“Why were you looking for us?” Billy said, finally finding some courage in the fact that Cord and Lyca didn’t seem like the type of aliens that would vaporize him and his sister at the drop of a hat. They stopped scuffling and made an effort to look sensible.

“It’s simple really,” Cord began.

“No it isn’t!” Lyca crowed, but Cord gave him a look and he shut up.

“Basically, we were hoping that you would be able to come and play football for our team,” said Cord bashfully. Billy and Sally looked at each other. “Football?” Billy said.

“Yes. We’ve just got two games left in the season, and we really need to win at least one of them,” Cord said, “Otherwise we’ll be relegated. And we don’t want that.”

Lyca shuddered as if to emphasise what an appalling thought this was. Cord gestured towards Billy, “Don’t worry Mr Beckham”, and then nodded towards Sally, “Mr Rooney, or if I may, David and Wayne.”

Billy and Sally glanced at the replica shirts of their footballing heroes and instantly realised that the aliens actually thought they were Beckham and Rooney! They turned and stared at each other, their mouths hanging open in horror. It was a terrible mistake!

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