It was a snowy day when Simon Hedge finished clearing the driveway.

He sat down on a snowbank and wiped the sweat from his brow. After all, he wasn't quite young anymore.

77 years old, retired and living with his wife, two years younger than him.

What I would give to have Tom here. He thought, catching his breath. He could spare a few hours to visit his old man once in a while, dammit.

He sighed and rose from his position, trudging back towards the garage.

Meanwhile, a twinkle was visible above his head somewhere in the sky. It was a strange twinkle, not flickery like a star. Rather like the light off a disco ball.

Simon raised his head in time to see it brighten slightly.

What kind of star is visible on a snowy day? He thought to himself. Is this some kind of government joke?

The twinkling shape brightened again, ever so slightly.

The old man narrowed his eyes at it, something about it seemed off, like it was... moving.

"Patricia!" He called. "Come see this!"

"See what?"

"That star!"

"Don't be ridiculous!" She called from the foyer. "Stars don't shine in the middle of a cloudy day!"

"C'mon out and see then!"

Patricia groaned as she rose. How Simon did it she had no idea, scooping snow day after day. She always feared he would collapse from cardiac arrest one of these days. These years would be unbearable without him. She wrapped herself up in her shawl and stepped outside in her leather boots.

"Now, what's this about a star?" She asked her husband.

He barely needed to point it out by now. It was no longer twinkling, but positively shining. It was no star now, it looked more like a meteor.

"Simon. Simon what on earth is that?!" Patricia cried. "It almost looks like it's... moving!"

"It's getting closer!" Simon stumbled. "Watch out!"

The glowing star landed with so much speed, it threw the elderly couple off balance. Yet there was no shock.

The earth didn't tremble as it should, no wind descended, no shock as the object hit the ground. Not a single pebble moved nor trembled. The thing gave off no sign of being hot or cold. It was just lying there. A perfectly round sphere of jet brown, about the size of a wrecking ball.

Nothing happened for a bit longer, Patricia trembled and Simon gulped, trying to look tough, which shouldn't be hard. Built like a lumberjack, he stood 6 feet tall and probably several feet wide. His arms were the size of of canons and his beard made him look like a norse warrior.

But greater men than Simon Hedge would've cowered under such a strange and unknown phenomenon.

The top of the sphere began to quiver, then tremble. Finally, it popped off and out climbed a completely ordinary, seemingly African, human boy.

He was clothed in what appeared to be a simple vest and a pair of pants. The same brown color as his ball suggested.

He raised his head and looked straight ahead, as if hypnotised. Then, he began to tremble, his chest positively vibrating. A sudden instinct ushered Simon into pushing his wife into the house and shutting the door. The child let out a ripping scream, one louder than an ordinary boy should've been able to make, and a great ripple of power exploded from him.

The earth shook and trembled, snow was blown in every direction, a shockwave hit the house and trees, blowing in windows, ripping tiles and tearing branches down. The pressure of the atmosphere dropped so fast Simon's ears popped. 

Then, as suddenly as it came, the power shut off.

The wind slowed and the trees stopped swaying.

The boy, seemingly exhausted, fell to the ground in a deep sleep.

From inside the house came the clang of a dropped snow shovel.