take me to your Leader
By Brian Brannon
Lights of every Imaginable color melted away the serene November night sky and danced freestyle across
the heavens. They barrelled soundlessly through the air, trailing red and orange tracers, before returning to
spin 360s above our bewildered heads. As they merged with one another, the whole sky seemed to
catch fire.
A deep purple beam dropped from the hovering celestial craft and bathed the abandoned
swimming pool in shimmering extraterrestrial light.
A human form appeared from nowhere and took a seat in the shallow end. He sported
a hot pink mohawk, a black leather jacket and tattered blue jeans. He extended a long,
pale finger toward the deep end in mute command.
In complete comprehension I nodded and shot a barking double-axle carve grind
onto the Illuminated face wall. Heading up the side wall I clacked a backside air
and then haired an edged-wheeler on the other side before cess-sliding into an
axle-stall on the shallow end coping.
"We have watched and walted," he said in a voice that rang hollow yet
warm, not in our ears, but in our minds.
"Many times we have searched your planet for signs of intelligent
life, finding only barbarlans abusing the fruits of technology and
of the earth. We cried as we saw nations rise against nations
LL
and races against races. How could we expect you to welcome us
when you fight your own brothers and sisters? We too are relatives.
We are your space brothers."
"We bid you welcome," said Chad, and he shook hands with
our outer space relation. Myself and the other skaters present did
likewise.
"You, riders of wooden boards, came as a long-hoped-for sur-
prise. We admire the friendship you share and find your daily ex-
periments in anti-gravity quite bold. Your methods of "gaining air"
and returning to Earth are unique. No other planet can boast of
boards and pools. However, you should see the full pipes on Bovan-
tis. Someday we will take you there, but now, take us to your
leader."
"We have no leader," I proclaimed. we bow not to any man."
"You skaters prove to be much wiser than others on your planet."
he said, "It is advisable to ignore deceitful power-hungry hypocrites
and follow only what one knows is right.
"What is this thing called the N.S.A.?" he asked. "Others claim
that it is the Non-Skater's Association or that it means No Skating
Allowed. What is its purpose?"
"Well, the initials really stand for the National Skateboard
Association," I explained. "It is an organization designed to
present skateboarding to the American public as a clean,
respectable athletic endeavor.
"There will be a contest held by the
N.S.A. and the Bare
Cover, a local
clothing
42
NOMADIC
WHY
NSA
RYPTONICS
CRU
the
BAREC
PER
Careening across the channel
in full sweeper aggression is
Bill Danforth, the Nomadic.
GRINOLINE