Kidding Around
'I suppose you think that was funny.' Anne glared.
'Well, yes actually. You need to lighten up, the sooner the better.' Mark yawned. 'You used to be such fun, Anne. What went wrong?'
'I became Queen, Mark. It's different now. Did anyone see you come here?'
'Of course not. I do know how to be discreet.'
'You could have fooled me, Master Smeatham. Why turn up here unannounced? I have enough enemies at Court.'
'Nobody saw me. Why shouldn't the Queen's musician play music for his Queen?'
'Because the King gets jealous at the slightest thing. It would help if I could give him a male heir this time. You had better go. Cromwell has people everywhere.'
'But I've only just got here.'
'I didn't ask you to come here. Go on, off you go.'
The young redheaded musician rose reluctantly. 'What are you worried about, Anne? That he'd have your head off over something that is not your fault?'
'If I don't produce a boy this time, yes. That's precisely what Henry will do.'
Eye Witness
I know what happened to Sam, but nobody on this world would believe me. Not only that but I would be roundly mocked. Jess is drunk again would be the best I could expect.
Sure, I like a drink. Most do. People forget I never used to touch alcohol. I was happy being teetotal but wouldn't you turn to booze if you saw your parents whisked away by an UFO?
You should've heard the laughter when I reported that. The local rag had fun with it too. Goodness knew how they got hold of it. I still think it was my Goth friend George’s mother. She is a right nasty… Anyway, I didn't leave my flat for weeks. Oh I was glad to shop online. And even now, a year later, I go out when it is quieter. I hear the sniggers though. I wish I could be wherever my parents and Sam have gone. It's got to be better. But then I've never fitted in. I was always the dreamy girl in the red coat.
So was I reporting my brother Sam being whisked off by what I swear was the same spaceship? No way!
I just hope they come back for me soon. Someone else will spot my family keeps disappearing soon. And then what? A murder charge?
I grab my big red coat. I'm off to the Common. It's where the UFO landed before. Third time lucky I hope.
Red
He thinks of her every time the autumn leaves fall. It's the red leaves, he thought, Jess loved her big red coat. How long have I been here now? It feels like years. They say not.
Sam turned away from his window. He had no idea where he was but his captors had treated him decently. I don't know what they want to know about life on earth, yet alone why they think I can help them.
The cell door opened. His jailer entered with a loaded tray. Sam smiled on spotting the doughnuts with blood-red jam oozing out of them. Naturally there was a big teapot and two mugs of tea with it. How do they know what I like? Presumably my jailer is partial to an afternoon tea then; why else the second mug?
Sam looked again at his jailer. Once you got past the three heads, nine eyes, three huge mouths, and the crimson skin, Sam could make out what looked like big smiles on the faces.
'Where am I? What do you want?'
The jailer bowed. It took a few minutes for the alien to get his heads to bow in unison. 'To study humans with impeccable colour taste.'
The words weren't spoken but somehow planted into Sam's mind and in Sam's own Mancunian accent. Sam looked at his burgundy shirt and black chinos.
'We collect specimens who wear red. It is the most noble of colours. And get ready. You will have company soon.'
The jailer left.
Ten minutes later, the door opened again. The jailer was back with a girl in a big red coat.
'Jess!'
Seeing The Other Side
Perspective is a strange thing. I had mine, she had hers, and my mother thought we were both stupid. And we were all right!
I saw the strange craft first. Not that you could miss it as it landed on the park behind our house, leaving no room for a daisy to breathe, yet alone for anyone to be able to walk on what was now crushed and burnt grass.
Jess and I had to go and see it, of course. We weren't an item, much to my mother's relief. She thought Jess was too much of a dreamer and with that odd business of her parents and brother Sam vanishing, Mother didn't want me to get involved. I told her we ought to be kind to Jess, it wasn't her fault she'd been abandoned effectively. Mother only accepted Jess because she was my only real friend. There aren't any other Goths round here, see.
Not much happens in our village and we wanted to get to the park before the TV crews turned up to film the UFO. Jess had to grab her red coat - she rarely went anywhere without it. I always teased her about it - you know the kind of thing. Fancied being Little Red Riding Hood Mark Two, did you? Jess just ignored it all. Her coat had been made for her by her granny.
Anyway, we went and had a good look at the craft, despite my mother yelling at us both to stay away from the thing. Mother couldn't see how unique it was to be there at the park. I couldn't see that Jess would want to go on board the UFO when the doors opened. Mother dragged me away before I could go after Jess.
'She'll be out in a sec. Come on, get away.'
Jess didn't come out. The UFO vanished. Mother screamed. I looked at her in disgust. If anyone had the right to scream, it was Jess. And I said so before walking away.
Every night now I look at the stars and wonder where Jess is.
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