She could however roll her head left and right. She tilted her head to the left and saw Bradly lying on another table, like the one she was lying on. He was naked and appeared to be unconscious. She tried to speak, but her vocal cords would not allow her to talk. The bright white ceiling, walls and floor all seemed to run together. There were no defined seams, or doors, or wall edges anywhere. She saw movement, as if someone was seamlessly passing straight through the white walls.
She could see creatures moving now. They were not humanoid and appeared to be as light colored as the space around them. They had arms, legs, a long neck, and large round head, with solid black eyes. They were short in stature, maybe forty eight inches tall. They moved almost fluently towards Bradly.
Mary tried to scream, but she couldn’t. The creatures were now on both sides of the table, Bradly was lying on. Mary couldn’t see what they were doing to him.
She tried to scream again, but she was unable to make a sound. There were two small creatures on each side of Bradly’s table, blocking her view. He wasn’t moving, but she could see he was breathing. At that moment, another creature emerged into the space.
This creature was more human like. It was at least six foot tall and had skin tones more natural to a human, but had no body hair. As the tall creature moved about the room, it appeared to be somewhat mentally challenged compared to the smaller ones. His arms were longer then a normal human and his eye were dark and very large, like the other small creatures. He had a male like physique with strange looking large male genitals.
The small creatures seemed to be communicating with him as well as with each other, thru telepathy. Occasionally Mary heard a strange little squeak from one, but no words were spoken.
The four creatures that had surrounded Bradly, had stepped away from him, and were now walking towards her. One was carrying something in his hand. The object resembled a large clear plastic medical syringe, but with no needle. The syringe appeared to contain an amount of thick milky solution, the creatures had extracted from Bradly.
Two creatures moved to each side of Mary and lifted her legs. She could now see that she was also naked. The creature with the device in his hand was doing something between her legs that caused her some discomfort. She could feel the little beast, placing the device in her, but she couldn’t move.
The small creature with the syringe, moved back away from Mary, and faded through the walls and out of sight. The tall creature stepped next to Mary and raised the table while the two smaller creatures, holding her legs, pulled her down towards the bottom of the table. The two small creatures held Mary’s legs up in the air.
The tall humanoid like creature moved from the side of the table and stepped up between her legs. She could feel him penetrate her, but there was no thrusting only a pulsating feeling. The body temperature of the tall creature was warm, much warmer than human. The creature stood for several minutes, pressed tight, between her spread legs.
Finally the tall creature started to slowly move backwards, fading into the walls. Mary could feel him leaving her. The remaining two creatures holding her legs lowered the table and pulled her back towards the top. She watched as they moved away, seeming to blend in with the walls as they disappeared.
As Mary lay on the table, she could now hear the soft humming, she had first heard while on the ground. Another small creature came into the space and moved towards her. It stood to the side of her, at the top of the table, and she got a good look at him.
The creature’s neck was long and face was round, with glossy black round eyes. It had two small openings where his nose should have been. His mouth was little more than a one inch slit, with no lips. The creature had no ears, just a small penetration, on the sides of his head. It had no other appendages, besides its arms, legs, and long thin fingers.
The creature waved something back and forth in front of Mary’s face and she fell into a deep sleep.
The sun was starting to come up and the mountains in the east were glowing. Bradly awoke first and was fixing coffee on the small gas grill. He also stoked up the campfire and got it burning again. Mary was tucked away in her sleeping bag, warm and cozy. She took a quick look under the top of the sleeping bag and saw, she was still fully dressed, in her long sleeve shirt, and black cotton pants.
What time did you finally give up last night, asked Bradly? Mary thought for a few seconds and said she’s was not sure. Now she was thinking, the strange events of last night, were just a dream, brought on by all the excitement of the powerful telescope. She unzipped the sleeping bag, so she could climb out. When she stood up, she still had on her hiking boots. However they were on the wrong foot.
