August 7, 2025 • 19 mins
"Zero Hour" by Ray Bradbury is a science fiction short story published in the late 1940s. The narrative explores the imaginative world of children and their seemingly innocent game, which takes a darker turn as it intertwines with the realities of adult life and the concept of invasion. The story delves into the themes of childhood innocence ...
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Oh, it was to be so jolly, What a game,
such excitement that they hadn't known in years. The children
catapulted this way and that across green lawn, shouting at
each other, holding hands, flying in circles, climbing trees, laughing overhead,
the rocket slew, and the beetle cars whispered by on
the streets. But the children played on such fun, such
(00:21):
tremulous joy, such tumbling and hearty screaming. Mink ran into
the house, all dirt and sweat. For her seven years,
she was loud and strong and definite. Her mother, Missus Morris,
hardly saw her as she yanked out drawers and rattled
pans and tools into a large sack. Heavens, Mink, what's
going on? The most exciting game ever? Gasped Mink. Pink face,
(00:45):
Stop and get your breaths, said the mother. No, no,
I'm all right, grasped Mink. Okay, take these things, ma'am,
but don't dent them, said Missus Morris. Thank you, thank you,
cried Mink, and boom she was gone like a rocket.
Missus Morris aveyed the fleeing Well, what's the name of
the game? Invasion, said Mink. And the door slammed. In
(01:06):
every yard on the street, children brought out knives and
forks and pokers, and old stove pipes and can openers.
It was an interesting fact that this fury and bustle
occurred only among the younger children. The older ones, who
ten years or more, disdained the affair and marched scornfully
off on hikes or played more dignified versions of hide
and seek on their own. Meanwhile, parents came and went,
(01:30):
and chromium beetles. Repair men came to repair the vacuum
cleaners in houses, to fix fluttering television sets, or to
hammer upon stubborn food delivery tubes. The adult civilization passed
and repassed. The busy youngsters, jealous of the fierce energy
of the wild tots, tolerantly amused at their flourishings, longing
to join in themselves. This and this and this, said mink,
(01:55):
instructing the others with their assorted spoons and wrenches, do
that and bring that over here. No here, mit, ninny,
right now, I get back to Wali. Fix this tongue
in teeth, face wrinkled in thought like that. See yay,
shouted the kids, and the twelve year old Joseph Connors
ran up. Go away, said Mink, straight at him. I
(02:15):
want to play, said Joseph, can't, said Mink, why not
you just make fun of us? Honest, I wouldn't know.
We know you. Go away, or we'd kick you. Another
twelve year old boy word by on little motor skates. Hey, Joe,
come on, let them sissies play. Joe showed reluctance and
a certain wistfulness. I want to play, he said. You're old,
(02:40):
said Mink firmly. Not that old, said Joe. Sensibly, you'd
only laugh and spoil the invasion. The boy on the
motor skates made a rude lip noise. Come on, Joe,
them and their fairies nuts. Joe walked off slowly. He
kept looking back all the way down the block. Mink
was already busy again. She made a kind of apparatus
(03:00):
with the gathered equipment. She had appointed another little girl
with a pad and pencil to take down notes in painful,
slow scribbles. The voices rose and fell in the warm sunlight.
All around them, the city hummed. The streets were lined
with good and green and peaceful trees. Only the wind
made a conflict across the city, across the country, across
(03:20):
the continent, in a thousand other cities, there were trees
and children and avenues. Businessmen in their quiet offices, taping
their voices or watching televisions. Rockets hovered like darning needles
in the blue sky. There was the universal quiet, conceit,
and easiness of men accustomed to peace, quite certain there
would never be trouble again. Arm in armed men all
(03:43):
over the earth were a united front. The perfect weapons
were held in equal trust by all nations. A situation
of incredibly beautiful balance had been brought about. There were
no traitors among men, no unhappy ones, no disgruntled ones.
Therefore the world was based upon a stable ground. Sunlight
illumined half the world, and the trees drowsed in a
(04:05):
tide of warm air. Mink's mother, from her upstairs window,
gazed down the children. She looked upon them and shook
her head. Well, lady, eat well, sleep well, and be
in school on Monday. Bless their little vigorous bodies. She listened.
Mink talked earnestly to someone near the rose bush, although
(04:26):
there was no one there. Oh, these odd children, and
that little girl, what was her name? Anna? Anna? Took
the notes from the pad. First, Mink asked the rosebush
a question, then called the answer to Anna. Triangle, said Mink.
