December 16, 1982

Elliot stood in front of his bedroom window, his elbows rested on the sill. He gazed wistfully through the glass of the closed window, which was framed with frost. He looked at the sky, which was cloudless tonight, and black as ink. He saw stars sprinkled and scattered in every place on the enormous black canvas. Some were big, some were tiny, and some were in-between. Some were brighter than others, though they all really shone brilliantly.

Elliot sighed as he began to remember. Almost two months ago he had met a very curious and friendly little creature who lived amongst the stars. He had at first been afraid of it, until he realized it was really lonely and scared itself, and took it into his home. He had shown it to his brother Michael, and sister Gertie, but had thought it best not to tell their mother. The three of them had fun with the creature they named E.T. until it become it became apparent that he must return to his own home and planet. Then E. T. suddenly became terminally ill, at the same time the government found out about him and their house had been surrounded by scientists. E.T.'s illness got worse and worse, and he actually died, and was somehow resurrected. His family had then come for him in their Spaceship and taken him home, to the Green Planet.

Elliot could still feel the long hug he and E.T. had given each other just before he left, and E.T.'s last words to him, "I'll be right here". Now that Christmas was approaching he thought about E.T. more than ever. After all, wasn't Christmas a time when one thought always of those he loved? As well as a time to be with them?

His mother, Mary, now entered the room. She smiled as she saw him daydreaming at his window. She came over at sat down beside him.

"Thinking of him, aren't you," she said softly.

Elliot nodded. "I often wonder, where is he, how is he?"

Mary smiled as she leaned closer and looked at the stars with him. "You were his best friend, and you were there to take him in when no one else was. Wherever he is now, he will never forget that."

Elliot smiled now. "It's almost Christmas now, you know? And, I just wish I could give him something," he pondered.

"Well, why don't you invite him to spend Christmas here?" Mary suggested.

Elliot looked at her. He hadn't thought of that.

"We still have the transmitter thing you built with him, and it worked before." Mary pointed out.

Elliot's face lit up. "That's a great idea!" he said. "You think he'll come?"

"I don't see why not," Mary replied. "I'm sure he misses us, just as we all miss him."

Elliott nodded. After a moment, Mary gave a yawn and said, "Best be going to bed now." and left his room.

Elliot looked to the stars for just one more moment and whispered, "Merry Christmas, E.T., wherever you are."

The next day there was no school as Christmas Vacation had began. Elliot came down to breakfast he met with his siblings and asked them, "Do you remember E.T.?"

"Of course," said Michael. "We thought we'd be helping him, but he was really helping all of us." He sighed as he remembered.

"I miss him," moaned Gertie.

"So do I," said Elliot. "And that's the point. I think we ought to invite for Christmas by way of the transmitter he built. What do you think?"

"Why didn't I think of that? I love that idea!" said Michael happily. "I'd love to see the little squashy guy again!"

"Me too!" Gertie chimed in sweetly. "Maybe I'll be able to take him for show and tell, when school starts again!" she added hopefully.

So, that very afternoon, Elliot, Gertie, and Michael found the transmitter, which was made of an umbrella, a record player, a circular saw blade, a light bulb, and Gertie's Speak and Spell.

Elliot dialed a message in the dialect E.T. had taught him. It said,

Dear E.T., we all miss you and would like for you to come visit and spend Christmas with us. Love Elliot and family.

They then placed the transmitter on the roof. For two days they waited and received no response. Then, on the third day, a message appeared which said,

Elliot, I will come visit you for Christmas. Look for the Spaceship tonight.
Love E.T.
P.S. I miss you.

Elliot was overjoyed. He was going to see his best friend again!

That night it snowed, and Elliot, Michael, Gertie, and Mary stood close together in the forest clearing as they waited with anticipation for E.T.'s return.

Soon they saw a bright light appear in the sky, as they watched it grew bigger and brighter, seeming to fill the whole sky, taking the shape of E.T.'s Spaceship. It appeared before them in all its glory, looking itself like a Christmas tree ornament, it's many lights casting a most beautiful rainbow pattern on the snowflakes, making them look like multicolored dots in the air.

The Spaceship continued its descend, letting off steam and melting some snowflakes in the air. It landed very gracefully and gently onto the snow covered ground, supporting itself on pistols.

Elliot was breathing hard and could see his breath evaporating in the icy air. He was clasping his hands together tightly, and not just from the chill in the weather. He stared unblinking as a door of the Spaceship opened and a ramp was let down.

As he continued to watch, he saw E.T. appear in the doorway. E.T. descended the Spaceship's ramp with that endearing little shuffle of his. He stepped off, onto the snow, extending his long arms and said, "Greetings, gentle Earthlings! E.T. glad to be back!"

Elliot felt like his heart was going to explode with happiness, for here was E.T., his best friend. He looked exactly how he remembered him from his very short legs and very long arms, to his extending neck, to his great big, wide, round eyes, which seemed more blue than anything.

Elliot ran to E.T. and embraced the little alien, at the same time Gertie did, it was fortunate E.T. could easily hug them both with his extra long arms.

"E.T... love you," he said, as Gertie covered his face with kisses.

Michael came over and knelt beside them as he tenderly rubbed E.T.'s long, eggplant shaped head.

Mary looked on and thought how strange yet amazingly wonderful it was for her three children to find so much love and attachment in one cute little alien.