mother replied in a 108 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 1: slightly more serious tone, I also say we need to 109 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 1: learn from our mistakes, and that's what I want to 110 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: make sure happens here. Moving to this small town is 111 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: a great opportunity for us all. It's a fresh start. 112 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: The air is clean, there is so much green, and 113 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 1: you get to excel at something other than science, math 114 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: and engineering and your father's work and my work is 115 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 1: too important to make more mistakes, said Red's mom, still 116 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 1: with a serious tone, with the added look on her 117 00:10:51,480 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: face that all moms make. Though serious, she cared Red 118 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: wanted to say more, but just as she was about to, 119 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: Red's little brother came bouncing into the kitchen, hair sticking 120 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: up in the back, with a face sticky from who 121 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:19,719 Speaker 1: knows what, and asked anything to eat. I'm starving, Ugh, 122 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: you are always starving. Red left the kitchen and made 123 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,559 Speaker 1: her way up the stairs to her bedroom, where she 124 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,959 Speaker 1: promptly kicked off her sneakers and plopped on the bed. 125 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: She let out a big sigh. Oh why did we 126 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: have to move to this place? Anyway? She thought, I 127 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: miss my friends and all the fun we used to 128 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: have on the outer rings, and how creepy those large 129 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: people were from the aid Was it really necessary to 130 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: wear sunglasses in the house and why would someone choose 131 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: to wear all black? And why were they so big? 132 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: I know my parents always want the best for me 133 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: and think I will have more opportunities here in this 134 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: small place, but I was so happy, and the worst 135 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,679 Speaker 1: part is that I am not even allowed to talk 136 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: to my old friends anymore. All this super secret stuff 137 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: seems so silly. I mean, everyone knows everything about everything 138 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 1: almost forever. But something about mis Misty and mister Shade 139 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: bothered her. All the people in the program, all the 140 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: people on Mars, were just like her mother and father, scientists, researchers, 141 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: geeky and generally not very muscular. There was nothing really 142 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: seek about what anyone was doing. And though I knew 143 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: that moving here was not something we were supposed to 144 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: talk about when we got here, everyone knew about it 145 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: on Mars. Maybe I'll have to do a little spying 146 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: myself and see what the aid is really all about. 147 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 1: But first, I think I want to lay on this 148 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: bed forever and fall asleep, and when I wake up, 149 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: be back in my old bed, in my old house, 150 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,079 Speaker 1: and be able to hear the pings on my pad 151 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: telling me my friends are sending me messages. Then her 152 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: keen sense of smell noticed the aroma of fresh pancakes, 153 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: the smell of hot chocolate. Her mother was cooking her 154 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: favorite food again. Then her stomach betrayed her as it 155 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: made loud, gurgling noises. She jumped out of bed just 156 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: as she heard the sound of her mother's voice saying, Red, 157 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: come down for dinner. I've got some local blueberry infused 158 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: honey for the pancakes. Ugh. And that's the end of 159 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: this chapter. Good night, sleep tight.