Every time Richard thought of the way Bob had said good night he practically choked on his waffle. His mother was dating an alien! And she didn’t even know it! “Richard, honey, you’re not eating,” his mother said to him from across the table. She put down the Sunday paper. “I’m beginning to worry about you.” And I’m already worried about you, thought Richard. Your new boy friend probably has an antenna behind his ear. But all he said was, “I’m okay, Mom. Just not too hungry.” “Try to eat a little,” said his mother. Then something in the paper caught her eye. “I don’t believe this!” she said. “The oil spill is getting bigger. And nobody seems to know why.” “Bad news!” Aric’s voice boomed into Richard’s head. Richard dropped his fork. He always forgot that the alien could speak to him this way—as if he were inside Richard’s brain. Actually, he was inside Richard’s pocket. “It is the aliens,” said Aric. “Pollution levels will rise sharply from now on.