She walked around to the passenger side of the Chevy Nomad and sat on the side of the front seat with the door opened and switched her shoes. Could I have been so tired last night, I would have put my shoes on the wrong foot, she thought?
Bradly came around to where she was sitting and handed her a cup of coffee. He said he had a dozy of a headache. Mary also had one, but she didn’t mention it.
Bradly asked her if she wanted to stay here all day and spend another night, or would she rather go home and relax for the rest of the weekend.
She thought for a few seconds and stared above her, at the point where she had first seen, the huge craft pass overhead. I want to go home, she said.
Good, replied Bradly. We can stop at that restaurant at Jawbone Canyon, for some breakfast. He began packing the supplies into the back of the Nomad, leaving room for Mary’s telescope.
They were on the road in less than twenty minutes, heading back to Edwards Air Force Base. As they were rolling down the road, Bradly said he was so tired last night, he didn’t remember getting into his sleeping bag. Mary was also trying to remember, getting in her sleeping bag.
It took them twenty minutes to get to Cantil Jawbone Canyon Restaurant, on highway 14. They pulled into the driveway and made their way into the restaurant. They spent almost an hour having breakfast.
Mary told Bradly about all the constellations and stars she had observed last night. She didn’t mention the strange event that happened, whether it was real or just a dream.
They were soon back on the road, heading southwest, down Highway 14. Just before they reached the town of Mojave they turn right on Highway 58 towards Edwards Air Base. They were home by 1:00 Saturday afternoon. Bradly unloaded the back of the Chevy Nomad, taking the sleeping bags out to the back yard and hanging them over the clothes line, to air out. Mary unloaded the food from the cooler and put away the clothes they hadn’t worn.
For the next several months, Bradly was flying the final seven Astronauts to the Lovelace Clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they underwent exhaustive medical and psychological examinations.
He also flew the final seven to Wright Aeromedical Laboratory in Fairborn, Ohio, where they underwent the most grueling part of the training process. For six days and nights, the men were subjected to various tortures that tested their tolerance for physical and psychological stress. Among other tests, the candidates were forced to spend an hour in a pressure chamber that simulated an altitude of 65,000 feet, and two hours in a chamber that was heated to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. At the end of one week, Bradly flew all seven Astronauts back to Edwards.
Mary continued to teach her students and planned for the up-coming Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Edwards Air Force Base was to receive the first of many, X-15 hyper supersonic, high altitude space planes right after the first of the year. The newly formed, seven Astronauts, were to start immediate training in this aircraft.
Wednesday December 23rd was the last day of school before the Christmas break. The students would not return until Monday, January 4th.
Christmas Eve, Bradly was in the air returning to Edwards by noon. He had been in Texas for the last four days. Mary woke Christmas Eve morning and felt sick to her stomach.
Her stomach issues went on through Christmas day. She thought s
he may be catching the flu or a cold. She decided she would run over to the base infirmary for a quick check up on Tuesday December 29th.
Mary waited for almost an hour before getting in to see First Lieutenant, Dr. Marjorie Mann. She explained to the doctor what her symptoms were and the doctor said, she might be pregnant.
I can’t be pregnant, she said. She told the doctor, she and Bradly had gone to the UCLA Medical Center last year, where she found out, she could not have children.
Dr. Mann said it was worth checking and she examined Mary. They ran a few tests and by the time Mary was ready to leave the infirmary, she knew she was definitely pregnant.
She couldn’t wait to tell Bradly as she hurried home. She wanted to fix him a good dinner and tell him that evening that she was pregnant. Bradly got home around 6:00 and quickly kicked off his shoes. Mary handed him a cocktail and he sat at the dining table and watched her finish dinner.
Mary had made Bradly’s favorite, a pot roast with carrots, celery, and potatoes. They were sitting at the table when Brady asked, how her doctor’s appointment went.
How did you know I was at the infirmary today, she asked? One of the Airmen mechanic’s was there, getting a piece of metal shaving, removed from his eye and saw you, replied Bradly.
