Phlip, the Pill from Pingo

By Kaye Fisher and Heather Mainprize

Phlip (Flip) spelled the way it is, is explained in the story.

It is a tale that might be more enjoyable being read aloud.

What would you do if you suddenly saw a green creature, rounded and supposedly deaf, in your bedroom reading one of your books? Read to find out Forests reactions, especially when she later finds it can speak and hear because of what?

Both are avid readers. In fact Phlip reads at the pace of a computer! Yet he is not a robot, but a Pill from Pingo, a strange creature, not from Mars as Forest thinks first he must be. . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479712571

Kaye Fisher

The author is a retired elementary school teacher. She has two children, two grandsons and two great-grandsons. She loves to travel but is running out of safe countries to visit. My thanks to the authors of Pippi Longstocking, The Hobbit, Bridge to Terabitha. Little House on the Prairie, How to Eat Fried Worms, The Mouse and the Motorcycle for mentioning the titles of their book.

Book preview

Chapter One

Forest glanced up from the book she was reading and blinked. What was that small green thing on her bureau? Was it possibly a Martian? Why yes, a Martian had invaded her bedroom! But if it was a Martian, then Martins were short, small-bodied, round-headed insect creatures with antennae, small, curling and knobbed, sprouting from its head. It did not look very dangerous, but something she had never seen before.

It was perched on a book, set on her dresser, its legs crossed and hence able to help prop up the book it was reading. Yet if it were a Martian, it surely could not read Earth language. However, it seemed so absorbed with the book, that it surely had to be reading. Or was that a picture book and it was simply looking at the pictures? No, the book was too small for any of her picture books.

It was quite oblivious to her gaze. In fact, was it even aware that she was there in her bed? She pondered further questions in her mind. How had it entered? When had it entered? Why had it entered? She had been reading for fifteen minutes and she was certain it hadn’t been sitting there when she’d popped into bed. Had it been hiding someplace in her bedroom? And if it had been hiding, how had it moved so noiselessly onto that book? For all these questions, she absolutely had no answers.

Did she dare speak to it? Once again, she thought it did not look too frightening.

She sat quietly against her pillow and continued to watch. The creature, whatever it was, suddenly grinned. Such a wide, thin mouth it had! Its eyes remained lowered to the pages of the book it was reading. Straining to see the title, Forest read Pippi Longstocking. No wonder it was grinning. And that particular copy did not have too many illustrations, so it had to be able to read. Otherwise why should it be smiling?

Suddenly another thought occurred. If she were looking at a strange, unfamiliar script, she’d probably be smiling, as well. So that grin did not necessarily mean it could read.

She continued to peer at the little fellow. The wide grin on its face widened even further. It was to the point to actually laughing out loud. Certainly, look how its eyes were crinkling and sparkling! Yet, Forest could not hear the least sound. Amazing how it could laugh silently!

Forest risked clearing her throat. She watched for a reaction from her visitor. There was nothing to indicate that it had heard her. Was it because it was contained within a vacuum? She wondered how she was going to find out.

What would happen if she said a soft hello? Should she risk it? No, she decided to watch a while longer.

Just like a large green pea it was! Funny she hadn’t noted its colour before. Yet, unconsciously, she supposed she had, for her first thoughts were that it was a Martian and she supposed she’d always thought of Martians as being green. But she could be mistaken. She delved into her thoughts. What other creatures were green? Old Gollum in The Hobbit she imagined to be green also but it was highly unlikely this creature was related to Gollum. Many amphibians were green but the colour was about the only characteristic this creature shared. Its hands and feet were not webbed and except for its global eyes, its head bore no resemblance whatever.

So many thoughts raced through Forest’s head. Her inquisitiveness was really getting the best of her. Before she actually burst with all this curiosity, she was going to have to ask the creature some questions.

After attempting to wet her lips because suddenly her mouth seemed very dry, she asked softly, Who are you?

The creature did not appear to have heard her at all. It continued to gaze intently into the pages of Pippi. And the grin on its round moon face continued. It just had to be able to read—and to read in English.

Can you read that book? Forest suddenly realized she’d blurted out that question with a much louder volume.

She needn’t have