Zero+Hour

Zero Hour

Summary // "Zero Hour" // is a futuristic story about children and aliens. Mink Morris is a typical, seven-year-old girl. Her and her friends always play games outside. When she runs into the house to take equipment such as knives and forks, Mrs. Morris doesn’t think it is out of the ordinary. Mink goes back outside and meets up with her friend, Anna. She tells her to write down the words that she says aloud. When all the words were written down, it was time for lunch. Mink quickly finishes her meal and is in such a hurry to get back to work. Before she can leave, she is questioned by her mom. Her mom doesn’t think too hard about Mink’s plan which she would soon find out was her biggest mistake. Mrs. Morris talked to her friend Helen and found out that kids all over the country are playing this new game as well. She started to think a little bit harder about what the kids were doing, but stopped short of her epiphany. Her husband Henry came home at five o’clock or, as the kids called it, “Zero Hour.” An explosion sounded, and Mrs. Morris senses danger. She sprints to the attic with Henry close behind. They stumble into the attic and she locks the door and throws the key in a corner. Mink and many blue shadows show up at the attic door. Drill had accomplished his goal. He invaded Earth.

Setting- The setting of “Zero Hour” is in New York City in the year far in the future. Protagonist- The protagonist of “Zero Hour” is Mrs. Morris Antagonist- Drill is the antagonist of this short story. Forms of Technology- Mrs. Morris uses an audio-visor which is like a webcam. Children in the neighborhood wear rocket skates. There are also cars made of chromium, vacuum elevators, and food-delivery tubes. Main Conflict and Theme- The main conflict of “Zero Hour” is an alien invasion.

Questions 1. If you were in Mrs. Morris’s situation, would you be more curious as to what the children were doing?

2. What do you think the yo-yo represented? Why do you think this?

3. If you were to write an alternate ending to this story, what would you write?

Discussion Links [] This link leads us to an article that briefly discusses how Ray Bradbury uses futuristic technology as minor details that add to the plot.

@http://www.tv.com/the-ray-bradbury-theater/show/3822/summary.html?v_category=all_non_episode&tag=page_nav%3Bmain. This link has reviews and information about the TV episode “Zero Hour.” Jake and I found it interesting to compare the TV episode with the short story.

Pat Casselberry and Jake Goodman