Men Are From Mars…?

“Ray, has the cake arrived? I hope it’s exactly what we ordered, otherwise Pret is going to be annoyed on his birthday.”

Sui was all charged up, bustling around, overseeing the arrangements with nervous precision. It was that one time of the year when the whole family assembled in one place. No excuses whatsoever.

There were only a few minutes left for the party to begin, and the last of the guests were hurrying in.

The doorbell rang.

It was Trek, Pret’s father.

“Ah! Finally!” exclaimed Sui, pulling him into a warm hug.

“You remember, right?” Trek whispered into her ear.

She froze for a moment, then slowly nodded. “It’s time,” she murmured, resting her cheek briefly against his chest.

“It’s going to be fine. We’ve got this,” Trek said perhaps more to reassure himself than her.

“Moooooom! Daaaaaddddd!” a voice shrieked from inside.

The couple startled and replied in unison, “We’re coming!”

They stepped in.

The small space was now crowded, packed with guests, all glistening in their party wear.

Sui scanned the room, ticking things off mentally...

Lights , check. Audio, check. Snacks, check. Cake, check. Party poppers, check. Pret’s shoes, check…

She pursed her lips. All done.

Trek headed to Pret’s room.

“Champ, are you ready?” he knocked.

No response.

“We’re getting late, buddy. Open up, please.”

A soft click. The door opened just a little.

Trek stepped in. The room was empty.

“Pret?” he called out.

Silence.

Then instinctively, he knelt and peeked under the cot.

There he was, huddled, clutching his favourite toy.

Their eyes met.

Without a word, Trek slowly got down and squeezed himself under the cot, settling beside him.

They stayed like that for a moment.

“D-d-dad…” Pret stuttered. “I’m not sure about this. I wish they’d all go away. I tried… but I’m sorry.”

Trek wrapped an arm around him and held him tight.

He had known this was coming. He had been preparing himself for this, for the past seven years.

They crawled out and sat on the edge of the cot.

“Bud,” Trek began gently, “it’s almost time we told you the truth. You have to know today.”

Pret looked up, confused. “What is it, Daddy?”

At that exact moment...

The power went off.

Darkness.

And then, a loud clap of thunder.

Pret flinched and grabbed his father’s arm, squeezing it tight.

Trek exhaled.

“Today, I’ll answer all the questions that have been bothering you,” he said.

Pret sat up straighter.

“You were not born here, Pret. You are not our son.”

Pret stared at him, stunned.

A flash of lightning lit up his pale face, eyes wide, brimming.

“You’ve always wondered why you look different… why we kept you at home… why you couldn’t go to school.”

A pause.

“The truth is… you don’t belong here, champ.”

Another rumble of thunder.

“You are not one of us.”

Pret’s grip tightened.

“In fact… you are not even from this planet.”

Silence.

“You are called… human.”

Pret blinked.

“You are from...”

The door burst open.

“Happy Birthday, Pret!” the guests cheered, entering with a glowing cake.

Pret turned slowly.

In the dim light, he saw them clearly.

Orange bodies glistening like fire.

Three red bulb-like projections atop their heads, each holding an eyeball.

Two neon-blue, wobbly arms with sloppy fingers.

A wide gaping mouth, revealing glowing golden-yellow teeth.

He scanned the room.

Then looked at himself.

Pale skin.

Two eyes.

A small nose.

A thin pink mouth.

Everything… contained. No extensions.

A slender neck.

A simple body.

Two arms. Two legs.

He stared at his reflection.

“Hu…man?” he whispered.

A beat.

“What on freakin’ Mars… is that?”