Quote:It all began when the Henderson farm was suddenly and without warning sucked through a wormhole into another universe or basically a lost third dimension.

Nothing was destroyed; it was like the farm itself with everybody, animal, and crop was magically removed and transported to another world altogether. And it wasn't the only farm either. Hundreds went, leaving giant-like pot-holes or sinkholes all over the planet of Earth.

Yet those are other stories, this one is about the Henderson family who had to settle on the planet Greaseball.

Yes, such a pleasant name, and it was less nicer than Earth itself. You see it was named after an old smuggler by the name of Gilbert Greaseball. Long story short he settled on the planet with an assortment of alien races.

Greaseball pretty much turned into a 1930's Great Depression era of the United States of America that seriously had an immigration problem, but that's in the past.

Anyhoo, this is about the Henderson family. Pete and Shirley Henderson had no choice but to make it work on Greaseball, so Pete rolled up his sleeves and did what every farmer did… worked his farm.

Soon after Shirley gave birth to their son, Timmy, who eventually grew to be 10 years old, and was such a scamp on the farm.

Thankfully nothing changed much and humans worked with aliens in the nearby settlements and towns.

When cows and pigs and horses became hard to come by at times they had milk bugs, space pigs, and two-headed sabertooth horses.

Strange, but when faced with a new weird world you gotta do what ya gotta do. Make it work or become sludge in the swamp water of Agapanthia.

So one beautiful sunny day after going to Church to praise their version of Jesus, who was an asteroid lovebug named Herbert, the Henderson family settled in their kitchen with some of their new found friends with the years that they've been there.

George, who went by George, because he liked the name better than Grrthakawak, was a huge green brain bug. He was also Pete's foreman handyman that helped him a lot on the farm. They had become great buddies.

Nedrick, was a purple hairy horned beast that was also the local town Deputy. He was a huge law and order type of purple beast, and if he saw you jaywalk he'd give you such a lecture you'd wish that the two moons above would come crashing down.

Last but not least was Dr. Slezak, a weird looking orange cockroach. He was the local town physician and he was good at what he did. Shirley was a little freaked out when a cockroach helped her give birth though, but he turned out to be very good at his profession.

Anyway it was Sunday after church and Shirley was serving ice cream cones to everybody in the kitchen.

"Who wants another ice cream cone?" smiled Shirley as she looked sweet and nice that warm sunny day.

"Ooh-ooh, me, me," said George as he held out his big green bug hands, "I like chocolate. It makes me break out in bug pimples, but it's worth it."

Nedrick took one, "Thanks, I prefer vanilla myself, but I ain't picky."

Dr. Slezak nodded, "Just one, I have to venture over to the Wilson farm soon. I helped Mrs. Wilson give birth to twin girls yesterday."

Shirley smiled, "Why isn't that nice. I'll have to put together a baby basket for Wendy."

Pete replied as he took a cone, "Yeah, Jim Wilson has his hands full now. Ain't that right, George."

George smiled as he savored his ice cream cone, "Mmm, wait until they have 130 babies. I tell you it's not easy changing baby diapers. The little old wife is looking a little haggard lately I gotta tell you."

Timmy asked, "Can I have two ice cream cones, Mom?"

"Sure, sweetheart."

Pete looked at his boy, "Did you clean out the barn yesterday like I told you?"

"Yes, Pa," said Timmy, "Sweeped and shoveled out all the animal dung. So gross, can I have my allowance now?"

"Sure thing, sport," said Pete as he handed his son a whole space dollar.

"Wow," said Timmy as he looked at the picture of Gilbert Greaseball drunk with space rum on it, "So cool."

"Don't spend it all on junk food and outerspace baseball cards now," chuckled Pete.

George replied, "I remember my Pa when he made me work in the barn for my allowance. Timmy, be glad your Pa doesn't use a spacebull whip on you like my Pa used on me."

"Oh how horrible," said Shirley as she made sure everybody got an ice cream cone, "Parental abuse is not nice."

"Abuse?" said George, "No, it was my education in learning to use the whip on moving rocks."

Nedrick grunted, "You're as dense as your old man, George. There's no such thing as moving rocks unless you're on the volcanic planet of Nespar by the third sun."

Dr. Slezak nodded, "This is excellent ice cream, my dear. You make it yourself?"

Shirley nodded as she chuckled, "We women have our secrets now and then."

Pete replied, "George, you going to help me on that western fence today?"

"Of course," said George, "Is the corn field trying to escape again?"

"Yeah," said Pete, "Many are content, but I've heard a few call me nasty names and sprout profanity."

"Popcorn them," said Dr. Slezak.

Timmy said, "Can Lassie, my six-legged Collie come to town with me today?"

Pete said, "No, he's gotta watch the eight-legged sheep."

Shirley replied, "Timmy, me and you are going to get some new clothes from Flaggasnooples today. They are having a sale."

"Aw, Mom."

"Mind your mother," said Pete.

George gobbled up his 10th ice cream cone and said, "I'd love to have 40 more of these, but work calls."

Shirley nodded, "Well, the carton is empty anyway."

George said, "I'll eat that too."

"Um, okay."

Nedrick stood himself, "Well, the long arm of the law can't reach out here, so I'll just mosey on myself "

Dr. Slezak nodded, "Hold up, you can give me a lift."

And everybody walked out of the kitchen and out onto the old wooden porch.

Shirley smiled as she rubbed her boy's head, "Make sure you milk those milk bugs, Pete and George, because I've got a lot more ice cream to make."

Ice cream, such a wondrous thing that crossed galaxies and universes. From planet to planet. Through human and alien races to monsters and creatures far and wide. Ice cream, a sweet cold delicious treat that brought forth friends and family… and we all must praise not just Jesus, but Herbert too.

The End.