I still remember how bright that light was that awoke me from my slumber. I thought I had fallen asleep in my bed, tucked in with my wife... but here I am, bound to a chair in an unknown setting that looks like a movie set. The light faded, and I was able to take in my true surroundings. Endless flags lined the sides of the walls, and portraits of exotic creatures hang on the wall from top to bottom. In front of me were five... beings. That's really all I can describe them as... They were certainly nothing like what I'd seen in central Connecticut.
The five beings stood up and bowed. While the memories I hold of that night remain vivid, it is impossible for me to explain what they truly looked like. One of the men looked like me, but their head was bigger and longer, and his skin gleamed a light tint of blue. Another... Look. I really can't do this. You won't believe me anyway. Just know, they were unlike anything you've ever seen.
"Please take off his restraints." said the being in the middle seat. The latches around my wrists snap back, as do my ankles. However, I stay seated. From what I could tell, there was nowhere to run.
"Where am I?" I asked. I'm just a school teacher, for God's sakes. Fresh out of college. I didn't belong there.
"Welcome." said the being. How did they know English? I wasn't going to ask. But it frightened me so.
"We have brought you here, of all people, for a reason. I, along with my four equals before you, have decided to allow for the planet Earth to have the chance to join our galactic council. Your world's flag will join the others in this room, and your leader's face will grace the walls. Your race will co-align with the civilizations of the galaxy, and perhaps beyond, and will prosper because of such. It is a grand opportunity. Of course... You could be declined for such membership. It all depends on how you answer our one question."
Talk about pressure. "Do you know who I am?" I asked them?
"Yes. You are a schoolteacher from the country of the United States, in a small statehood called Connecticut. I'm correct, aren't I?"
"You are... And I think this is where you have a problem mister. I'm not really the person to have the authority to answer this kind of question. This isn't my place."
"The reason for your selection is indicative in your own words. You do not have any underlying motive for answering this question. If we were to accept you based on the answers of an official from Earth, he would use it to conjure power. He'd attempt to benefit from it. This is not uncommon in any species with your structure of power. However, after this, regardless of the outcome, you will go back to teaching young children. You have no reason to lie to us, because it will not benefit you in any way. You are pure... A simple mind. You can tell us a simple truth, and not what you think will benefit you."
I didn't understand him at that point... but looking back on it, I can only agree.
"Thus," he continued, "we will now ask you this question: Before we allow the human race to join us in the stars, tell us the faults of your kind."
The question shot a chill through my spine. I took a few seconds to gather my thoughts. What should I tell them? Should I tell them everything? Or should I say nothing? My mind tries to sort out the possible outcomes of each answer. If I lied, would they fault me? What type of justice could they carry out?
"Mister... I think our species has it's positives. We all have a respect for family, and always work hard in our jobs, both to make money and around the home. We are-"
"The faults in your species." he replied. I took a deep breath.
"I would say our biggest fault... is that we can't seem to get along. The reasons are miniscule. The color of our skin. Our religion. Our sexuality. Our political preference. Our opinions, even. We just can't seem to come to a compromise on a lot of things. There is a lot of hatred that goes around. We even come to hate one another in our homes. There is divorce, and beatings and all that. I don't believe in that personally with my beliefs, but they are out there. We have war... Often. We're having this issue with the Soviets right now. We both got missiles that can end lives for years, and we have them aimed at one another, and with one wrong move they could easily go off. We don't let some folks vote because of their skin color. Lotta examples like that. To be short, I'd say that's our fault... We can't get along with one another."
The five beings looked at one another. They nodded their heads, and looked back at me.
"That is all. Thank you."
A bright flash hits my eyes once again. I wake up to sunlight, and my wife on the other side of the bed. I got up, and went to school, like I do every day.
I had a long time distinguishing that from a dream and from reality. It all felt so... Real. I never told a soul, not even my wife. What I saw was so vivid. The latches were cold, and the air was thin. Those senses... Are my dreams really that intense? That realistic? That morning, while taking a shower, I noticed that my wrist had circular marks on them. Maybe I slept on it funny... Or maybe it was from the latches.
Regardless, that was 70 years ago. In my old age, many memories have left me.... But this one stays strong. I still live in that same home, though my wife has passed, and my children are all grown up. Every night, my dog and I go out onto the porch. It can be below zero. It can be raining. For one hour, I will sit out there, and look at the stars, waiting to see something come down from the dark abyss. The scenario plays in my head. "Welcome, Earth. You are with us now. Welcome to the brotherhood of the stars."
However, the silence of the past 70 years seems indicative that my answer was not good enough. Do they know we've changed? We are a much different country... a much different planet, then. We've changed so much, for the better. Don't they know that? We deserve another chance. And so, every night, I go to sleep... hoping... praying... that the lights hits my eyes once more. They know where to find me.