Last Night's Dream

The aliens did not seem to especially want anything from Earth or its inhabitants. They let it be known that they were mildly offended by the sight of people walking forward, and from that moment on people would walk backwards in public (over the age of six, or so). Awkwardly, nervously, and clumsily. The aliens seemed to appreciate this. They would occasionally insist that one human take time to explain things such as comic strips to them, while a perfect replica of the human explainer took his place in his life, doing his job, living his life. Another might ask, very gently, the point of water fountains, or flags, or doughnuts. And occasionally, they would destroy an entire city. But that was really about it.