What's the try, said Anna, with difficulty. Angle never mind,
said Mink. How do you spell it? Asked Anna. T
(04:49):
r I spelled mink slowly and then sacked, oh, spell
it yourself, and she went onto other words, beams, she said,
I haven't got a try, said Anna. Angle down yet well, well, Harry, Harry,
cried Mink. Mink's mother leaned out of the window, A
N G L E she spelled down at Amma. Oh thanks,
missus Morris, said Anna. Certainly, said Mink's mother, and withdrew,
(05:10):
laughing to dust the hall with an electro duster magnet.
The voices wavered in the shimmoury air beam, said Anna,
fading for nine seven, A and B and X, said Mink,
far far away seriously, and fork and a string and
a hex hex hex agony hexagonal at lunch milk gold
(05:33):
milk at one toss and was at the door. Her
mother slapped the table. You sit right back down, commanded
missus Morris. Hot soup in a minute, and she poked
a red button on the kitchen butler, and ten seconds
later something landed with a bump in the rubbered receiver.
Missus Morris opened it, took out a can with a
pair of aluminium holders, unsealed it, and with a flick,
poured the hot soup into a bowl. During all this,
(05:57):
Mink fidgeted, hurry, mum, it is a matter of life
and death. Oh, I was the same at your age.
It's always life and death. I know. Mink banged away
at the soup stow down, said mum. Can't, said mink.
Drill's waiting for me. Who's Drill? What a peculiar name,
said m'am. You don't know him, said Mink. And you
(06:17):
boy in the neighborhood, asked m'am. He's new, all right,
said mink. And she started on her second ball. Which
one is Drill? Asked mum. He's around, said Mink evasively.
You'll make fun. Everybody pokes fun. She done? Is drill shy? Yes, no,
in a way, gosh, m'am, yes, no, in a way. Gosh, m'am.
I've got a run. If we want to have an invasion,
(06:38):
who's invading? What Martian's invading Earth? Well, not exactly Martian
said I don't know from up. She pointed up with
a spoon and inside said numb, touching Mink's feverish brow.
Mink rebelled, you're laughing. You'll kill Drill and everybody. I
didn't mean to, said mum. Drill's a Martian nos, well,
(06:58):
maybe from Jubiter or Satinov. Anyway, he's had a hard time, I imagine,
said missus Morris, hiding her mouth behind her hand. They
couldn't figure away to attack Earth. We're impregnable, said Mom,
in the mock seriousness. That's the word Drill used in pregnant.
That was the word, mum my, my Drills are brilliant,
(07:18):
little boy, two bit words. They couldn't figure out a
way to attack mum. Drill says. He says, in order
to make a good fight, you've got to have a
new way of surprising people. That way you win. And
he says, also, you have to have help from your enemy.
A fifth column, said Mum. Yeah, that's what Drill said.
And they couldn't figure out a way to surprise Earth
or get help. Oh no, wonder, we're pretty darn strong,
(07:40):
love Mum, cleaning up. Mink sat there, staring at the
tables seeing what she was talking about. Until one day,
whispered Mink melodramatically. They thought of children, well, said missus
Morris brightly. And they thought of how grown ups are
so busy they never look under rose bushes or on lawns,
only for snails and fungers. And then there's something about
(08:01):
dim dims dim dims dim di dim dimans Shun's dimensions,
four of them, and they said there's something about kids
under nine and imagination. It's real funny to hear Drill talk.
Missus Morris was tired. Well, it must be funny you're
keeping Drill waiting now. It's getting late in the day.
And if you want to have your invasion before your
supper and bath, you better jump. No, I have to
(08:22):
take a bath, growled Mink. You do. Why is it?
Children hate water? No matter what age you live in,
children hate water. Behind the ears, Drill says, I won't
have to take baths, said Mink. Oh he does, does he.
He's told all the kids that no more baths and
we can stay up until ten o'clock and two television
shows on a Saturday instead of one. Well, mister Drill,
(08:43):
but a mindy's peas and Q's I'll call his mother,
and Mink went to the door. We're having trouble with
guys like Pete Britz and Dale Jerk. They're growing up.
They make fun. They're worse than parents. They just won't
believe in drill. They're so snooty because they're growing up.
