"So, what do you think?" Zendal asked

"About what?" his friend Broosken replied.

"About going back. You know, to our home planet. To Zalaphar."

They were in the Grasshopper Coffee shop in southwest Minneapolis and had just returned from a pleasant stroll along Minnehaha Creek. It was early spring, red and yellow tulips were in bloom, and the air was scented with the sweet aroma of white and purple lilacs. For two aliens from another galaxy, it was one of their best days on Earth.

Except.

Broosken nodded and sipped his espresso. He'd been addicted to the drink for the last sixty-six years, ever since they'd arrived and a few day later entered their first coffee shop. "I think we've done all we were sent here to do," he said. "I think it's time to go home."

Zendal nodded and sipped his mocha latte. He knew his friend had been unhappy, but didn't realize it was so serious. "When were you thinking of leaving?"

"Soon Broosken said, "Real soon."

Truth be told, both men were disappointed in "The Earthlings," as they sometimes called the inhabitants of the planet they'd come to observe.

Arriving in 1960 on an exploring and fact-finding mission, they'd been impressed with the fresh air and blue skies, the pristine rivers and streams, the verdant farmland, and the snow-capped mountains. Earth was so much better than their polluted planet of Zalaphar. In fact, early on during their stay, they had talked about returning soon to their home planet and suggesting to Supreme Commander Yalkin that he consider invading Earth and taking it over.

"It'd be feather in our caps," Zendal told his fellow explorer and friend. "Yalkin would love it here."

Broosken had agreed. "And he'd surely reward us for our suggestion."

"Yes," Zendal had smiled. "I think he definitely would."

So, there was certainly an altruistic reason for the two men to stay and document life on Earth, all the more to make a good case to the Supreme Commander for a takeover.

However, as the years went by, traveling throughout the United States, observing and documenting life, they never did. They never contacted Supreme Commander Yalkin, and the reason was simple. They began to like living on Earth. They liked living the planet so much that they didn't want Yalkin to destroy it, which he certainly would have done given his track record with the havoc he'd wreaked on Zalaphar.

At their window table at the Grasshopper Café, the two men became quiet, then, thinking about returning to their polluted home planet. Truth be told, when push came to shove, they really didn't want to. They loved being on Earth. They had been ever since back in the early 60s when they'd first arrived

Their space pod had landed softly on the forest floor in what they found out later was the Black Hills of South Dakota. Upon stepping out of the capsule, the two were impressed by the view of pine forests and a nearby clear lake. There was even a mountain stream that they found out later they could drink from.

"What do you think?" Zendal asked as they stood in a magnificent grove of fifty-foot-tall ponderosa pine trees.

Broosken had taken a deep breath, looked around, and smiled. "I like it. I like it a lot."

"Well stated, my friend," Zendal said. "Me, too."

It was the beginning of their love affair with Earth.

The two young men had been sent on a fact-finding mission by their boss, Dakken, to investigate the planet for possible exploitation of minerals, especially platinum and magnesium, which were in short supply on Zalaphar. But the longer they were on Earth, the more the two explorers enjoyed the land, the air, the water, everything about it. Even the people.

They soon sent a message back to Dakken and said. "We need more time."

That had been sixty-five years ago in 1961. They stayed in touch every year until 1976, the bicentennial year for the United States, when they lost contact with Dakken and their home planet. Which they didn't mind at all.

They continued to travel throughout the country, making observations as if they were going to send them back (but never did) and living a life much better than their lives had ever been on Zalaphar.

They even made friends.

Early on in the Black Hills, they realized that their Zelephar form wouldn't fit on Earth. Zendal and Broosken were slender and seven feet tall. They were deep blue in color, and each had a large head with three protruding eyes. When they came upon a group of campers and realized how different they looked from the humans, the Earthlings, they immediately shape-changed to reflect who they saw.

Zendal ended up short and stocky with white skin and long dark hair. Broosken ended up tall and slender with dark skin and curly hair.

They joined the campers and fit right in. They even smoked some herbal plant material that the campers were enjoying. The two alien visitors had a fun time. Way better than anything they'd ever experienced on Zelephar.

So, for the next several years, Zendal and Broosken explored their new home. They traveled to New York City and rode to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

They went to Washington, D. C. and toured all of the popular sites, especially being impressed by the Smithsonian Institute.

In short, they fell in love with the country they began to call home.

But there was a dark side as well.

There was divisive politics and racial inequality. Broosken was endlessly hassled for his dark skin. When Zendal tried to stick up for his friend, he was hassled too.

Thinking things would get better, the two friends continued to travel and observe. They took temporary jobs to make money and tried to live quiet and peaceful lives.

