Esther Chilton

Watching

Bem peered through the window, his eyes wide at the goings on inside. ‘Can you believe what they’re doing?’

Arun joined him, her cold and clammy skin touching his. She smiled at him.

‘Nothing could surprise me,’ she said, turning to look inside at the huge kitchen table, brimming with tasty treats.

‘No,’ she said, ‘surely not?’

He laughed, a shrill sound, building to a crescendo, ‘I’ve seen everything now.’

***

In the cozy cottage, Ida crossed to the stove and snuck a spoon of syrupy sauce into her mouth. She closed her eyes, savouring its sweetness. All she needed now were her guests to arrive and everything would be perfect. The doorbell rang and Ida hurried down the hall, oblivious to two pairs of eyes still staring at her table.

***

‘I don’t think we need to see any more,’ Bem said. ‘I didn’t think they would be this primitive.’

Arun giggled, ‘Or so wasteful. Four of us could sleep on that. This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen so far. Don’t they realise it’s upside down?’

‘I dread to think what they sleep on. The Council will love this. Poor earthlings, they’ll be no threat to us at all…’

***