[ WP ] Years ago in a drunken stupor you bought a star . A strange looking `` man '' comes to your door desperately wanting to buy it from you .

Who rings the doorbell at 7am on a Saturday? I grumbled to myself as I stuffed my feet into the slippers and pulled my robe tight around my waist. I glanced out the window overlooking the front door -- a nondescript black car was parked out front, and I could see a slightly balding head waiting on the stoop. 
 
 I shuffled down the stairs, detoured through the kitchen to start a pot of coffee, and was almost to the door when the bell rang again. 
 
 Impatient. My grouchiness was increasing. What could he want? 
 
 I opened the door slightly, evaluation the stooped man standing in front of me. He was slight, his curved body hunched within a trench coat, dark pants and shoes emerging from the hem, and apparently impervious to the 95 degree heat. 
 
 `` Can I help you?'' 
 
 His eyes almost meet mine, before sliding away again. I notice now that he's mumbling slightly and keeps his hands tucked deep in his pockets. His eyes trace back and forth, as if he's looking for something on the edge of his field of vision. 
 
 `` You are Miss Katya Balisov, no?'' His accent is odd, I ca n't quite place it; he talks like he has marbles in his mouth, jumbled and with care. 
 
 I nod slowly. `` Why do you ask?'' 
 
 `` On September 17, 1999, you purchased the star Alcyno 29184. I need to buy this star from you. I will pay any price.'' 
 
 I stand there, stunned. Of all the questions I would have expected, this would never have been one of them. I rack my brain, trying to recall purchasing a star. Nearly twenty years ago -- I was in college. Perhaps it was one of my notorious blackout purchases? I'd gone on several spending sprees while drunk before wising up and hiding my credit cards. But I did n't recall specifically buying a star. 
 
 `` I'm sorry, I think you may have the wrong person. I do n't believe I own a star....'' 
 
 He pulled his hands from his pockets, his left hand gripping a crumpled piece of paper that he thrust at me. I took the paper gingerly, and smoothed its wrinkled corners until I could see what looked like a receipt. There it was - my name, address, email address, and billing confirmation for purchase of one star. How odd. 
 
 He gestured towards the paper. `` I just need you to sign, there, to transfer the ownership.'' There was some fine print and two signature lines at the bottom of the page, and he was now holding a pen out for me. 
 
 `` Why is this so important? And how much are you offering?'' I was still confused by the whole situation, but if I could offload something of value that I did n't even know I owned, that could certainly help with my upcoming car payment. 
 
 `` I promised someone I would acquire this star for them, many years ago. I have been searching for you for some time now. I can not fully explain, but there is great.... sentimental.... value to me.'' He paused, furtively glancing around him in either direction, then pulled a pile of cash from another pocket. `` I will give you ten thousand.'' 
 
 I gaped at him, taking in again the strangeness of his appearance, his flighty nature, the outstretched hand ( which I now saw was covered in a thin glove ) with the proffered pen. Ten thousand dollars! For a star? a piece of paper? 
 
 `` Will this get me in trouble with anyone? You seem a bit nervous.'' 
 
 He shook his head emphatically. `` No, no, no, of course not, I am only in a small rush. Will you please sign?'' 
 
 I could certainly use the money -- - and what harm could it do? I took the pen in one hand, the money in the other, and signed quickly. I'd barely finished my signature when he'd crumpled the paper back and pushed it into the depths of his pockets. He gave me a short grin, his eyes excited, before turning and trotting down the steps to the black car. With a screech of the tires, he was gone. 
 
 I stood at my front door, still a bit dazed by the strange encounter, then turned to go pour my morning coffee. As I sat at the kitchen table, gleefully counting the bills, I did n't even notice the morning news alert scrolling across the TV, announcing the failed space colonization negotiations and the beginning of the first interstellar war.