You think they'd know better. They were only little a
couple of years ago. I hate them worst. We'll kill
(09:04):
them first, your father and I last. Dreel says you're dangerous.
Know why? Because you don't believe in Martians. They're going
to let us rule the world. Not just us, Mum,
but the kid's over the block and the next block too.
I might be queen. She opened the door. Mom, Yes,
what is lodge eke logic? Dear? Why it's the knowing
(09:28):
what things are true and not true? He mentioned that,
said Mink, and what's impress it? Presh sionable. It took
her a minute to say it. Why it means? Her
mother looked at the floor, laughing gently. It means to
be a child, dear. Thanks to lunch, Mink ran out
and stuck her head back in. Mum, I'll be sure
(09:49):
you won't be hurt much, really well, thanks, said mum.
Slam went the door. At four o'clock. The audio vice
have passed. Missus Morris lip the tab, Hello, Helen, she
said in welcome Hello Mary. How are things in New
York fine? How are things in Scranton? You look tired?
So do you? Children? Underfoot? Said Helen. Missus Morris's side.
(10:12):
My mink too the super Invasion, Helen laughed. Are your
kids playing that game too? Lord? Yes, tomorrow it'll be
geometric jacks and motorized hopscotch. Will we dispad? When we
were kids in forty eight, whores, Japs and Nazis. Don't
know how my parents put up with me. Tomboy parents
(10:33):
learned to shut their ears silence. What's wrong, Mary asked Helen.
Missus Morris's eyes were half closed and her tongue slid
slowly thoughtfully over her lower lip. Ah, she jerked, Oh, nothing,
just thought about that shutting ears and such. Where were we?
My boy Tim's got a crush on some new guy
(10:55):
named Drill. I think it was must be new password.
Mink likes him too. Didn't know, I didn't know it
got as far as New York. Word of mouthful imagine
looks like a scrap drive. I talked to Josephine and
she said her kids, as in Boston, were wild on
the new game. It's sweeping the country. At this moment,
Mink trotted into the kitchen to gulp a glass of water.
(11:16):
Missus Morris turned. How things going? Almost finished, said Mink. Swell,
said Missus Morris. What's that a yo yo? Said Mink. Watch.
She flung the yo yo down on its string, reaching
the end of it. It vanished. See, said Mink, dibbling
her finger as she made the yo yo reappear and
zig up the string. Do that again, said her mother.
(11:39):
Can't zero hours five o'clock by Mink exited, zipping her
yo yo on the audio visor had a laugh. Tim
brought one of those yoyo's in this morning, but when
I got curious, he said he wouldn't show it to me,
And when I tried to work it, finally it wouldn't work.
You're not impressionable, said missus Morris. What never something I
(12:00):
thought of? Can I help you, Helen? I just wanted
to get that black and white cake recipe. The hour
drowsed by the day waned, the sun lowered in the
peaceful blue skies. Shadows lengthened on the green lawns. The
laughter and excitement continues. One little girl ran away crying.
(12:21):
Missus Morris came out of the front door. Mink. Was
that Peggy Ann? Crying? Mink was bent over in the
yard near to the rosebus. Yeah, she's a scare baby.
We won't let her play now she's getting too old
to play. I guess she grew up all of a sudden.
Is that why she cried? Nonsense? Give me a civil answer,
young lady, or you come inside. Mink whirled round in
(12:43):
consternation mixed with irritation. I can't quit now it's almost time.
I'll be good. I'm sorry. Did you hit Peggy An? No, honest,
you ask her it was something. She's just a scaredy pants.
The ring of children drew in around Mink, where she
scowled at her work with spoons and a kind of
square shaped arrangement of hammers and pipes. There and there
(13:05):
murmured Mink. What's wrong? Said missus Morris. Drills Stark halfway.
If we could only get him all the way through,
it be easier, then all the others could come through
after him. Can I help, No, no thanks, I'll fix
it all right. I'll call you for your bath in
half an hour. I'm tired of watching you. She went
in and sat in the electric relaxing chairs, sipping a
(13:27):
little beer from a half empty glass. The chair massaged
her back. Children, children, children, and love and hate side
by side. Sometimes children loved you, hated you all in
half a second. Strange children? Did they ever forget or
forgive the whippings and the harsh, strict words of command?
She wondered, How can you ever forget or forgive those
(13:51):
over and above you, those tall and silly dictators. Time
passed a curious, waiting silence upon the street, deepening. Five o'clock.
