Chapter One

Mary lived with her mother in a mountain cabin. During the school year the bus picked Mary up. She loved school. There she had many good friends and playmates. During summer vacation there weren't many children who came with their parents to visit Mary and her mother.

Mary had no trouble finding things to do. She helped her mother keep the cabin neat and clean. She loved to read books. She went for long walks on the mountain trails, where she picked wild flowers to make a bouquet. She would bird watch. She loved to just admire the beautiful scenery.

Her favorite thing for entertainment was to go fishing in a river nearby. She caught many delicious trout which made wonderful dinners. One day when Mary was fishing, she thought she heard a murmur of voices coming from the trees on the other side of the river. She even heard a whoosh sound. She waded through the river and looked all around. She didn't hear or see anything. When she told her mother about it, they both decided that it had been her imagination.

The next day when Mary was fishing, she heard the same murmur. It definitely sounded like a group of people talking to each other. This time she would be quiet as she waded through the river. She hid behind some trees. Her eyes must be deceiving her! She saw about five or six strange looking little men gathered around in a circle. They were talking excitingly to one another. They were surprised when Mary joined them. "Who are you," asked Mary. The leader spoke up. "We are men from another planet. Our planet is so far away from the earth that ev