10,638 words (40–50 minutes)
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Coming-of-Age
Originally published in Space Science Fiction in May, 1952

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Youth is a deceptively simple yet profound tale about first contact, seen through the eyes of children. When Red and Slim, two young boys, discover strange small creatures after a thunderous night, they believe they've found exotic animals perfect for a circus act. Meanwhile, their fathers—a wealthy industrialist and an astronomer—are expecting extraterrestrial visitors who could either uplift or doom their stagnant civilization. As the narrative unfolds, perspectives shift, and the true nature of these "animals" becomes clear, leading to a brilliant twist about perception, youth, and interspecies understanding.