A clock rang softly somewhere in the house, and in
a quiet musical voice, five o'clock. Five o'clock times are
wasting five o'clock, and burred away into silence. Zero hour.
(14:18):
Missus Morris chuckled in her throat zero hour. A beetle
car hummed into the driveway. Mister Morris, Missus Morris smiled.
Mister Morris got out of the beetle, locked it and
called hello to Mink at her work. Mink ignored him.
He laughed and stood for a moment, watching the children
(14:38):
and their business. Then he walked up the front steps.
Hello Darling, Hello Henry. She strained forward on the edge
of the chair, listening. The children were silent, too silent.
He emptied his pipe, refilled it, and said, swell down.
It makes it glad to be alive. Buzz what's that?
(14:59):
I said, I don't know. She got up. Suddenly, her
eyes were widening. She was going to say something. She stopped.
It ridiculous. Her nerves jumped. Those children haven't anything dangerous
out there, have they? She said? Nothing with pipes and hammers?
Why nothing electrical? No, said, I looked. She walked into
(15:25):
the kitchen. The buzzing continued just the same. You better
go and tell them to quit. It's after five. Tell them.
Her eyes widened and narrowed. Tell them to put off
their invasion until tomorrow. She laughed nervously. The buzzing grew louder.
What what are they up to? I better go and
(15:47):
look all right? The explosion the house shook with dull sound.
There are other explosions in other yards, on other streets. Involuntarily,
missus Morris up this way, she cried, senselessly, knowing no sense,
no reason. Perhaps she saw something from the corners of
her eyes. Perhaps she smelled a new odor or heard
(16:09):
a new noise. There was no time to argue with Henry,
to convince him, let him think her insane yes, insane shrieking,
she ran upstairs. He ran after her to see what
she was up to in the attic. She screamed, that's
where it is. It was only a poor excuse to
get him in the attic. In time, God, in time.
Another explosion outside. The children screamed with delight, as if
(16:31):
a great fireworks display was ongoing. It's not in the attic,
cried Henry, it's outside. No. No. Wheezing, gasping, she fumbled
at the attic door. I'll show you, Harry, I'll show you.
They tumbled into the attic. She slammed the door, locked it,
took the key and threw it into a far cluttered corner.
She was babbling wild stuff. Now it came out of her.
All the subconscious suspicion and fear that had gathered secretly
(16:54):
all afternoon and fermented like a wine in her all,
A little revelations and knowledges and sense that had bothered
her all day, and she had logically and carefully and
sensibly rejected and sensed it. Now it exploded in her
and shook at her bits. There there, she said, sobbing
against the door. We're safe until midnight. Maybe we can
sneak out, maybe we can escape. Henry blew up too.
(17:16):
But for another reason, are you crazy? Why did you
throw that key away? Damn, honey, Yes, yes, I'm crazy
if it helps them, But stay here with me. I
don't know if I can get out quiet, they'll hear us.
Oh god, they'll find hers soon enough. Below them Mink's voice.
The husband stopped. There was a great universal humming and sizzling,
(17:38):
a screaming and giggling downstairs. The audio televisor buzzed and
buzzed insistently, alarmingly violently. He said, Helen calling thought missus Morris,
And is she calling about? What? I think she's calling about?
Footsteps came into the house, heavy footsteps. Who's coming into
my house? Demanded Henry angrily. Who's tramping around down there?
(18:00):
Heavy feeds? Twenty thirty, forty fifty of them, fifty persons
crowding into the house. The humming, the giggling of the children.
This way, cried Mink below. Who's downstairs, roared Henry, who's there? Hush, no, no, no, no, no,
no no no, said his wife, weakly holding him. Please
be quiet, they might go away. Mahm called Mink. Dad
(18:23):
a pause, where are you? Heavy footsteps, heavy, heavy, very
heavy footsteps came up the stairs, Mink leading them, ma'am
A hesitation, Dad, awaiting a silence, humming footsteps towards the
attic Mink's first. They trembled together in silence in the attic,
(18:44):
Mister and missus. They trembled together in silence in the attic,
mister and Missus Morris. For some reason, the electric humming,
the queer cold light suddenly visible under the door crack,
the strange odor, and the alien sound of eagerness in
Mink's voice finally got through to Henry Morris. He stood
(19:05):
shivering in the dark silence, his wife beside him, ma'am, dad, footsteps,
A little humming sound. The attic lock melted, the door opened.
