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"I'm here lookin' for any signs of activity," he says nervously. He scratches his head and wipes away some of the sweat from his forehead.
He looks at Justin.
Justin was staring at him intently.
"Aliens," Ben swallows hard.
He observes Justin's expression and tries to find the you are crazy look there. But there was nothing. Only Justin's fair, gentle face, his big eyes popping.
Justin smiles and asks. "Have you ever encountered an alien before?"
Ben could tell that Justin was curious.
Embarrassed, but also relieved, Ben decides to finally share his experiences with Justin.
He tells him of the evening his mom showed him the sphere and also the alien that came to help them when dad came in with the axe.
He opens up about all the nights he would spend scoping the sky in the hope of only a glimpse of some activity; in hope of some encounter.
He shares his disappointment that there was never anything, but his firm hope and belief remains, that one day, he would be contacted.
Justin was definitely intrigued and interested in everything that Ben was sharing.
When Ben stops, he asks.
"So, when you first had this encounter, you were about five?"
Ben looks at him, "Yes."
Justin considers this. "Why have you never told me about this? We were friends back then already."