Blackpool Aliens

by

Pamela Winning

  

A cold wind was blowing in from the sea and there was more than a hint of rain in the dull, autumn sky. Louise tightened her grip on the buggy as she crossed Dickson Road by Funny Girls, and nearly tripped over the pram wheels as she hurried out of the way of a taxi that hurtled round the corner.

“You ignorant bloody bastard!” She hissed in response to the driver’s sustained blast of car horn and muttered a wish for revenge as the vehicle sped away.

She turned on to Talbot Road and stopped to fasten her coat and pull the rain shield over the buggy. Amy had been lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the train and remained undisturbed, even by the taxi. Louise tucked the soft blanket round her.

“I could have nodded off, myself, babe,” she sighed.

She walked briskly through Talbot Square and on to the Promenade.  Keeping her hood up was impossible and her long hair was constantly whipped into her face. The tide was reaching the sea wall, a wild mass of choppy, foaming waves blending into the grey sky. Other people milled around, all fighting the weather, as she was. She headed towards the Tower, Central Pier and the Golden Mile, not really knowing where she was going, but sure that she would recognise the right shop.

The smell of hotdogs and fried onions mingled with doughnuts and fresh candy-floss. Louise smiled. It was the aroma of her childhood. She passed a sea-food stall and thought of the times she’d sat on the beach with a paper bag of shrimps, pulling the heads and tails off to eat them. Someone with a weary voice too close to the microphone, called bingo numbers from the back of an amusement arcade. Someone without a mic was offering two for one sticks of Blackpool rock.

At last, she found the right ‘fancy goods’ shop. Hanging from the canopy, blowing in the wind, but protected by cellophane, were a collection of brightly coloured ‘teddy style’ aliens.

“Can I have a lime-green alien, please?” Louise tucked the buggy into the shelter of the canopy and counted some money from her purse. Amy had woken up and was chattering. “Just a minute, Amy.”

“This one, love?” The sales girl lifted down the cute version of Roswell, small body and large head with huge almond-shaped eyes and black circle for a mouth.

“Yes, please. Oh, could I have two? Both green.”

“Ay-Lee!” Amy called, sitting up with a beaming smile.

“Yes, Ay-Lee for Amy, and we won’t lose this one, will we?” Louise unwrapped one and gave it to her. Amy hugged it, kissed it and stroked the soft fur.

“Aw, isn’t she sweet!” The shop assistant bent down to see Amy.

“She will be now she’s got her Ay-Lee,” Louise put the second one in her bag. “And we’ve got a spare. Thank you.”

The hint of rain had grown into drizzle and the wind seemed to have strengthened. Louise hurried along the Prom’ listening to Amy babbling to Ay-Lee and smiled to herself. Next train home and no irate taxi drivers.