The day of the Giant party, it rained.

That morning we decorated the cafeteria and set up the tall striker game. We put non-slip plastic on the bottom of all the stilts, so no one would fall walking on stilts inside. We set up the food tables.

We went home for lunch, and Dad went to pick up some things. Mom went out to check on the bees. She didn’t put on her bee clothes or bee hat or bee gloves because honeybees don’t like to fly during the rain. They sleep on rainy days. I watched from the window, which was as close as I wanted to get to honeybees.

Mom took the top two hive boxes off to check everything. One or two bees flew around, but the rest were still. She heaved the hive boxes back to the top, but it was wet. They slipped. An angry bee dove and stung her hand.

Back inside, Mom shook water off her hair. She held out her hand and showed me the tiny red spot. “It was my fault,” she said.

A few minutes later, though, her hand was bigger. As we watched, it got bigger and bigger. “I must be allergic to bee stings,” Mom said.

See? That is why I don’t like Earthling bugs.

Mom pulled out her Bixster First Aid kit that we had saved from our space ship. A year ago, the kit was full of small bottles and pills. Now, it was half empty.

Mom looked up, and her silvery eyes were big and scared. “We don’t have any delly left.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s the medicine for allergies.” She coughed, tried to take a deep breath, but coughed again. Now her face looked puffy, too.

That scared me. “Mom,” I demanded, “where is Dad?”

“He doesn’t answer his phone. He is picking up paper plates and cups for the party.” She took another breath, but it sounded rough.

Mom was allergic to the bee sting, and I had to do something. But what?

I bit my lip and worried. “Mom, tell me what to do.”

But she was slumped in her chair.

I had to do something. Fast. We needed a doctor, and I only knew one who could help. Quick, I dialed Roman’s number.

“Hello.”

“Roman, this is Kell. I need to talk to your Dad. My mom is sick.”

A moment later, Dr. East said, “Kell. What’s wrong?”

“Please, come right now. Mom can’t breathe.”

“I’ll call 911. An ambulance will be there soon.”

“NO! You can’t do that.”

Yes, Kell, if she needs help that fast, you need an ambulance.”

I took a deep, shaky breath. “No. The hospital won’t know what to do.” I didn’t want to say it, but I needed help. “We are aliens.”

There was silence.

“Please. This isn’t a game. We are from space, and Mom will die if you can’t help her.” Tears filled my eyes.

“I’ll be there as fast as I can.” The phone went dead.

I ran back to Mom, and she looked really bad. Pale, almost white. Her dark hair looked darker and her face whiter than I had ever seen it.

I picked up Mom’s hand, and she squeezed it. Her eyes were closed and she concentrated on each breath. But she squeezed my hand tight.

Suddenly, a flash of light splashed across the windows. Lightning! A deep rumble ran across the sky. Thunder!

Where was Dad?

Where was Dr. East?

Why were we stuck on Earth with all these bugs? I just wanted to be home on Bix where we could go to a doctor and get help.

At last, the doorbell rang and Dr. East ducked to fit through the doorway. He took one look at Mom and jerked open his black bag. He pulled out a needle and a bottle of medicine.

While he pulled medicine into the needle, he said, “You know that this might not work.”

Mom blinked twice and tried to nod that she understood.

But I didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”

“This medicine will work on most Earthlings,” he said. “But I know nothing about your alien bodies. It might work, or it might make it worse.”

Mom gasped, “Do it.”

She could barely breathe now. Dr. East was our only hope.

He pushed up her shirt sleeve and rubbed her shoulder with something that smelled funny. Then he jabbed the needle in and gave her the shot.

Mom took a deep breath and leaned back against the chair. Dr. East knelt beside her and watched.

I watched her chest go up and down. Up and—it wasn’t moving.

She wasn’t breathing.

“Dr. East!”

And then, she drew a shaky breath.

And her breaths came regular. Slowly, she opened her eyes and blinked at me and at Dr. East.

“What will you do?” she whispered.

“I know how to keep secrets,” Dr. East said. “But I would like to study your family. It is the chance of a lifetime.”

She nodded. “Thank you. But can I talk with John first?”

Dr. East said, “Yes.”

And then, my Dad walked in. It took a couple minutes to explain what happened. All he could do was hug my Mom like he would never turn loose.

But Dr. East said, “I think the Giant party starts in an hour.”

He was right. And Earthling parties always start on time. We had to hurry.