Calling Agent Stiller

The year is 3025. In a galaxy located in the farthest corner of the universe, a lone space ship floats through the endless sea of darkness. Flashes of light erupt every few seconds as beams of lights can be seen traveling back and forth from the windows.

“Give up now Agent Stiller. We have you surrounded!” The lizardman hisses as he fires away his laser gun. “You’ll never get the Lost Diamond of Planet Gortan!” Several other lizardmen fire away at a wall on the other side of the room.

“You hear that, Mr. Bax? They’re saying we’re toast,” Agent Stiller says from behind the wall. He peeks his head out, but quickly retreats when he is greeted by a volley of lasers. He flashes a grin at his partner. “I got the ugly one on the left.”

His partner wraps his paws around his laser gun as he flashes his fangs in a grin. He runs his free hand through his thick brown mane. “Woof, that’s funny. I was just thinking the same thing.”

Agent Stiller calls out from behind the wall. “Sorry to break it to you guys, but giving up ain’t really our thing.”

The lizardman hisses as he motions his men to approach the wall. They prepare their laser guns and approach closer and closer. “In that case,” he hisses. “Prepare… for dinner.”

“Max! Did you hear me? I said dinner is ready,” his mom called out from the kitchen. Max shifted around the couch so it sounded like he was getting up, yet he kept his eyes glued to the TV where Agent Sullivan fired off his laser gun, cutting the metal cord holding the chandelier which came crashing down on the lizardmen. Their dog, Baxter, let out a loud yawn as he rolled on his back beside Max. “Do NOT make me repeat myself!” His mom yelled, now in the living room.

Max jumped off the sofa before pausing the show. Baxter jumped off and ran to the kitchen. “… Coward,” Max muttered under his breath. He took his seat at the table where a hot plate of food was still steaming from the oven. Before Max could even take a bite, his mom began her usual barrage of questions.

“How was school today?” She asked.

“Good,” Max responded.

“How’d the math exam go?”

“Good. Got a B.”

“Let’s make that an A. The book report?”

“Almost done, but it’s not due until Friday.”

“I want it done by Wednesday night so I can review it on Thursday.”

“Ugh, mom-

“Don’t want to hear it. Make sure you get your school uniform ironed. And don’t forget, your grandfather is coming over tomorrow to babysit. I’ll be working late.”

“Again? You’re always working.” Max sighed. “Plus, I’m in the fifth grade, mom. I don’t think I need a babysitter.” He knew she wouldn’t budge on this. He picked away at the last piece of broccoli. “Can I be excused?” he asked.

She gazed upon his plate. “Once you finish your vegetables.” When she got up to get more water Max slid the last broccoli under the table where Baxter wolfed it down.

“I saw that,” she said with her back still turned towards him. When she returned to the table, she stared down Max with narrowed eyes. “You’re not that slick, Mr. Stiller.” Max tried to hide his grin, but she had him once again as a smile now spread across her face. She ruffled his hair. “I bought some ice cream. You can eat it while you finish up your show. Mom needs to finish up some work, so don’t stay up too late.”

The suppressed smile now fully spread across his face before he bolted to the fridge. He grabbed an ice cream cone and ran back to the couch where he un-paused his show. Agent Sullivan stood over the lizardmen in triumph as a grin spread across his face. When Max looked back over to the kitchen, he could see his mom’s head walking back and forth above the counter as she cleaned up before logging back on for work. He couldn’t imagine why she always worked so much, it always looked so boring. Max turned his attention back to the TV where Agent Sullivan loaded his laser gun up for another battle. Max wondered if his mom ever dreamed of being a super hero.

***

Kelly Stiller scrubbed the last remnants of food off the plate before placing them in the dishwasher. As she watched the bits of broccoli circle down the garbage disposal her mind raced through all the things she still had left on the agenda for the week. She still had to finish up her quarterly reports for work, call the plumber for the upstairs bathroom, set up a dentist appointment for Max, stop by the bank, call her dad to make sure he was still on to babysit Max, and depending on her dad’s answer, either cancel or book the backup babysitter. She peeked over the kitchen counter and watched Max and Baxter laying on the couch. Oh, and pick up more dog food.

It was when she placed the last dish in the dishwasher that she realized she was still in her work clothes. She trudged her way into the bedroom where she changed into her pajamas. She let out a deep sigh as she placed the loose waistband around her hips. Her moment of relaxation was quickly ruined by the thought of her quarterly reports that were still due by the end of the week. Between work, Max, Baxter, and the mortgage, it felt as if the world was against her sometimes. She wished things could be easier. She wished she could just give up some days. She headed into the bathroom and cleaned her face. She checked the mirror to make sure her eyes weren’t still red, or her cheeks weren’t still puffy. She blew her nose and walked back out to her bedroom where she grabbed her laptop. She headed to the kitchen where she placed the laptop on the table. Just as her finger hovered over the power button, she heard a loud commotion coming from the TV. She turned to see Max and Baxter sitting on the couch, deep in trance. She walked over to the fridge and grabbed herself an ice cream before walking over to the living room.

“Scooch,” she said as she sat beside Max. She wrapped her arm around him as he rested his head on her shoulder. Baxter licked her hand before resting his head back on Max’s lap. “What’re we watching?”

As she watched what looked like a space cowboy battle against a bunch of lizard people, her eyes began to feel heavy. When she closed her eyes, her mind wandered to the distant corner of the galaxy. Inside a large spaceship that floated through the endless sea of darkness, flashes of light erupted every few seconds as beams of lights could be seen traveling back and forth from the windows. The voice of a lizardman shouted out, “Give up now Agent Stiller…”