Mink peered inside, tall blue shadows behind her. Peek a boo,
(19:27):
said Mink.
Oh, it was to be so jolly, What a game,
such excitement that they hadn't known in years. The children
catapulted this way and that across green lawn, shouting at
each other, holding hands, flying in circles, climbing trees, laughing overhead,
the rocket slew, and the beetle cars whispered by on
the streets. But the children played on such fun, such
(00:21):
tremulous joy, such tumbling and hearty screaming. Mink ran into
the house, all dirt and sweat. For her seven years,
she was loud and strong and definite. Her mother, Missus Morris,
hardly saw her as she yanked out drawers and rattled
pans and tools into a large sack. Heavens, Mink, what's
going on? The most exciting game ever? Gasped Mink. Pink face,
(00:45):
Stop and get your breaths, said the mother. No, no,
I'm all right, grasped Mink. Okay, take these things, ma'am,
but don't dent them, said Missus Morris. Thank you, thank you,
cried Mink, and boom she was gone like a rocket.
Missus Morris aveyed the fleeing Well, what's the name of
the game? Invasion, said Mink. And the door slammed. In
(01:06):
every yard on the street, children brought out knives and
forks and pokers, and old stove pipes and can openers.
It was an interesting fact that this fury and bustle
occurred only among the younger children. The older ones, who
ten years or more, disdained the affair and marched scornfully
off on hikes or played more dignified versions of hide
and seek on their own. Meanwhile, parents came and went,
(01:30):
and chromium beetles. Repair men came to repair the vacuum
cleaners in houses, to fix fluttering television sets, or to
hammer upon stubborn food delivery tubes. The adult civilization passed
and repassed. The busy youngsters, jealous of the fierce energy
of the wild tots, tolerantly amused at their flourishings, longing
to join in themselves. This and this and this, said mink,
(01:55):
instructing the others with their assorted spoons and wrenches, do
that and bring that over here. No here, mit, ninny,
right now, I get back to Wali. Fix this tongue
in teeth, face wrinkled in thought like that. See yay,
shouted the kids, and the twelve year old Joseph Connors
ran up. Go away, said Mink, straight at him. I
(02:15):
want to play, said Joseph, can't, said Mink, why not
you just make fun of us? Honest, I wouldn't know.
We know you. Go away, or we'd kick you. Another
twelve year old boy word by on little motor skates. Hey, Joe,
come on, let them sissies play. Joe showed reluctance and
a certain wistfulness. I want to play, he said. You're old,
(02:40):
said Mink firmly. Not that old, said Joe. Sensibly, you'd
only laugh and spoil the invasion. The boy on the
motor skates made a rude lip noise. Come on, Joe,
them and their fairies nuts. Joe walked off slowly. He
kept looking back all the way down the block. Mink
was already busy again. She made a kind of apparatus
(03:00):
with the gathered equipment. She had appointed another little girl
with a pad and pencil to take down notes in painful,
slow scribbles. The voices rose and fell in the warm sunlight.
All around them, the city hummed. The streets were lined
with good and green and peaceful trees. Only the wind
made a conflict across the city, across the country, across
(03:20):
the continent, in a thousand other cities, there were trees
and children and avenues. Businessmen in their quiet offices, taping
their voices or watching televisions. Rockets hovered like darning needles
in the blue sky. There was the universal quiet, conceit,
and easiness of men accustomed to peace, quite certain there
would never be trouble again. Arm in armed men all
(03:43):
over the earth were a united front. The perfect weapons
were held in equal trust by all nations. A situation
of incredibly beautiful balance had been brought about. There were
no traitors among men, no unhappy ones, no disgruntled ones.
Therefore the world was based upon a stable ground. Sunlight
illumined half the world, and the trees drowsed in a
(04:05):
tide of warm air. Mink's mother, from her upstairs window,
gazed down the children. She looked upon them and shook
her head. Well, lady, eat well, sleep well, and be
in school on Monday. Bless their little vigorous bodies. She listened.
Mink talked earnestly to someone near the rose bush, although
(04:26):
there was no one there. Oh, these odd children, and
that little girl, what was her name? Anna? Anna? Took
the notes from the pad. First, Mink asked the rosebush
a question, then called the answer to Anna. Triangle, said Mink.
