Kacy McAlister, A short sci-fi story by Chuck Keyes

Kacy McAlister

A short sci-fi story by Chuck Keyes

          Texas child welfare workers, Larry Madeau and Candis Delley, are travelling along old East Texas roads heading toward the McAlister Ranch. The sky is clear and the early morning sun is bright, indicating another summer day of temperatures over one-hundred degrees.

          "Mr. Madeau, how far out in the boondocks is this ranch?"

          "You can call me Larry, and I'll call you Candis. Mr. Madeau makes me feel like my grandfather. The McAlister ranch house sits in the middle of seventeen hundred acres of unused grazing land. The McAlister's private driveway should be on the right, about eleven miles up ahead."

          "Have you visited the McAlister's daughter before?"

          "Nobody from child welfare has ever met Kacy McAlister."

          "Why?"

          "Up until a few days ago, Kacy McAlister's birth certificate was lost in the system, and nobody knew she existed. The reason I've been assigned to check up on her, is that she's never attended any public or private schools. There are no records beyond her birth."

          "I know this is my first training day on the job," voiced Candis, "but to me there's a good indication Kacy McAlister may have died shortly after birth."

          "Possibly; however, we cannot locate a death certificate. Besides, heading into the unknown will be good training for you."

          "What do you know about Kacy's mother and father?"

          "Her father, John McAlister, passed away from a massive heart attack, about nine months before Kacy was born. The US censors show there's only one person living in the ranch house, and that's Kacy's mother, June McAlister. Besides the girl's twelve year old birth certificate, there are no other records."

          "Perhaps this trip is going to be a waste of time."

          "Maybe, or maybe not," said Larry. "Our job is to take the assignments handed out, whether they're good, bad, or just a waste of time."

          Candis giggled. "Oh, are you saying we can't handpick our own cases?"

          "I wish," sputtered Larry. "I've been doing this job for almost ten years, and to prevent from being burned out, I've learned to function with a closed mind. The way some people treat their own children, is as if their faith is based somewhere in the depths of hell."

          "Wow, that's a bitter statement about humanity. Are you trying to frighten me into looking for a new job? To be honest with you, I'm recently divorced from an abusive husband…and I'm hoping this job of helping children will be the beginning of my new life."

          Larry shook his head. "No, I'm not suggesting you quit your job. I'm preparing you. Our jobs are extremely important. If not for caring people like us, who must wade through the trash of humanity, many thousands of children would still be living a life of torment. The thought of saving children is what keeps me going like the Energizer Bunny." Larry turned his Chevy pickup right onto a narrow, rutted dirt driveway. "I don't have to worry about a divorce because I'm not married."

          "If you don't mind me asking, why are you wearing a gold wedding band?"

          "I was engaged for a long time, but she broke it off a week before our wedding. She told me she found someone new who makes a lot more money than I do."      

          "That was coldhearted."

          "I'm over it now. I've been thinking of removing the ring so I can start dating again."

          "Oh my, this driveway looks like it hasn't been used in many years. Maybe nobody lives out here."

          Overgrown bushes and tree limbs repeatedly slapped against the truck as Larry slowly traveled at less than six miles an hour. "Yeah, it does appear this driveway isn't used too often. On what little paper work I have on this unusual case, John McAlister was a wealthy man, and his estate is managed by a law firm in Dallas."

          After traveling a little over a mile and a half through the overgrown pasture, they approached a large two story, unkempt house. The grass, bushes, and trees around the ranch house haven't been mowed or trimmed for many years. Off to the right is a large barn with three garage-type doors on the face. Larry parked his truck in front of the barn. "In the past, this place was probably real nice."

          "This place is giving me the willies," voiced Candis.

          Larry chuckled. "Is it the Twilight Zone willies?"

          "No, it's the One Step Beyond willies."

          Larry smiled. "I guess I'll go knock on their front door."

          Candis followed Larry up the porch steps. He opened the screen door and knocked on the inner wooden door. A long moment passed by, and then Larry knocked even louder. "I do hope this wasn't a wasted trip."

          They heard three locks disengage. The door slowly opened, presenting an unusual looking twelve year old girl. She has long white hair, pale white skin, and light blue eyes. She's wearing a white dress and her pretty face makes her appear as an angel."

          "Young lady, are you Kacy McAlister?" asked Larry.

          "She just stood there, curiously gazing at Candis and Larry, as if they each have two heads."

          "Besides my mother, you two are the first people I have ever seen."

          A dark haired woman ran up behind the young girl and yanked her away from the door. "Kacy, I told you to never answer the door!" screamed the woman.

          "I'm sorry, Mom, but I was curious."

          "I've told you many times that curiosity can be dangerous." The woman removed a thirty-eight revolver from under her apron and pointed it Larry.

          Upon seeing the gun, Candis took in a fearful deep breath of air.

