Mr. Caxton draws a Martian bird

By Frank Belknap Long
Peter was just a trusting, eager child. What could he know about life on Mars? Surely Mr. Caxton had every right to die laughing!
Some two years ago a dramatized version of Frank Belknap Long's story , GUEST IN THE HOUSE was presented on the CBS TV Out There program. It dealt in fascinating fashion with two precocious children who turned the tables on a sinister man from a chill, far distant future. Mr. Long's children are now back again, bearing different names and personalities, of course, but with their table-turning propensities still at white heat.
Mr. Caxton was such an impatient, ill-tempered man it was surprising that the children cared to talk to him at all. It was even more surprising that the parents of Peter and Susan Ashley should have gone exploring in the trackless Martian desert, and left Mr. Caxton in charge.
Peter was ten, and Susan was eight, and even on Earth the Mr. Caxtons of this world make very poor companions for the young.
It was true, of course, that Mr. Caxton was skillful with skillets, and knew how to build and bank fires with great precision, and economy of effort. But surely some kindlier guardian could have been found for Peter and Susan, some guardian less harsh, self-centered, and downright mean.
In the rust-red desert camps were gruff, friendly, grizzled-bearded men who would have taken delight in dangling both children on their knees. In the camps were men who would have said: Hello, Susan! Hello, Tommy! Isn't it a grand day for hiking? What's that? You saw a clawmark in the sand? Four-toed? Well now—suppose we go, and have a look.
But we really saw it, Mr. Caxton! Peter insisted. We're not making it up. Honest we're not.
Sit down, don't annoy me! Mr. Caxton said, throwing another log on the fire. If you say another word I'll take you across my knee, and drum some sober sense into you!
Tommy winced, and recoiled in alarm. But Susan could run, hop or skip a rope, and still know when an adult was bluffing.