What's the try, said Anna, with difficulty. Angle never mind,
said Mink. How do you spell it? Asked Anna. T
(04:49):
r I spelled mink slowly and then sacked, oh, spell
it yourself, and she went onto other words, beams, she said,
I haven't got a try, said Anna. Angle down yet well, well, Harry, Harry,
cried Mink. Mink's mother leaned out of the window, A
N G L E she spelled down at Amma. Oh thanks,
missus Morris, said Anna. Certainly, said Mink's mother, and withdrew,
(05:10):
laughing to dust the hall with an electro duster magnet.
The voices wavered in the shimmoury air beam, said Anna,
fading for nine seven, A and B and X, said Mink,
far far away seriously, and fork and a string and
a hex hex hex agony hexagonal at lunch milk gold
(05:33):
milk at one toss and was at the door. Her
mother slapped the table. You sit right back down, commanded
missus Morris. Hot soup in a minute, and she poked
a red button on the kitchen butler, and ten seconds
later something landed with a bump in the rubbered receiver.
Missus Morris opened it, took out a can with a
pair of aluminium holders, unsealed it, and with a flick,
poured the hot soup into a bowl. During all this,
(05:57):
Mink fidgeted, hurry, mum, it is a matter of life
and death. Oh, I was the same at your age.
It's always life and death. I know. Mink banged away
at the soup stow down, said mum. Can't, said mink.
Drill's waiting for me. Who's Drill? What a peculiar name,
said m'am. You don't know him, said Mink. And you
(06:17):
boy in the neighborhood, asked m'am. He's new, all right,
said mink. And she started on her second ball. Which
one is Drill? Asked mum. He's around, said Mink evasively.
You'll make fun. Everybody pokes fun. She done? Is drill shy? Yes, no,
in a way, gosh, m'am, yes, no, in a way. Gosh, m'am.
I've got a run. If we want to have an invasion,
(06:38):
who's invading? What Martian's invading Earth? Well, not exactly Martian
said I don't know from up. She pointed up with
a spoon and inside said numb, touching Mink's feverish brow.
Mink rebelled, you're laughing. You'll kill Drill and everybody. I
didn't mean to, said mum. Drill's a Martian nos, well,
(06:58):
maybe from Jubiter or Satinov. Anyway, he's had a hard time, I imagine,
said missus Morris, hiding her mouth behind her hand. They
couldn't figure away to attack Earth. We're impregnable, said Mom,
in the mock seriousness. That's the word Drill used in pregnant.
That was the word, mum my, my Drills are brilliant,
(07:18):
little boy, two bit words. They couldn't figure out a
way to attack mum. Drill says. He says, in order
to make a good fight, you've got to have a
new way of surprising people. That way you win. And
he says, also, you have to have help from your enemy.
A fifth column, said Mum. Yeah, that's what Drill said.
And they couldn't figure out a way to surprise Earth
or get help. Oh no, wonder, we're pretty darn strong,
(07:40):
love Mum, cleaning up. Mink sat there, staring at the
tables seeing what she was talking about. Until one day,
whispered Mink melodramatically. They thought of children, well, said missus
Morris brightly. And they thought of how grown ups are
so busy they never look under rose bushes or on lawns,
only for snails and fungers. And then there's something about
(08:01):
dim dims dim dims dim di dim dimans Shun's dimensions,
four of them, and they said there's something about kids
under nine and imagination. It's real funny to hear Drill talk.
Missus Morris was tired. Well, it must be funny you're
keeping Drill waiting now. It's getting late in the day.
And if you want to have your invasion before your
supper and bath, you better jump. No, I have to
(08:22):
take a bath, growled Mink. You do. Why is it?
Children hate water? No matter what age you live in,
children hate water. Behind the ears, Drill says, I won't
have to take baths, said Mink. Oh he does, does he.
He's told all the kids that no more baths and
we can stay up until ten o'clock and two television
shows on a Saturday instead of one. Well, mister Drill,
(08:43):
but a mindy's peas and Q's I'll call his mother,
and Mink went to the door. We're having trouble with
guys like Pete Britz and Dale Jerk. They're growing up.
They make fun. They're worse than parents. They just won't
believe in drill. They're so snooty because they're growing up.
You think they'd know better. They were only little a
couple of years ago. I hate them worst. We'll kill
(09:04):
them first, your father and I last. Dreel says you're dangerous.
