Code Cards!

PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

“Zing, what do you suppose all those cards are for? Unique designs! Are they for fortune-telling?”

“No, I don’t think so,” replied Zang. “Fortune-telling cards are called Tarot Cards. They look different from these.”

“Hmm. They all seem to have different, rather silly-looking characters on them. We should see if we can find anyone actually using them.”

“Where would we look? “

“Wait–maybe they’re special code cards, for secret messages!”

“Let’s just send images home to Zerkon. The code-breakers will figure it out quickly.”

“Well, I hope they don’t think we’re just joking around!”

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Earth People are Weird

PHOTO PROMPT © LIsa Fox

Zing and Zang shivered in the snow. “Why did we have to come here?” whined Zing. “What is that thing, anyway?”

Zang, who had done his research, explained that it was a place built for humans to deposit their personal waste.

Zing was appalled. “That’s beyond primitive! It’s just disgusting! You mean, one person does that right on top of another person sitting underneath him? Yuck!”

“Well, I imagine the top place isn’t actually used. It’s what Earth people call a parody.”

“If they feel that way, they should flush their politicians!”

Primitives

PHOTO PROMPT © Douglas M. MacIlroy 

Zing and Zang loved technology. They had a deep interest in the projects over which Earth people labored. The projects seemed primitive to them, but they had to admire the dedication Earth’s scientists had for creating their antiquated machines.

“Zang, what do you think this is going to be? It looks to me as if it’s nearly finished.”

“I’m not sure,” said Zang. “Looks as if they’re trying to find ways to bring light into their buildings, but what a complicated way to do it!”

“For sure. I wish we could help them.”

“We can’t.”

Zing and Zang Return!

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

“What a fascinating window!” declared Zing. “It seems cluttered and messy, but I’ve noticed a lot of Earth people seem to enjoy clutter. Look, there are all sorts of things!”

Zang took his time, browsing from left to right, top to bottom. “Is there anything anyone would actually NEED, Zing? Why are they using those strange dark-colored glasses?”

“I believe the dark glasses are meant to protect their under-developed eyes from the glare of their sun.”

“They really are primitive, aren’t they? Such fuss and bother, preserving images of ancestors. And using artificial protection for their eyes!”

Scary Place

PHOTO PROMPT © Anne Higa  

Zing and Zang trembled in the darkest corner they could find. Their surroundings were dismal. Dark, bleak, cold, musty. Water poured from a pipe into a deep cistern. Moisture clung to the walls.

“What on earth. . . ” started Zang. He couldn’t find any more words.

“Well,” pondered Zing, “They’ve sent us back in time, as they warned us. Good thing we’re invisible.”

As they watched and listened, storing everything in their memory banks, they sensed the fear. They watched the furtive glances, and heard the murmuring voices. Whatever was going on here filled them with terror.

Practical vs. Pretty

PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio

Zing and Zang stood transfixed, watching the contraption slide slowly earthward. The bulging balloon canopy obviously worked like a massive set of brakes to slow the descent. The whole structure was just enormous, and compared to what they knew on their home planet, seemed rudimentary.

“Why don’t they just use reverse blasters?” wondered Zang.

“I guess they don’t know about that yet,” replied Zing. “Sometimes I can’t believe how backward they are. They seem somewhat intelligent.”

“Well, it’s colorful. I don’t know what it’s for, but it’s pretty.” Zang paused. “Practical isn’t always pretty.”

The Box

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Keeping their distance, Zing and Zang circled the box. “What do you think it is?” questioned Zang.

“How should I know?” Zing was irritated,

“What should we do?”

“Why do I always have to have the answers? I don’t know! What do you think?”

“Uh–I don’t think we should touch it.”

“Duh, Bright Boy! I’m sending images to Zirkon’s headquarters. They’ll direct us.”

Suddenly, the message came to them both: “Under NO circumstances are you to touch that box. Return home RIGHT NOW!”

Don’t Be Normal!

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

“Ahh, very pretty place,” sighed Zing. He and Zang had just entered the elegant dining area in a posh hotel. The snow outside made the room seem even more cozy.

“What do we do now?” asked Zang. Nervous, he tugged at his collar and wondered why humans put up with such confinement.

“We sit at a table and wait for someone to bring us food.”

“Really? Then maybe we should make ourselves visible, or we’ll be hungry all day!”

Zang laughed. “Right. And try not to speak normally. They’d think we’re space aliens or something!”

Is It a Bird? A Plane? A CAR?!

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

Poor Zing and Zang had to clue this time. It made no sense to them.

“What’s a Rockin’ Roger? What’s a 50’s diner? Why would you have a diner in an old car? Why would you stick it up so high? Even earth people aren’t that tall!” Zang slumped in dismay. He’d learned to love earth food, especially burgers, fries, and malted milk shakes.

Zing pondered. “Let’s go invisible, teleport up there, and check it from the inside.”

“Okay. Ready? Go!”

“It’s empty. And dusty. No earth people at all.”

“I see McDonald’s down the street. Come on, we can eat there.”

The Fountain

PHOTO PROMPT © Ceayr

“Earth people are so strange!” commented Zing. He and Zang were perched on the bench, watching the water fall from the spigots on all four sides of the pillar with the knob on top.

“I know,” replied Zang. “They put pipes underground from the river to this place, cover it all up with cement, and build an engine to push the water out the spouts. Why don’t they just enjoy the river?”

“Beats me! Hey, did you hear that? I just used a sling expression!”

“Sling? You mean “slang.”

“Right. Slang. Earth people have strange words, too”