          "Mrs. McAlister, does your gun mean you want us to leave?"

          "No! I want the both of you to come in my house and explain to me why you're here," the woman said in a bitter tone, making her appear as an evil witch. "Whatever you have to say, better please my gun." She waved the gun from Larry to Candis, and back to Larry. "Now come in and sit down on the sofa."

          They stepped into the front parlor and sat down. Candis is so scared, she cuddled close Larry, and then she firmly took hold of his right hand.

          "Kacy, scan them! I need to know if they have any weapons hidden on their bodies?" asked her mother.

          Kacy stared at the captive child welfare workers. "No, they don't have any weapons."

          "Good! I want you to go upstairs to your bedroom, shut the door, and stay there until I call for you."

          "Yes, Mom."

          After Kacy climbed the stairs, June McAlister sat down in an overstuffed chair, facing her two captives. She continued pointing her gun directly at Larry. "Why are you two here?"

          "Mrs. McAlister, your gun is making me nervous."

          "Would you prefer I shoot first?"

          "No…no. We're child welfare workers, assigned to check on the wellbeing of your daughter. Kacy told us she has never associated with any other people besides you. This is wrong, and we'll need to conduct a detailed investigation."

          "You people clearly saw my daughter. You must've noticed her appearance is abnormal. People will never accept her!"

          "Kacy is a beautiful albino," Candis boldly voiced, "and I know society will have no problem accepting her."  

          "No! She's not an albino! I cannot allow anyone to interfere in my daughter's life; therefore, I cannot allow the both of you to contact your superiors. Do you have any of those little wireless telephones?"

          "Yes, I have a cell phone," replied Larry.

          "I have one too," said Candis.

          "Remove your cell contraptions and throw them over there on the floor." She used her thirty-eight to point.

          They discarded their cell phones as June commanded.

          "What are you planning to do with us?" demanded Larry.

          "To protect Kacy, my only choice is to kill the both of you."

          Larry nervously chuckled. "Our superiors know where we are. They'll come looking for us, along with the police."

          "In thought, June's wrinkled brow increased with more wrinkles. "I have no choice! If more people show up, I will deal with them."

          "Since you're set on killing us," voiced Larry, "I'd like to know why. There has to be more to this than Kacy's albino appearance, so please explain it to me?"

          June deeply sighed. "I suppose the both you can take my horrid secret to your graves." She pressed her back against the soft chair, and with her finger on the trigger, she rested the gun on the wide arm of the chair. "About thirteen years ago, a week after my husband had passed away; I was taking an early evening walk through the south pasture. I wasn't paying attention to the time, thus the darkness snuck up on me like a wild black cat. While I was returning to the house, a bright bluish light from above engulfed my body, paralyzing me, and I floated upward. It wasn't until after the incident occurred that I realized I had been abducted by an alien being from another world. Bits and pieces of my nightmarish ordeal came to me in dreams. I was sexually assaulted, and Kacy's father is the alien. That's why I cannot introduce her to the people of our world."

          Upon realizing, June McAlister is a Christmas fruitcake with extra nuts, Larry decided to approach the situation differently. "Mrs. McAlister, we can leave your alien abduction out of the investigation. All you have to do is prove that you love Kacy, and you've been taking good care of her."

          "Of course I love her! Even though her father was an alien, she's still my daughter. My flesh and blood, mixed in with whatever strangeness she possesses from her alien father."

          "Mrs. McAlister, no one will ever know Kacy's father is an extraterrestrial," said Larry.

          "Yes…yes, we will be happy to cover up your alien abduction," said Candis with fear strangling her heart.

          "No! I must keep Kacy hidden away from society."

          "Why? Is it because you don't want anyone to know you were sexually assaulted by an extraterrestrial being?" asked Larry.

          "Yes!"

          "But no one can tell from Kacy's albino appearance that her father is an alien."

          "I'm not worried about Kacy's appearance. The problem is she has many powerful abilities."

          "What type of abilities?"

          "Like a God, her mind is extremely powerful," sputtered June, "and every month she becomes more powerful."

          "I don't understand. What can she do with her mind?"

          June stood up. "It's time to take a walk outside, behind the barn."

          "No!" snapped Larry. "If you're intentions are to kill us, then do it right here in your parlor, so our blood will soak into your sofa."

          "No, mother!" shouted Kacy from the top of the stairs. "I'm not going to allow you to hurt these wonderful people."

          "I have no choice but to kill them!"

          Kacy waved her hand and the thirty-eight revolver flew out of June's hand and hovered in midair, directly in the middle of the parlor.

          With their eyes filled with wonder, Larry and Candis watched the hovering gun slowly spin around while it dismantled into many pieces, and then all the floating components fell onto the hardwood floor, scattering off in different directions.