Know why? Because you don't believe in Martians. They're going
to let us rule the world. Not just us, Mum,
but the kid's over the block and the next block too.
I might be queen. She opened the door. Mom, Yes,
what is lodge eke logic? Dear? Why it's the knowing
(09:28):
what things are true and not true? He mentioned that,
said Mink, and what's impress it? Presh sionable. It took
her a minute to say it. Why it means? Her
mother looked at the floor, laughing gently. It means to
be a child, dear. Thanks to lunch, Mink ran out
and stuck her head back in. Mum, I'll be sure
(09:49):
you won't be hurt much, really well, thanks, said mum.
Slam went the door. At four o'clock. The audio vice
have passed. Missus Morris lip the tab, Hello, Helen, she
said in welcome Hello Mary. How are things in New
York fine? How are things in Scranton? You look tired?
So do you? Children? Underfoot? Said Helen. Missus Morris's side.
(10:12):
My mink too the super Invasion, Helen laughed. Are your
kids playing that game too? Lord? Yes, tomorrow it'll be
geometric jacks and motorized hopscotch. Will we dispad? When we
were kids in forty eight, whores, Japs and Nazis. Don't
know how my parents put up with me. Tomboy parents
(10:33):
learned to shut their ears silence. What's wrong, Mary asked Helen.
Missus Morris's eyes were half closed and her tongue slid
slowly thoughtfully over her lower lip. Ah, she jerked, Oh, nothing,
just thought about that shutting ears and such. Where were we?
My boy Tim's got a crush on some new guy
(10:55):
named Drill. I think it was must be new password.
Mink likes him too. Didn't know, I didn't know it
got as far as New York. Word of mouthful imagine
looks like a scrap drive. I talked to Josephine and
she said her kids, as in Boston, were wild on
the new game. It's sweeping the country. At this moment,
Mink trotted into the kitchen to gulp a glass of water.
(11:16):
Missus Morris turned. How things going? Almost finished, said Mink. Swell,
said Missus Morris. What's that a yo yo? Said Mink. Watch.
She flung the yo yo down on its string, reaching
the end of it. It vanished. See, said Mink, dibbling
her finger as she made the yo yo reappear and
zig up the string. Do that again, said her mother.
(11:39):
Can't zero hours five o'clock by Mink exited, zipping her
yo yo on the audio visor had a laugh. Tim
brought one of those yoyo's in this morning, but when
I got curious, he said he wouldn't show it to me,
And when I tried to work it, finally it wouldn't work.
You're not impressionable, said missus Morris. What never something I
(12:00):
thought of? Can I help you, Helen? I just wanted
to get that black and white cake recipe. The hour
drowsed by the day waned, the sun lowered in the
peaceful blue skies. Shadows lengthened on the green lawns. The
laughter and excitement continues. One little girl ran away crying.
(12:21):
Missus Morris came out of the front door. Mink. Was
that Peggy Ann? Crying? Mink was bent over in the
yard near to the rosebus. Yeah, she's a scare baby.
We won't let her play now she's getting too old
to play. I guess she grew up all of a sudden.
Is that why she cried? Nonsense? Give me a civil answer,
young lady, or you come inside. Mink whirled round in
(12:43):
consternation mixed with irritation. I can't quit now it's almost time.
I'll be good. I'm sorry. Did you hit Peggy An? No, honest,
you ask her it was something. She's just a scaredy pants.
The ring of children drew in around Mink, where she
scowled at her work with spoons and a kind of
square shaped arrangement of hammers and pipes. There and there
(13:05):
murmured Mink. What's wrong? Said missus Morris. Drills Stark halfway.
If we could only get him all the way through,
it be easier, then all the others could come through
after him. Can I help, No, no thanks, I'll fix
it all right. I'll call you for your bath in
half an hour. I'm tired of watching you. She went
in and sat in the electric relaxing chairs, sipping a
(13:27):
little beer from a half empty glass. The chair massaged
her back. Children, children, children, and love and hate side
by side. Sometimes children loved you, hated you all in
half a second. Strange children? Did they ever forget or
forgive the whippings and the harsh, strict words of command?
She wondered, How can you ever forget or forgive those
(13:51):
over and above you, those tall and silly dictators. Time
passed a curious, waiting silence upon the street, deepening. Five o'clock.
A clock rang softly somewhere in the house, and in
a quiet musical voice, five o'clock. Five o'clock times are
wasting five o'clock, and burred away into silence. Zero hour.
