It was raining. Huge, heavy drops, not that fine mist and fog you sometimes get in the spring. No, this was a regular old downpour and I was caught outside in it. That was just the first of a rather large number of things to go wrong on that fateful day in April. I think I would have been slightly less irritated if I�d known that that would be one of the better points of my day.

So, anyway, I was walking home from my friend Tim�s. Now Tim�s not the most high-class guy in the world. Actually, he lives in a rundown little modular on the East side of town. Not exactly a fun walk home. Just as I was walking by the old dry cleaner�s place they shut down last year, this guy comes out of nowhere and points his knife at me, demands my wallet. I figure being out alone at night in this neighborhood, may as well just hand it over. The kid probably would�ve had no trouble skinning me with that switchblade, so I give him my wallet. He takes off, leaving me cold, wet, broke, and tired.

To add to my night, when I got back to my building, I couldn�t find my key. It had been in the same pocket as my wallet, so I thought maybe I dropped it back in the alley where I was mugged. So, I turned around, started heading back. About a block later, I was hit hard in the back of the head. Completely blacked out.

When I woke up, I could barely see anything it was so dark. Regretted ever wishing for light a few minutes later though. When it came on, it was so bright that the little bit I could see disappeared into this brilliant whiteness. Eventually my eyes adjusted. Then, let me tell you, I was pretty sure I wasn�t in Kansas anymore, if you know what I mean. I mean, these things were� well, they were the strangest looking critters I ever saw.