But in the middle of the 2000 teens, that all changed. A new president came into power, and the bigotry and hatred that had been an undercurrent to life in America now were permitted to surface. And it did. It did with a vengeance. People of color and immigrants were no longer tolerated. America, once a land of opportunity for all, no longer was.

In short, for the two aliens, the country they once loved was no longer a safe place to live.

Zendal sipped his mocha latte and said to Broosken, "You know, I was thinking about the BOX."

Broosken looked up from staring into his espresso. Zendal had never seen his friend look so sad. Broosken truly loved being in America. All the talk about leaving was upsetting to him.

"The box?" he said. Then it dawned on him. "Oh. The BOX!"

"Yes," said Zendal. "The BOX."

They'd brought the BOX with them on their journey. It was to be used as a 'fail-safe' mechanism. If Earth were uninhabitable, they could open the BOX and essentially reseed the planet. The BOX contained a special elemental mix of carBon-nitrOgen-oXygen (BOX) gas that would be used to get the process started.

What would happen to the humans when the box was opened, and the elements were released and carried on the wind? Unfortunately, they would die. It was sad that it would have to be that way, but, yes, the human inhabitants of Earth would die. The thinking of the scientist on Zelephar, who had invented the gas, was that their deaths would be a small price to pay for starting over.

It was a thought that, to Zendal and Broosken, had especial relevance now, since the Earthlings had messed things up so badly since they had arrived. The land was polluted with chemicals, much of the water was undrinkable, and the air was disgustingly filthy. Not to mention the horror show with politics and how people of color were being treated.

It all came down to this: The BOX gave Earth a chance to start over again, and Zendal and Broosken were in charge of whether or not to open it. The responsibility was enormous. They both knew it. What should they do?

Zendal looked at Broosken and said. "Look, before we make any rash decisions, let's go for a walk, okay?"

Broosken nodded. He was lots more sensitive than his friend. Making the decision to open the BOX and start over was not one he took lightly.

"A walk sounds good," Broosken said. He finished off his (now cold) espresso. "Let's go."

They stepped outside. The sun was bright and shining brightly in a robin's egg blue sky. Birds were singing in a nearby flowering crabapple tree. A gentle, warm breeze ruffled their hair.

They walked a few steps and turned the corner onto a quiet, tree-lined street. People were out in their yards enjoying the day. The two aliens saw a father playing catch with his young son and daughter. Further along, a grey-haired woman was planting pink and red geraniums. A little further down the street, three young girls were sitting in the grass playing with their dolls.

Zandel and Broosken walked side by side casually, both of them observing the scenes, each of them feeling a sense of tranquility at what they were seeing.

At one point, a young man and his girlfriend toward them holding hands. Both of them smiled in greeting. "Hi," the young man said. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

Zendal and Broosken smiled in return. "It is," they said in unison. "It really is."

The next hour was spent walking up and down the sidewalks of the quiet neighborhood, talking long and hard about the BOX.

Finally, they found a small park and sat on one of the benches.

When they were settled, Zendal looked at his friend. "It all comes down to this, my friend," he said. "Should we do it?" he asked.

Broosken nodded. "I know," he sighed. "What do you think? Do you want to do it?" he asked.

Zendal shook his head. "No, not really." He pointed to an elderly couple who had obviously taken a break from their gardening and were chatting with their next-door neighbors, a young couple. The father was holding their new baby. "To be honest with you, no matter how bad things are right now, I think there might be hope."

"Hope?" Broosken asked.

"Yes," said Zandal. "Hope. Hope that maybe things will change. For the better.

Broosken suddenly broke into a huge smile. "I'm glad you said that," he said.

"Really? I thought you wanted to leave?"

"I did. I still do," Broosken said. "But not now." He paused and looked around. He loved that the neighborhood was alive with people. With life. The park they were sitting in was full of lovely trees, shrubs, and flowers. He loved it all. "Let's give it time. Like you said. Hope. Maybe they'll turn things around. You know. The people."

Zendal smiled at him. "I'm glad to hear that." He paused and added. "You sure? About staying?"

Broosken smiled at him. "I'm sure."

Zendal grinned. Brooken was his friend. It was nice to see him happy. He patted Brooken on the shoulder. "Good," he said. "That's really good."

A man and his dog, an energetic honey colored spaniel, walked by. The man was in his seventies. He tipped his baseball hat and said. "Greetings. Nice day."

Broosken spoke first. "Yes, it is," he said.

"It sure is," Zandel added.

The old man smiled and kept walking.

After a few minutes, Zendal and Broosken got to their feet and continued their walk. A little further along, they came upon a group of young people throwing a Freebie back and forth. An errand toss landed on the sidewalk.

Broosken picked it up and tossed it back.

The kid caught it. "Thanks, man!" he said.

Both the aliens grinned at him. "You're welcome," they said.

They kept walking.

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