Is Allen an Alien?

A Story by Matt Decker

Two students discuss their mysterious and unconventional classmate.

Past lines of desks,
In back of class,
We join a chat
Already in progress...

HUGH: That new kid Allen, what's his deal?

MANNY: I think he's shy.

HUGH: Well okay but...still.
He would rather think than play,
(We see it every day)
What's up with that?

MANNY: Well maybe thinking is play,
(To him anyway)
Ever think of that?

HUGH: Have you ever heard him talk?

MANNY: Yep, the other day in the hall.

HUGH: No kidding? What did he say?

MANNY: You'll never guess!
He said..."hey."

HUGH: Ha ha, you're the master of comedy.
That guy just gives me the creeps.
I am serious! Why is he so mysterious?

MANNY: Dude, you really need to ease up on the delirious.

HUGH: Well do you happen to know
From where he actually came?

MANNY: You're asking the wrong person,
I can't even remember his last name.

HUGH: I have this theory
(And I know it's really eerie)
But what if in reality
He's from another galaxy?

MANNY: So he's not your type of guy.
I got that, all right.
But who made you the president
Of what's normal and right?

HUGH: I don't care what you say!
I don't like him in any way.
You can think it's a disgrace
But I believe Allen is from outer space.
That's another thing,
What about his name?
If you tweak the spellin',
It turns into Alien!

MANNY: So he goes against the flow
And the push of the throng.

HUGH: But he's so withdrawn...

MANNY: But is it wrong?
Even if he's from a home beyond,
Do we not share the same protons?
So he sings a diff'rent song,
Does it mean he doesn't belong?

© Matt Decker