(14:18):
Missus Morris chuckled in her throat zero hour. A beetle
car hummed into the driveway. Mister Morris, Missus Morris smiled.
Mister Morris got out of the beetle, locked it and
called hello to Mink at her work. Mink ignored him.
He laughed and stood for a moment, watching the children
(14:38):
and their business. Then he walked up the front steps.
Hello Darling, Hello Henry. She strained forward on the edge
of the chair, listening. The children were silent, too silent.
He emptied his pipe, refilled it, and said, swell down.
It makes it glad to be alive. Buzz what's that?
(14:59):
I said, I don't know. She got up. Suddenly, her
eyes were widening. She was going to say something. She stopped.
It ridiculous. Her nerves jumped. Those children haven't anything dangerous
out there, have they? She said? Nothing with pipes and hammers?
Why nothing electrical? No, said, I looked. She walked into
(15:25):
the kitchen. The buzzing continued just the same. You better
go and tell them to quit. It's after five. Tell them.
Her eyes widened and narrowed. Tell them to put off
their invasion until tomorrow. She laughed nervously. The buzzing grew louder.
What what are they up to? I better go and
(15:47):
look all right? The explosion the house shook with dull sound.
There are other explosions in other yards, on other streets. Involuntarily,
missus Morris up this way, she cried, senselessly, knowing no sense,
no reason. Perhaps she saw something from the corners of
her eyes. Perhaps she smelled a new odor or heard
(16:09):
a new noise. There was no time to argue with Henry,
to convince him, let him think her insane yes, insane shrieking,
she ran upstairs. He ran after her to see what
she was up to in the attic. She screamed, that's
where it is. It was only a poor excuse to
get him in the attic. In time, God, in time.
Another explosion outside. The children screamed with delight, as if
(16:31):
a great fireworks display was ongoing. It's not in the attic,
cried Henry, it's outside. No. No. Wheezing, gasping, she fumbled
at the attic door. I'll show you, Harry, I'll show you.
They tumbled into the attic. She slammed the door, locked it,
took the key and threw it into a far cluttered corner.
She was babbling wild stuff. Now it came out of her.
All the subconscious suspicion and fear that had gathered secretly
(16:54):
all afternoon and fermented like a wine in her all,
A little revelations and knowledges and sense that had bothered
her all day, and she had logically and carefully and
sensibly rejected and sensed it. Now it exploded in her
and shook at her bits. There there, she said, sobbing
against the door. We're safe until midnight. Maybe we can
sneak out, maybe we can escape. Henry blew up too.
(17:16):
But for another reason, are you crazy? Why did you
throw that key away? Damn, honey, Yes, yes, I'm crazy
if it helps them, But stay here with me. I
don't know if I can get out quiet, they'll hear us.
Oh god, they'll find hers soon enough. Below them Mink's voice.
The husband stopped. There was a great universal humming and sizzling,
(17:38):
a screaming and giggling downstairs. The audio televisor buzzed and
buzzed insistently, alarmingly violently. He said, Helen calling thought missus Morris,
And is she calling about? What? I think she's calling about?
Footsteps came into the house, heavy footsteps. Who's coming into
my house? Demanded Henry angrily. Who's tramping around down there?
(18:00):
Heavy feeds? Twenty thirty, forty fifty of them, fifty persons
crowding into the house. The humming, the giggling of the children.
This way, cried Mink below. Who's downstairs, roared Henry, who's there? Hush, no, no, no, no, no,
no no no, said his wife, weakly holding him. Please
be quiet, they might go away. Mahm called Mink. Dad
(18:23):
a pause, where are you? Heavy footsteps, heavy, heavy, very
heavy footsteps came up the stairs, Mink leading them, ma'am
A hesitation, Dad, awaiting a silence, humming footsteps towards the
attic Mink's first. They trembled together in silence in the attic,
(18:44):
Mister and missus. They trembled together in silence in the attic,
mister and Missus Morris. For some reason, the electric humming,
the queer cold light suddenly visible under the door crack,
the strange odor, and the alien sound of eagerness in
Mink's voice finally got through to Henry Morris. He stood
(19:05):
shivering in the dark silence, his wife beside him, ma'am, dad, footsteps,
A little humming sound. The attic lock melted, the door opened.
Mink peered inside, tall blue shadows behind her. Peek a boo,
(19:27):
said Mink.
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