It was somewhere on Route 50 that my vehicle died. The engine spluttered out and refused to start again. It was dark, apart from the glare of my headlamps and the glow from the console. Then the desert lit up!

A giant Christmas decoration appeared in the sky above. Crazy coloured lights shone everywhere. I gaped at it, amazed, as it landed on the road in front of me.

A creature stepped out of the craft, its hand raised in greeting. I did likewise.

"I come in peace," the alien said, and held up a length of cable. "Can I get a jumpstart?"