Lesson for Today — A Reader’s Guide

Robbie had been walking beside her. Suddenly he turned and looked up at her. "Mommy, why are we walking so far? I'm tired of walking. I don't want to walk any more. Where is daddy?"

"Hush, dear. We're going to find daddy." She knew they would never find him ... alive. But something made her keep going. Something inside wouldn't let her turn back. _She had to know...._

"We've got to find daddy so he'll make everything right again, don't we?"

She hesitated before answering. "Yes--yes that's it. We've got to find daddy so he can help us--and make everything right again!"

"Go to sleep, Robbie. You've got to rest."

"Sleep, dear. We'll eat ... later." She kissed him, sat on the ground beside him and rocked his head in her weary arms.

"_For those of you students who do not understand the languages of this planet, I'll interpret. She was trying to comfort her young one, telling him that his father was going to make everything right again when they found him. While inwardly she knew they would never find him alive. Primitive peoples often react to disasters in this way, making themselves and others around them believe things that are not true._"

Slowly Helen opened her eyes. She sat up slowly, taking in the scene around her. She sat that way for a moment, thinking, her mind far from there, somewhere in southern France where her aunt and uncle were. She wondered if--

"Robbie," she whispered. She nudged his shoulder gently, trying to awaken him. Finally his eyes opened. He smiled wistfully.

"Get up, dear. We've got to be going now."

"I know. So am I. We'll find something to eat pretty soon. You will have to wait."

"But--" Tears came to his eyes. One ran down his dirty cheek, making a rivulet.

"Please Robbie," she pleaded. "Don't cry. Remember what daddy always said, 'A smile blocks up the tears.'" He smiled weakly. "Now buck up," she added.

She took his hand and they started walking.

"_Reading her mind, I see that she is more concerned over her child's welfare than her own. This is very unusual in primitive races._"

They entered a small town. Down the main street they walked. The town was deserted, but showed no sign of being bombed or burned. In the street, numerous automobiles were parked. But she saw no people....

They entered a restaurant. Inside, the tables and chairs were in good order except for a half inch of dust and a few dirty dishes. She inspected the kitchen and found what she had been looking for. Canned food.

"Robbie," she called. "Where are you?"

She walked back to the door of the kitchen and looked into the restaurant. Robbie was not there.... Then she saw him through the restaurant windows, standing on the street outside. She called "Robbie--I've found some food!"

Robbie turned, his small face twisted with hunger. He started back toward the door.

She returned to the kitchen and looked for a can opener.

"_We will drop down a few hundred feet and pick up the young one with our magnetic-force-field. We shall examine him._"

One moment Robbie was standing at the restaurant door, and the next he was floating upward in the middle of the air. There was a strange sensation in his stomach. He was scared. He started to cry.

"_Notice the noise he makes with his mouth. This is not a form of communication, but rather he is using a primitive form of expressing his thoughts, which is called crying. Reading his mind, I find only confusion and fear. He wonders where he is, but knows that he doesn't like it._

"_Another interesting fact about these aliens is that they feel pain. It is hard to understand and even harder to explain. But I will try. We are aware of touching something or somebody only as a sensation on the skin. These people have more than that. Now watch. As I cut the skin of this young one slightly, notice that he jerks and screams louder. He is feeling pain. It is a strong sensation that leaves a sharp impression on the brain. That does not fully explain it, but it is the best I can do along with this demonstration._"

"Oh, good God! Robbie! What happened, honey. What happened?" Then she saw the blood dripping on the floor. "_Robbie_, your arm!"

Then he was in her arms, sobbing hysterically. "I--I ... they took me, and cut me--and ..." but he could go no further.

Carefully, she laid him on a table and examined his arm. The bleeding had subsided some. She took a clean wet cloth and wiped off the blood. Then she bandaged it.