          "Look what you've done to my gun!" screamed Ruth. "I can no longer protect you from the evils beyond my ranch!"

          Like a ghostly angel, Kacy's body floated down the stairs, half way across the parlor, and she landed on her bare feet, directly in front of her mother.

          "See, I told you she can do powerful things with her mind. Kacy has a heart of pure gold, but people will think she's possessed by a demon."

          "Mom, I overheard your conversation. When I opened the door, these two people were not frightened by my appearance. They came here to help me. It's wrong for you to keep me here with your lies. I want to meet wonderful people, visit small towns, and giant cities. I want to see blue oceans, green jungles, and majestic mountains. I want to be free to learn what I choose to learn. I want to grow up and help people."

          Tears started to roll down June's cheeks. "Kacy, people are going to see you fly, reshape matter into anything you desire, walk through solid walls, breath underwater, move objects, heal wild animals with a touch of your hand. They won't understand your mental powers, and you'll be cast off as an evil witch."

          Happy about not being shot, but shocked about witnessing Kacy's powerful mental abilities, Larry finally regained his composure. "Kacy, when you do go out in public, you will need to hide your mental abilities."

          "Yeah," chimed Candis, "otherwise you're going to freak everyone out. I'm still freaked out from your ability to float down a flight of stairs like a poltergeist."

          Kacy smiled. "I understand, but my mental abilities are intertwined  with my natural senses. I'll have to work to learn how not to use them. Maybe the both of you could help me to control my abilities. What are your names?"

          "I'm Larry Madeau, and this is Candis Delley."

          "Oh, Candis, why are your lips red."

          "I'm wearing lipstick."

          "Why?"

          "Women wear lipstick and makeup for enhancing their beauty."

          Kacy waved her hand and red lipstick and makeup magically appeared on her face. "I copied your beauty facial enhancements. How does it look on my face."

          "You're very beautiful, but I consider you to be too young for wearing makeup."

          Kacy held out her hands and a mirror magically materialized. "Yes, I am beautiful. But you are correct, I'm too young." She again waved her hand and the makeup disappeared. "My mother home schools me, but I know she only teaches me what she wants me to learn."

          "Kacy, do you have a television or a computer for browsing the Internet?" asked Larry.

          "No." Kacy shook her head. "What is the Internet?"

          "Mrs. McAlister, why have you denied Kacy these modern conveniences? Used properly, they are fantastic tools for learning."

          "I will not allow Kacy to have anything that'll encourage her to travel beyond my ranch."

          "Kacy needs to have her freedom. It's against the law to keep your daughter captive."

          "No…I will not allow her to go beyond the ranch!" snapped June. She held up a shiny round disk. "After Kacy dismantled my gun, I used this alien communicator to contact her father. What I didn't tell the both of you, is I unholy enjoyed my alien abduction, and many times over the years, her father has contacted me to inquire about his daughter's welfare."

          "Why hasn't he contacted me?" inquired Kacy.

          "Because up until today, you've always believed your father was my dead husband."

          "More of your lies."

          All of a sudden, a bright blue globe of light exploded into view, hovering near the center of the large parlor. "June, why have you contacted me?" asked a deep male voice emitting from the flickering sphere.

          June pointed at the two child welfare workers. "These two humans want to take our daughter away from me. I want you to kill them!"

          "June, all life is throughout the universe precious, and I will not kill."

          "Are you my father?"

          "Yes, my dear daughter; however, I am not physically here. Please explain why your mother has asked me to kill these two human beings?"

          "No," shouted June. "I will do all the explaining!"

          "Sir...alien…you need to let your daughter explain what's been going on here," Larry tensely voiced.

          "No, Kacy, mother knows best. You need to march up to your bedroom right…"

          Kacy swiftly waved her hand, and June's mouth moved, but there was no sound.

          For the next hour, Kacy opened her heart and explained how her mother has been wrongfully treating her. She also told him that Larry and Candis are here to help her live a happy life.

          The globe of bluish light moved closer toward the two child welfare workers, and painless, scanning bolts of bright lightning momentarily entered their heads, scanning their human brains. "Larry and Candis, you are good humans with an abundance of love within your souls. My daughter is half human, and her fundamental purpose is to live her life on your planet earth. Therefore, you two humans will join together and finish raising Kacy. You shall be a loving family, and in the future, every human will realize my gift. I will give June a wonderful life on my world, so she can no longer interfere in Kacy's development."

          June McAlister and the globe of light instantly vanished.

          Larry stood up and offered his hand to Candis. She accepted his hand and he helped her up, then he wrapped his arms around her. They embraced with a kiss.

          After the kiss, they hugged Kacy.

          The new family held hands as they walked outside into the bright sunlight, heading toward Larry's pickup truck. To begin their new lives, and to introduce Kacy McAlister to the human race.  

The End!

© September 2011