Around the Bend: Grass

"Hi," said the grass-person. "I'm your new brother!"

I can tell you I was a bit scared just then! I mean, how would you feel if someone made of grass suddenly walked up and expected you to shake their hand?

"Hi," I said, trying not to be nervous. "What's your name?"

"Dandy," he said. "What's yours?"

I told him.

"Would you like to come inside?"

"Into the house, you mean?"

"Yeah."

"OK," he said. "But not for too long. I have to live out here, close to the soil. Otherwise, I'll dry out."

I led him up to my bedroom and turned on the light.

"This is my room," I said. "This is where I sleep at night."

He didn't understand what sleep was, so I tried to explain. Then he looked at all my stuff. I had to tell him what books were, how a skateboard worked, why I wore clothes, and lots of simple things like that. He learned fast. Before he left, he tried on my shorts and T-shirt. Except for his green face, green hands and green legs, he looked like any other normal kid.

We sat on the bed and talked for hours, till I started to fall asleep. Dandy didn't seem to notice how late it was. He wanted to talk to me till morning. We played nights and crosses, and battleship, and lots of other games until I yawned so long I nearly fell asleep in the middle of an important move.

"You'd better go now," I whispered.

"Why?"

"Because humans need their sleep."

"Oh," he said. "I'll see you later then."

Next morning Mum came to me, concerned.

"I heard noises in your room last night. What were you doing?"

"Playing with my brother."