Mary was quiet and didn’t respond to Bradly’s question. Well, sweetheart. You going to tell me why you were there, he asked again. O’ it’s nothing, I’m just pregnant, she responded. Please don’t kid me, he said to her. I’m not, she replied. I’m about eight weeks pregnant, she stated.
Bradly jumped up and ran around to the other side of the table and dropped to his knees. He placed his head on Mary’s belly and gently squeezed her. He started talking to her stomach, telling the fetus, who he was, and that he would be his or hers poppa.
Mary ran her hand through his short military style haircut, while his head was pressed against her belly. She explained to Bradly that she was due sometime late July or early August.
Bradly returned to his chair and while eating the rest of his dinner, Mary could see him thinking hard about something. He blurted out, it must have been Halloween night, he said, Mary nodded her head in agreement. I knew there was something special about that night, he cheerfully responded. I did good didn’t I, he said? Mary responded, you did real good.
January 15th the Steele’s got new next door neighbors. Todd and Beverly Anderson and their four month old daughter Lorain, moved into the Thomas’s house. Ann and Billy Thomas moved out just before Thanksgiving, when he was transfer to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
For the next six months, Mary’s belly grew bigger and she continued teaching. Friday, June 3rd was the last day of school, for the year. Mary would have another week of last minute clean up, before she could start her summer vacation. She was happy the baby would come during her summer vacation. The children would not be back to school until after Labor Day in September.
June and July were really hot months, with little or no rain. Mary stayed out of the heat, waiting until night before going out, for short walks with Bradly and using her telescope on the patio.
It was Sunday, July 31st around eleven that evening, when Mary’s water broke while she was getting ready for bed. Bradly, like every other new father, was running around like a chicken with his head cut off. Mary grabbed his arm and handed him her small suitcase. Bradly helped her out to the Chevy Nomad and into the front seat.
It took Bradly less than five minutes to reach the infirmary emergency entrance. He ran inside and told the waiting staff members, his wife was in the car and having a baby. By the time the staff got to the driveway, Mary was turned around in her seat with the door open, waiting. A nurse and Intern helped her into a wheelchair. The nurse told Captain Steele to go park his car, then come straight back through this door.
When Bradly came into the emergency room, Mary was gone and the nurse behind the counter was handing him a clip board, with paper work for him to fill out. The nurse assured him the baby was still a few hours away and he had plenty time to complete the paper work. While Bradly was filling out the forms, Dr. Marjorie Mann came through the door. She stopped and spoke to him. She said she would check on Mary and come right back and tell him how she was doing.
Bradly finished the paper work and handed it back to the nurse, behind the reception center. He couldn’t sit down as he walked back and forth across the room.
Finally, a young Airman in uniform, came into the emergency room with his wife and a sick child. Bradly watched, as the nurse quickly put the child on a gurney. The mother followed the nurse down the corridor to a treatment room, while the father filled out forms.
This activity took Bradly’s mind off what was going on with Mary. Bradly knew the Airmen and asked, what was wrong with his child. He said she has a cold and fever. He thinks it may have turned into pneumonia. The Airman seemed relaxed, to Bradly’s surprise. He told Bradly he and his wife have been through this before with this child.
Dr. Mann came out into the lobby and took Bradly back to a room, where Mary was. Her contractions were about three minutes apart. The doctor came back into the room about every fifteen minutes and finally around 3:00 in the morning, Dr. Mann ordered Bradly to go back out to the lobby and when the baby gets here, she would come and get him.
At 3:55, Dr. Mann came out into the lobby and Bradly was pacing the floor. She told him, he and Mary had a seven pound six ounce, healthy baby boy. Give us a little more time to clean him up, and you can come back and see him, she said.
Bradly was hoping for a little girl, but a boy was just as good. Mary and Bradly had decided if they were going to have a boy, they would name him after Bradly’s grandfather, Congressman Theodore James Steele.
