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

morning.” He was backcombing his hair in front of the mirror, trying to look sophisticated. “Anyway, it’s changed me, this. Done me good.”
    He turned to Adam.
    â€œI think I might come to all your clubs from now on.”
    He ducked, and his neat hairstyle was suddenly destroyed, as a pillow narrowly missed his head. He glared aggressively.
    â€œWhat?”
    Like all family restaurants, the steak house was packed on a Saturday evening. Adam, Luke and Luke’s Mum had to stand and wait in the bar area to be allocated to a table. Luke’s Dad had still been reassembling his bike and had refused to come.
    â€œI can’t believe how well it’s all gone,” Luke crowed. “Best plan of my life.”
    Adam said nothing. His eyes said it all.
    â€œI feel like celebrating.” Luke looked at the blackboard on which the daily specials were chalked. “I think I’ll have a steak.”
    â€œI’m not hungry,” Adam muttered.
    â€œA whole weekend,” Luke concluded. “With each other’s parents. And none of them had any idea -”
    â€œAh!”
    Adam and Luke turned.
    And, as one, their blood ran cold.
    Standing there were Adam’s Mum and Dad.
    â€œSurprise!” Adam’s Dad beamed.
    â€œWe thought we’d just creep in,” Adam’s Mum explained. “It was quite out of the blue. Luke’s mother rang and invited us to dinner. She said you were coming along here from Luke’s house, after cricket. It’s so kind of her, Luke. I suppose it’s to say thanks for having you.”
    â€œHiya!” Luke’s Mum had turned to greet the new arrivals. “Good to see you.”
    â€œHaven’t they found a table for us yet?” Adam’s Dad was not one to wait. “I’ll have a word at the bar.”
    â€œI might have a small sherry,” said Adam’s Mum, indulgently. She followed him.
    Luke turned slowly to his mother, his eyes asking the question.
    What did you do?
    As if a mind-reader, she answered him.
    â€œI thought we might as well get together.” She shrugged, and flicked a lock of hair back from her heavily made-up eyes. “And it’s a thank-you, of sorts. Luke’s had stuff to do all weekend, Adam, thanks to you.” She turned to a waiter who had approached them. “Any chance of that table by the clock, sweetheart?” She turned back to her son as the waiter moved off to check. “Dishy, isn’t he?”
    Luke was in no mood to answer.
    As his Mum moved off towards the table, he remained where he was. He turned to Adam.
    â€œIf they get talking -?”
    â€œAnd they will,” Adam said.
    Luke paused.
    â€œI’ve gone off that steak.”
    â€œHow far to the nearest chippy?” Adam said suddenly.
    Luke paused. “‘Bout five minutes. Greenfield Road…”
    His eyes met Adam’s.
    â€œCome on!”
    â€œOK, they’ve found one -” Luke’s Mum had returned, and stopped suddenly.
    Luke and Adam were already halfway to the door.
    â€œChanged our minds!” Luke called. “Off to the chippy. We’ll see you later!”
    â€œYou know…” Luke gasped, as he and Adam sped in the direction of Greenfield Road. “That was a good plan of yours. Real quick.”
    He paused for breath, and glanced at his friend as they fled.
    â€œMaybe you learned something from being me… after all.”

Lunch
    On the corner of the little street stood a lamppost. Once, men had come round every evening to light the gas lamp inside. But none came now.
    The street itself was old, narrow, cobbled. The houses had been built in Victorian times. They were so small that they were barely big enough for a family of four to live in their cramped and dirty rooms, let alone the much bigger families still living there in the 1930s.
    For a few minutes, late that morning, the whole place had lain deserted.
    Then, along