“Is this him?” A girl’s voice behind Oliver made him turn. She had golden eyes, pointed ears, red hair and a big wide smile.
Chapter 2 Excerpt: Oliver Oddsocks Danger On Mars!
“Oliver, this is Oooli Urdue” Zuuuumi introduced. “This is Oliver Oddsocks. Oliver, you’ll be staying with her family.”
Oliver smiled. “Nice to meet you, Oooli Urdue. Did I say your name right?” Oliver put his pack down.
Oooli stood up. “You said my name perfectly. Thank you. Is your name Oddsocks because your foot coverings don’t match?”
“Yes!” Oliver answered.
“I like names that are about the person. Now, come on in and we will explain our troubles.” Oooli walked into the house.
Oliver followed and was astonished when he went inside. The inside was bigger, much bigger than the outside. There was a kitchen, a big living room, and a stairwell up to a loft. “This is like magic,” Oliver said aloud.
“It is. I don’t know how it works. But my people have been able to do this for thousands of years. We move to four different places each year. The storms circle the planet. We must move with the seasons, or we will be blown away like leaves in the wind. Come, let’s have a meal together.” Oooli answered.
Oliver stared at Oooli, a little confused by her.
Oooli noticed, “Is it rude to stare at a person on your planet? It is here.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that you look very much like an elf.”
“What’s an elf?” Zuuuumi asked.
Oliver relaxed; it was a tense moment. “There are stories and myths about elves on earth. I even have a poster of an elf in my room at home. It’s a warrior elf. Most people on Earth don’t believe they are real, or at least no one I have ever met. Forgive me, Oooli but you are green and have pointed ears. You look like an elf.”
“We have tales of the Gooofs and they look like you. My family was once a warrior clan, but there were no more wars to fight. There is a story told here about some of our people leaving and going to your planet. In those tales they met Gooofs. They didn’t get along. But if we went to your planet, it was so long ago that now it is only a story. Maybe your people have a deep memory of us.” Oooli smiled.
“Thank you for making an uncomfortable moment easier.” Oliver said.
“Nothing needs to be uncomfortable between friends.” Oooli smiled.