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Through The Vast Unknown
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5
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"I'm not sure I like the idea of David `Kid' Jenson being an
intergalactic ambassador of Pop," says Julie.
They all go solemn for a bit.
The other Julie sits up. "Anyway," she says, "aliens have dreadful taste.
Look at Space 199-" Her words get cut off as a football slams into her
head at high speed. She crumples to the ground and a cheer goes up from
the group of boys hovering on the sidelines.
*
<What is that strange sound? It must be a message of peace from beyond
the reaches of our Galaxy.>
<What you talking like that for, Doreen? What's wrong with you?>
<Eh? Oh, sorry. I came over all intergalactic. It's this noise in my
head. Do you think there's anybody out there? Really?>
<Well, they're making a flaming racket, if there is. Can't you switch it
off? It's doing my head in. We're not used to such excitement.>
The noise continues from Doreen's head. "Please Interstellar Policeman,"
it goes, "Oh won't you give us a sign, give us a sign, that we've reached
you? Oh-woh-oh-woh!"
<Do you think it's a cry for help?> says Doreen.
<Could be. Pass us another biscuit.>
*
"Give us another biscuit, Debbie," says Julie. "Julie'll think she's
eaten them herself when she comes round."
"Do you think she'll be alright like that?" says Debbie, taking the last
two Hobnobs and giving Julie one.
They've dragged Julie's comatose body off the football pitch, and over to
the swings. She's hanging half on the roundabout, turning round slowly.
Her head's dangling down and it keeps catching the lump in the ground
where a tree root's broken up the tarmac.
"Well I'm not moving her again. She weighs more than Saturn," says Julie.
"Besides. She looks so peaceful."
An ambulance screams past the edge of the Park, lights and sirens
blaring.
"Cool," says Julie. "Wonder where it's going?"
They look at each other.
They get back home just in time to see Frances hobbling into the
ambulance, her shorts round her ankles, and her bare bottom peeping
through the centre of the toilet seat.
Debbie and Julie hide behind a lamppost, but Frances spots them.
"You!" she yells. "You-!"
Debbie smiles at the Paramedic. "She's delirious," she says. "Glue. You
know..." She makes a sniffing action with her nose. The Paramedic sighs
like he doesn't understand what's become of the younger generation.
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6