It was about nine o'clock at night.  I was sitting at my computer when I heard a loud explosion.  I jumped up to look out the window and saw that my neighbors' garage had been completely flattened by a large metal sphere!  Flames flickered up from the wreckage around the object.  The Hendersons, the couple next door, ran out onto their front lawn, and I ran out too, to see what was going on.
      To our amazement, a small door opened up on the side of the shining ball.  Mrs. Henderson fainted.  Mr. Henderson caught her.  Then he fainted too.  Out hopped a small, furry, brown creature.  It saluted us.  "Greetings Earth people. My fellow Gazoikians and myself seek refuge on your planet.  A comet has destroyed Gazoik.  We have been aware of your existence for some time now.  We have learned English and some Spanish from your strange talking animals living at the Sesame Street.  Some of your other television programs were helpful.  Others were rather frightening.  For example, we do not wish to meet with any of the humans who have appeared on the Jerry Springer Show.  But this is beside the point.  There are only twelve of us left.  You have sufficient room on your planet.  Please inform your leaders of our arrival."
      The fluffy alien said all this in one breath.  It seemed to be completely in charge of the situation.  "Well," it ordered, "get to it Earthling.  I will inform my crew that we will be staying with you for the remainder of the night.  Our ship has most likely been damaged, and these sleeping people on the grass do not seem competent.  Now go talk to your leader."
      I went back into my house confused.  I couldn't believe what was happening.  My parents weren't home so I picked up the phone.  Who should I call?  The president?  Well, that didn't seem like a possibility.  I decided that the first number I had to call was 911.  The flames next door could spread to the Hendersons' house.  I didn't tell the fire department about the aliens, though.  I didn't want to seem like a prank caller.  They could see for themselves and deal with it.  Maybe the police and president would believe them; I was sure everyone would think I was crazy.
      After I hung up with the fire department, I turned around to see twelve two-foot-tall, furry aliens in assorted colors looking up at me.  The brown one who I had seen earlier addressed me.  "You spoke with your leader about us?"
      "Not yet exactly.  I don't have the phone number.  But some other people are on their way to your mess next door.  I'll talk to them," I explained.
      "Good.  We need our sleep now.  The landing process was long and difficult.  Show us to our quarters."
      I took them to my room, since that was the only place I could think of.  Then I threw some couch cushions, extra pillows, blankets, and my sleeping bag on the floor.  Seven of the Gazoikians fit onto my bed, and four made themselves comfortable on the floor.  The brown one, who I decided was their leader, went with me to talk to the fire fighters who had arrived next door.  On the way, he told me that his name was Cragsly and that he and his crew had been on a routine trip to the planet Dasnak (a lifeless planet where the Gazoikians mined for something-they-didn't-know-the-English-word-for) when the comet hit Gazoik.  Actually Gazoik had hit the comet.  The planet was so small that the massive ball of ice and rock had pulled it in with its gravity.  It was a new comet that had never been in the area before, and the Gazoikians were caught off guard.  Cragsly headed his ship for the nearest planet known to harbor intelligent life, Earth.  That had been millions of years ago, but to Gazoikians it seemed like just a few months.  They live much, much longer than we do.
      Well, pretty soon the whole world knew about its extraterrestrial guests.  Cragsly, Danwell, Trexlin, Woolflag, Vasgar, Eequen, Mellin, Benno, Yow-wow, Adburg, Ig, and Wally were invited to stay in the White House.  To my parents' dismay, Cragsly informed the president that they were quite satisfied with their lodgings at my house.  However, he arranged for a house to be built for the Gazoikians that would have fixtures and furniture small enough to accommodate them.  It will be next door, where the Hendersons' house once stood.  The fire fighters were too stunned by the aliens to put out the flames there before the entire house was consumed.  The Hendersons moved to Florida, and the Gazoikians decided that living at the site of their landing would be a good way to commemorate their successful move to this planet.
      Now every day reporters swarm our house.  "I never thought humans would be so loud and annoying," Wally said to me wearily one day.  "Can we take a vacation?  Perhaps to Sesame Street?"  Not surprisingly, outspoken Cragsly grew to like the attention of the press and has been seen in every paper and on every television channel.
      The Gazoikians now have regular jobs.  They are helping Earth scientists improve our technology and get paid for it.  Danwell and Ig are improving the Internet.  Cragsly, Vasgar, Trexlin, and Adburg are designing spacecraft.  And the other six are working hard, as well.  They play a lot too, though.  They especially enjoy board games, which no one on Gazoik ever came up with, despite their advanced technology.  Also, the Gazoikians enjoy sports.  But they mostly have to be content to watch, since they are so small.
      Well, I now feel lucky that the first aliens ever to visit Earth happened to land next door to me, and look forward to having lots of interesting adventures with my twelve, strange, new friends.