"Explain," said the interrogation machine...

10/31/2005 05:17:00 p.m.

..."Describe their culture."

"They have an important celebration," said E.T., "called Hollow Bean. Everyone carves faces in fruit squashes and dresses up in sheets."

"Who holds this celebration?"

"The children, who actually rule the Blue Planet of Earth. They are more intelligent than the older people and outrun them on bicycles."

The machine whirled around him again. "And what is the purpose of this celebration?"

"To collect the all-important food."

"Which is?"

"Candy."

— William Kotzwinkle, E.T. The Book of the Green Planet. 1985, Berkeley Books.

Happy Hollow Bean, everyone! And b. good.