Cool Alien Hunter power number 141: Telepathic Attitude Adjustments.

“So, would cash be okay?” I asked.

“Yes, yes, of course. Cash would be fine,” he said, quickly coming around.

“And how about if you bring it to us by, oh, say, noon.”

For a moment it looked like he was going to lose his lunch, but he nodded.

“And we’ll need you to call the electric and gas companies and arrange to pay that yourself, okay?”

“Yeah-yeah, sure-sure.”

“And, here, why don’t we trade cars? You take the minivan, so you can have some more room for stuff when you run our errands. And we’ll keep the Ferrari.”

“Great idea.”

“All right then. If you can just give me the keys to the house and your car, I’ll let you go to the bank and get us our money.”

“Yes, sir,” he said.

It all goes to show that you can’t always believe first impressions.

Or, if you don’t like your first impression, then change it. I mean, if you’re an Alien Hunter.

Chapter 11

AFTER MR. GOUT returned with the money, we sent him off to get some lumber and other things to help alienproof the house. His attitude was much improved-he actually seemed happy about it.

“Your abilities are getting sharper,” remarked Dad, “but you’re going to need a bit more than that for Number 5. In fact, I’ve managed to update his profile, and I created a brief dossier I want you to digest before dinner.”

“And you aren’t going out till you’ve taken a shower and done your laundry,” added Mom. “You look like a ragamuffin. And tomorrow you’re getting a haircut.”

I guess it’s a little weird that I let myself get bossed around by people that are essentially products of my imagination; but what kind of parents would they be otherwise?

“Sure, Mom,” I humored her. Meantime, I went to check out some updates and relevant List computer information that Dad had helped me locate on Number 5 and Number 21.