When the first spacecraft arrived, we welcomed the aliens with open arms.

[brouhaha@mastodon.social]

When the first spacecraft arrived, we welcomed the aliens with open arms. They showed no interest in learning our languages, but they cooperated with our best linguists to teach us theirs. We were delighted to learn that the reason they'd come was to share their advanced technologies.
Apparently we hadn't understood key details of the contract. It came as quite a surprise when, some months later, they presented us with the first invoice for the royalties on their patents.
#SF #microfiction