The skies over the estate were still. It was full dark. A few grimy street lamps helped keep some sense of order at least those that hadn’t already been smashed or fallen into disrepair.
Vinny's breath formed a wispy cloud as he exhaled. There was no getting away from it, this was a fucking cold evening. Not for the first time he wished he lived closer to the pub. Finally, though at journey's end he stepped across the threshold and into his favourite place. Had he turned around in that moment he would have seen green flashes across the sky.
The first thing Vinny's eyes met as he entered the Rampant Horse was Dave who was cheerfully waving an empty pint glass at him. How did that bastard always time it to perfection?
Vinny sat down with his prize and passed Dave his. The first sip of the evening. Nectar.
"One of these days Dave you'll have a pint waiting for me."
"I often get one in for you but by the time you arrive I've usually drunk it.'
"Don't kid a kidder."
"I'm wounded by your comments.'
"I'll bet. So what's the gossip?”
"The place is super charged with the news mate. Aliens have been spotted in the skies over the estate."
"What?"
"You heard me. Green flashes have been seen in the skies for days now."
"I haven't seen any."
"Vinny everyone knows you walk around looking at your feet in case someone has dropped a fiver.'
"It's my turn to be wounded.'
Dave chuckled and sipped his pint. Vinny wasn't having any of it.
"So you're telling me Dave that in an infinite universe aliens have taken to cruising above this shite hole of an estate because they could find nowhere better to be?"
"All I can say Vinny is that people have been seeing green lights for days and no one in here has an adequate explanation for it."
Their attention was drawn to the door of the pub. Lecherous Lee staggered in, stumbled against a table and lurched to the bar where he demanded a pint.
Ken grumbled about manners but did the business for him, handing over a foamy one.
"Oi, Lee what's up with you?" Yelled Vinny.
"I'm just been blinded in one eye Vin."
Vinny sighed. Lee had always been melodramatic.
"What happened?"
"The fair is in town. They've been selling the little bastards on the estate those laser pens and one of them just got me in the car park."
"Green are they these lasers?"
"Aye."
Vinny looked smugly at Dave.
"Your turn to get a round in, Elliott."
© Darren Sant 2023
The real thing, people and place!