Big Feet

Photo by: Mike Vore

Justin was sixteen when his dad, Greg, first took him out on patrol. They walked past burned out relics from the war.

“I named my most critical gear after old girlfriends,” said Greg. “My signals scanner could detect RolyPolie transmissions and translate them. I named it after Whitney ’cause she eavesdropped on people’s conversations.”

“Makes sense,” said Justin, looking around carefully. The alien invaders had been largely defeated, but some still wandered the countryside. Thus the need to patrol. Folks called them “RolyPolies” because the Pillbug-like aliens rolled into a ball when wounded.

“I named my plasma rifle after Jodie. She was hot tempered.”

“Uh huh.” Justin pointed at a rusted, antique truck marked “Daisy May.” “What’s that old thing?”

“It’s just camouflage for…”

The truck suddenly rose up on tall metal legs. It stomped with one of its four enormous feet and squished a charging RolyPolie.

Greg beamed with pride. “Best bug stomping machine ever made!”

Justin wiped splashed alien ichor from his shirt. “Daisy May hated bugs?”

“Nope. She had big feet.”
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Written for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers: https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/fffaw-challenge-week-of-february-7-2017/

Author’s notes:

Sowbug/Pillbug/RolyPolies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillidiidae