Claire looked at the drawings scattered around her son's room. Ever since 12 year old Riley had been returned to her he had been drawing variations on the same thing-a huge structure that looked like it was floating in outer space. It could either be a small city, a large space station or some other craft; she really didn't know what it was. Riley had gone missing for about a week a month ago and had been found wandering around the woods outside of town just 3 weeks ago. When the authorities asked him what had happened he wouldn't tell anyone, in fact he hadn't spoken a word since he'd been found and returned to her, all he had been doing was drawing thiswhatever it was. Before he disappeared he had never really been much of an artist, smiley faces were about all she'd ever seen him draw. The pictures scattered about the room and that she held in her hand looked like an artist had drawn them.

That wasn't the only thing that had changed in Riley, on top of not speaking and suddenly having an artistic streak he was also almost completely withdrawn from everyone. At school he did his work and kept his grades up but would sit by himself whenever possible and draw or just sit and watch everything around him as if seeing things for the first time. He seemed curious about everything, from student life at school to family and friend interactions. At home he would watch everything going on as if he was a visitor instead of a family member or he would be in his room drawing. She wished she could have the outgoing, chattering young man she had known just a month ago before he had gone missing; this Riley was a complete stranger, an entirely different person. Whatever had happened to him must have caused this change in him and she wanted to know but the only one who knew wasn't talking, just drawing and painting. She glanced at the unfinished painting he had started just yesterday. The sketch was much like the ones she held in her hand except he had started filling in colors. She studied the painting a little closer. It looked like shades of blue were going to be the dominant color, he had the night sky in shades from dark navy to a medium blue where the light source was coming from and stars scattered here and there. He had started on the cloud cover which was very pale blue with some gray mixed in. That was about it, he had just started on it so there wasn't a lot of detail yet, just basic coloring in but she could see it was going to be a very detailed painting just from looking at the sketch on the canvas and the ones in her hand.

She heard a noise behind her and turned to see Riley standing in the room behind her. He had dropped his books on the bed and was looking at her strangely, almost as if he had heard her thoughts and she wondered if she had spoken them aloud and not been aware of it.

"Hi Riley, I was just straightening your room." She said nervously. " That's about the only thing that hasn't changed about you; you still leave things lying around instead of putting them away." Claire picked up the last of Riley's drawings and put them neatly on top of his desk before turning to leave. "Supper will be ready in a couple of hours, come down when you get hungry." She knew better than to expect him to eat with her and Susie, sometimes he did and other times he came down after they were through, she never knew what he was going to do. Being a single mother of two was hard enough on a person and now Riley was acting like an entirely different person. At least he wasn't moody on top of everything else; he was polite around others and never seemed to get angry at anything. While that was a relief in some ways, in others it worried her because she was afraid he might be holding things in and if he was he might explode some day.

At least she was able to work from home and was able to be there when the kids needed her. She was also able to set her own hours; her boss didn't care as long as she got her work in on time. She did a daily column for the local paper on cooking/cleaning tips and recipes and everyone seemed to like what they read as she was a minor celebrity in the small town they lived in. She would go through a stack of mail in the evenings and pick out tips to try out before actually writing about them then she would write her column and give credit to whoever had sent in the tips. She would also put a daily recipe in her column, either one of her own or a submitted one. Her only criterion was that it be simple to fix with easily obtainable ingredients and taste good. There were already enough gourmet columns out there and in their small town there was no need for fancy cooking. She would always test recipe submissions so the kids never knew what they were going to get to eat because they were her guinea pigs, if they liked it chances were good that everyone else would too. That was one thing about kids, if they didn't like what they were eating they let you know it.

Claire went downstairs and started fixing the chicken casserole she wanted to try out on the kids. Chicken was one of their favorites and this recipe looked as tasty as it was simple, using boneless, skinless chicken breast and prepackaged rice mix, any flavor you liked. In no time at all she had the casserole in the oven and had the French cut green beans ready to simmer when the chicken was just about done. She sat down at her computer to begin her column since she was pretty sure she would be using that recipe in tomorrow's edition so figured on getting a head start on writing it, the smells coming from the kitchen assured that.

When the timer went off announcing time to turn the beans on Claire had almost finished her article and the smells coming from the kitchen were making her stomach rumble. She went to the kitchen to finish the meal and set the table only to find that Riley was turning the beans on and Susie had set the table.

Susie looked up and smiled. "Riley thought it would be a good idea if we helped." The 8 year old girl said.

"He said that?" Claire asked, looking at them both. Riley simply looked at her then smiled a small smile.

"Not exactly with words," Susie clarified. "He just came in here and handed me the plates while he turned on the beans. I figured he thought it would be a good idea to help you. Whatever you're cooking tonight smells really good."

"Thank youand thank you." Claire said, more confused than ever. The kids had never voluntarily helped her before; she usually had to ask them. "Maybe they were just growing up and taking responsibility." She thought to herself as she turned the beans down to a low heat to keep them warm while she took the chicken dish from the oven to sit and cool so the sauce could finish thickening.

After supper she had more surprises waiting when Riley and Susie cleared the table and washed the dishes. While she appreciated the gesture she was still confused, they had never voluntarily cleaned up after a meal before. For now though she didn't look this gift horse in the mouth and went back to her small study to finish her article and send it in before its deadline.

A couple of days later Claire went to Riley's room to see if it needed straightening. It appeared to be clean and in order as if he had been cleaning it himself, another surprise. She was getting more and more worried about the changes she'd seen in him even though they were good changes for the most part. He still hadn't spoken a word, he just did his homework, helped around the house and worked on his painting, which looked to be finished, or very nearly so. At a noise behind her, she turned and saw him standing behind her. He shut his bedroom door and walked closer to her, changing form as he got closer until he looked like something from a sci-fi movie or one of the alien pictures she was always seeing after someone claimed to have been abducted. She opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out and she stood there in total terror, wondering what was about to happen. The alien reached one 3-fingered hand up and touched her temple.

"Don't be afraid." It said to her. It didn't have a mouth and was communicating telepathically. "We mean you no harm and Riley has not been harmed in any way, he's simply been kept busy while I took his place for awhile."

She wanted to say something but couldn't, it was as if she were paralyzed and could only stand there and listen.

"All we have been doing is observing you and your culture, no harm has ever been intended, we only seek to explore and possibly help if we can. It's almost time for me to go and Riley will be returned safely and with no ill affects from this. As for the painting, let's just say it could mean the difference between continuation or extinction of your race, Riley has the information stored inside him and will recall it when it is needed. Until then he won't remember anything except having a good time with his father. Now, I must go, farewell."

With that, the alien stepped back several steps and was surrounded by a very bright light. Within moments it disappeared and Riley appeared at almost the same moment on his bed, asleep. She rushed over to him and checked him over but he appeared to be in good health so she covered him with a light blanket then turned and gathered up all the sketches in his room along with the painting and took them to her room. She put the sketches away in a folder and left the painting on its easel in a corner of her room then went back to Riley's room where he was just waking up.

"Hi mom, did you miss me while I was at dad's?"

She walked over to the bed and hugged him. "Of course I missed you; I always miss you when you're away." She said. "Are you hungry? I have some leftovers in the fridge."

"I'm starving." He said, "What experiments have you been running while I was gone?"

She laughed and led the way downstairs to the kitchen. "Plenty, I'll tell you all about them while you eat."

End...