The Old Hochstetter Place

It started with a dream, I think,
When I was only ten,
Of brightly flashing UFO's
And slender little men.

I pedaled down to Maple Street
To settle the affair,
And ask Professor Anderson
If there was life out there.

He used to be a scientist,
But now was old and gray,
His ancient eyes just misted up,
His gaze was far away.

"Well science hasn't answered that",
A smile stole 'cross his face,
"Go look behind the coal bin
At the old Hochstetter place..."

That farm house was abandoned,
But secreted therein,
A toy, a little UFO,
Was in a biscuit tin.

It was made of die cast metal,
With lights of red and blue,
Like something from a toy store
Circa 1952.

It's cockpit held a space man with
Three fingers on his hand,
And a smile most peculiar, like
He had some mischief planned.

The toy was warm and heavy,
And throbbed a bit I found,
So much so, that in alarm
I dropped it on the ground.

And watched a silver meteor
Transverse the evening sky,
Then slowly turn to come t'ward me,
A glowing crystal eye.

It landed right in front of me.
This craft, it seems was manned,
A slender man, a child, perhaps,
Three fingers on each hand.

"I see you are the chosen one",
So said this little boy,
As he carefully reached out his hand
To give me back the toy.

Go educate your people, son.
Bring honor to your race,
And when the next anointed comes
We'll take you into space.

I went to school and studied hard,
I made the honor roll,
To teach at University
My ever present goal.

I taught them astrophysics and 
Taught some math as well.
I gave them all a decent start,
As far as I could tell.

So when, at last, my time had come,
With my career  complete,
I bought that old abandoned house
Down there on Maple Street.

While I was on the porch, a girl,
Transfixed me in her stare,
She walked right up to me and asked
If there was life out there.

I found my eyes were misty as
A smile stole 'cross my face,
"Go look behind the coal bin
At the old Hochstetter place..."