The Alien in the Garage and Other Stories by Rob Keeley Page A

There’s no time for you to laze around!”
    With that, she turned and viciously started cleaning the sink.
    Luke’s grin disappeared as soon as he saw the look on Adam’s face.
    â€œI shouldn’t be running straight out again!” Adam whined. “Not after a shower! It’s cold! The sun’s not out yet!”
    He had showered and changed, too quickly to appreciate his own bathroom or his own wardrobe. Now he and Luke were running all the way back he had just come. Back to Luke’s house.
    â€œOh, don’t be such a wimp!” Luke was faster, and Adam was struggling to keep pace with him. “We can’t risk Dad missing us. We’ll have to go to mine, have some toast. You can eat another breakfast, can’t you?”
    â€œI haven’t had one yet!” Adam moaned.
    â€œThen,” Luke announced. “Cricket!” He paused, in mid-flight. “So, how d’you play the game again?”
    â€œCheckpoint Two,” Luke reminded. “After this.” They had arrived at the cricket ground in time for nets. Adam was batting, and Luke was proving remarkably quick in learning how to bowl. Not that he faced much of a challenge. Adam was too tired to pay much attentionto the ball.
    â€œWe go back to yours.” Luke delivered another ball, and Adam slashed at it resignedly. “Say how good cricket was, all that stuff. Then back to mine. So both the parents have seen us together a second time. You’ve got a treat in store, by the way. Mum’s taking us out for a meal tonight.”
    â€œNice of her,” Adam muttered dazedly. He had only had time to stuff down one slice of toast and margarine at Luke’s, and was feeling far too empty to be playing sport.
    â€œNot really.” Luke smirked. “She just can’t cook!” He paused. “Not like your Mum. Her fried bread this morning was just…Mmm!”
    Adam gave him a murderous glare.
    â€œNot bad.” A tall figure cast a shadow across the cricket strip. It was Chris, a younger member of the adult cricket team who also ran the junior side. He had blond-dyed hair and a loud taste in tracksuits. “Luke, isn’t it?”
    â€œThat’s right,” Luke answered.
    â€œI’ve been watching from the pavilion,” Chris continued. “Actually, we need a good bowler for the junior Second Eleven. We’re playing the Chardwell lot in two weeks.” He paused. “Don’t suppose you’d be interested?”
    Luke shrugged.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œCool!” Chris paused. “Watch the way you’re holding that bat, Adam. It’s not a shovel, y’know. You’ve been here long enough to know how to play the game properly.”
    He paused to give Luke a friendly pat on the back, then moved away.
    Luke paused.
    Chris was right.
    Suddenly, he didn’t like the way Adam was holding that bat either.
    â€œI can’t go on with this!” Adam whinged. It was evening. They were in Luke’s room, changing, having both been ordered by Luke’s Mum to put smarter gear on for the restaurant. Adam had just had time to grab his best shirt and trousers on their last visit to his own home. “I’m fed up with being you!” He paused. “And why are you so flaming good at being me?”
    â€œWho knows!” Luke was still looking irritatingly cheerful. “Maybe I’ve always been talented. Maybe, somewhere deep inside, there’s an achiever struggling to get out.”
    â€œWell, I’ve had enough of it!” Adam was in a real state, and his face was coming close to matching his mauve shirt. “Walking straight into Drama, and cricket, taking over. I’ve a good mind to go lazy for life!” He hesitated. “But I want to be it in my own house.”
    â€œRemember the deal,” Luke reminded. “Sunday night, that’s what we agreed. Ready for us to be ourselves on Monday