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eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: Sometimes a toy is just a toy. Sometimes it's something else.

eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Alien Pets, ed. Denise Little, 1998
Fictionwise Release Date: October 2003

26 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [64 KB], eReader (PDB) [28 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [14 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [13 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [64 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [85 KB], hiebook (KML) [62 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [44 KB], iSilo (PDB) [12 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [15 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [43 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [23 KB]
Words: 4259
Reading time: 12-17 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

"What are you playing with, Curt? Some new kind of video game?"

From the couch, Owen Conway watched his eight-year-old son work the controls of what looked like a small silver oval. Curt sat cross-legged in front of the TV, but he paid no attention to it, despite the fact that the Steelers--his favorite team of all time (or at least this season, at any rate)--were ahead by two touchdowns. He was completely absorbed by the electronic whatever-it-was in his hands.

Owen leaned forward to get a better look. He told himself he wasn't being nosy; he was merely taking an interest in his son's activities, as a good father should. Owen tried to see over Curt's shoulder, but the object was so small, it was hard to make out specific details. It had a tiny display screen across which some sort of crudely animated character cavorted with jerky motions. Owen wasn't sure what the thing was supposed to be. It kind of looked like a cross between an insect and an octopus. Strangely shaped letters were molded in the plastic above the screen, with similar letters running down each side. They resembled Japanese, but the letters didn't seem quite angular enough. They were too fluid, so much so that they almost appeared to bend and twist in the light from the television.

Whatever the thing was, Curt didn't seem to be playing it, exactly. At least, not in a way Owen recognized as play. There were no blazing guns, no racing cars. Just the little creature on the screen waving its tentacles and letting out an occasional soft EEP! Curt pushed the buttons on either side of the silver ovoid in what looked to Curt like a completely random fashion, but there must have been some pattern to it, for the creature stopped EEPing and opened its mouth wide. Owen thought he saw tiny rows of jagged teeth, but the picture was so small, he wasn't certain. Little dots came in from off screen and bounced around a couple times before going into the animal's mouth. It closed its jaws, licked its lips with a forked tongue and rubbed tentacles over its suddenly bulging belly. Owen wasn't sure, but he thought the animal looked slightly larger than before. Taller, wider.

Curt swayed for a moment as if he were dizzy, then he smiled. "You're welcome," he said softly. Owen noticed him gently stroke the side of the silver case with his forefinger. For some reason, the gesture disturbed him.