Literally Reruns – When Planets Miss by Doug Hawley

Another suggested blast from the past by Leila Allison. Again she has chosen a regular to the site and this is what she said:

I’ve been smacked on the nose with a newspaper three times at LS. Hawley got me once when he (correctly) pointed out an error in a story I had written; I had misspelled Douglas fir by adding an extra S at the end of Douglas. It was the only thing he had to say about my story. I’m not the sort of person who takes getting smacked on the nose with the newspaper well. Nor am I (evidently) the sort of person who forgets getting smacked on the nose with the newspaper any time soon. In my defense, however, I went from the 4th grade to the 6th. I bypassed the 5th in which stuff like the proper spelling of tree names, graciously accepting constructive criticism and the correct application of the double-S in general are taught. As a result whenever anybody sings M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I, I join in, get lost and quickly drown.

Perhaps it is in my mind only that the preceding paragraph is a fit and proper introduction to When Planets Miss (notice how he nailed the double-S there? No matter how many times he attended the 5th grade not a moment of it had been wasted on this guy) by Doug Hawley. Regardless, I recommend this tale for it’s humor and imagination, which are present in all Mr. Hawley’s work. I have seen the film that Hawley’s story pays homage to. I recall the guy who was Wilbur’s neighbor in Mr. Ed being in it.  I believe that George Pal would be pleased to read When Planets Miss–especially the giving up the seat part.

Leila Allison

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When Planets Miss