Bradly waited another twenty minutes, before a nurse came out to retrieve him. They walked back to the same room, where he had spent the final minutes of Mary’s labor.
Mary was lying in bed with a small bundle of joy lying on her chest. Bradly approached slowly, as if the baby was going to explode. This is your son, Mary said to him. He stepped close to the side of the bed.
The baby was motionless and quiet. Mary lifted the child wrapped tightly in a white blanket and placed it in Bradly’s hands. He held the small infant lying in the palms of his hands. He shifted the child and cradled him in his arms, as he stepped back away from the bed and sat down in a chair.
Mary was smiling at him as he cradled Theodore James in his arms. Bradly held his son for a while, until a nurse came into the room, rolling a plastic basketlike bed for the baby. The nurse rolled the bassinet next to Mary’s bed and then walked around to the other side, where Bradly was sitting, and took the child from his arms.
The nurse placed the infant in the bassinet and told Bradly to cut his time with Mary short, so she could get some sleep.
Bradly stayed with Mary for another fifteen minutes, before kissing her goodnight and leaving the infirmary.
When Bradly pulled into his driveway, he saw his neighbor’s living room lights on. It was almost 5:00 AM when Todd Anderson stepped through his front door and yelled across the yard at Bradly. Well pops, what did you have he asked? A little boy, he replied. Good for you, Todd yelled back. Is Mary alright, he asked. Yes, she is a real trooper, responded Bradly.
Bradly said goodbye to Todd and entered his house. He collapsed on the couch and slept until eight the next morning. He called his superior officer and told him, he would not be at his station today. He caught a few more hours sleep before showering and returning to the Air Force infirmary.
It was August 1st and Mary was feeding the baby when Bradly walked into her room. He pulled a chair over next to the bed and watched as Theodore James consumed baby formula from a small glass bottle.
Mary was unable to breast feed. Her body did not produce enough milk. When the infant had finished feeding, Bradly took the child and held him. Mary told him to hold the baby up by his shoulder and pat him gently on the back. Bradly’s efforts got him a smal
l burp and a slight discharge of undigested milk on his collar.
Mary and the baby remained in the infirmary until Wednesday, when Bradly swung by, right after his daily duties were over, and picked them up. They were home by 6:00 that evening and greeted by their neighbor.
Beverly Anderson had been working in the front yard in her flower bed. Her daughter, Lorain was playing on a comforter, spread out on the grass. Mary invited Beverly to come over and meet the newest member of the Steele family. She picked up Lorain and followed Bradly and Mary into their home.
Beverly put Lorain down on the carpeted floor while she held Theodore James. Lorain was a month away from her first birthday and could crawl around, but was unable to walk by herself. She could hold on to the couch and stand as well as move around, as long as she was supported.
Lorain wanted to see the baby too. Bradly picked her up and sat down next to Beverly with Lorain on his knee. He could tell, she was fascinated with the tiny baby. She reached over and touched Theodore James and began to giggle.
School would be starting in a little over a month. The doctors told Mary she needed to take it easy for at least six weeks, but she knew, she had only five weeks, before her classes started.
As the days passed and the school year was approaching, Mary was starting to feel guilty about leaving Theodore James, five days a week. Beverly Anderson has agreed to watch TJ while Mary was at school.
It was Bradly who began to call his son TJ, after one of the airman on the base, asked him one day, how Teddy was doing. Bradly never wanted his son to be called Teddy. Teddy is the name of a stuffed bear, so he began to call him TJ, which caught on quickly.
TJ was thirty five days old when Mary returned to Forbes Avenue Elementary School, for the first day of the 1960 and 1961 school year. During the little over a month since I was born, neither my mother nor Bradly had ever heard me cry. I whimpered a few times, if he had a belly ache, but I never cried.
Alien Among Us (TJ Steele Book 1) Page 2
