“Absolutely.”
“Okay then.”
“Which would you like to do?”
Joe finished his coffee, mentally running through what he knew about bowling. Launching a ball to knock down pins. It sounded a suitably violent distraction. “Bowling.”
“Right. I’ll find a place between here and Muswell Hill.”
They used the Tube and the bus to cross London. The underground system reminded Joe of his planet, though on his world the transport tubes ran straight and had no windows. And just like on his planet, no one spoke. Joe pressed his leg against Kaden’s and Kaden turned and smiled at him.
“I need to tell them I’ve moved again, don’t I?” Joe said.
“Yes, even though it’s only for three months. I have people I need to tell too.”
“And my bank?”
“Yep. We’ll sort it all out when we come back from bowling.”
Joe sighed. “Before we have fun?”
Kaden laughed. “It can wait until after.”
23
Kaden walked up to the bowling place with Joe almost bouncing with excitement at his side.
“Can I pay?” Joe asked.
“If you want. Two players and shoes.”
“We need shoes?”
“To let us slide and to protect the lanes.”
“Oh. Why’s it so loud in here?”
“You’ll see.”
Joe paid and they exchanged their footwear.
“Oh laces,” Joe groaned.
“I’ll do them for you. But you ought to learn. First you make a basic knot by crossing the laces and pulling one through. Then, make two loops. Bunny ears. Cross the ears, tuck one through the hole underneath, and pull tight. See?”
“Can’t you tie your laces either?” asked a small boy who’d snuck up next to them.
“Laurie, leave the gentlemen alone,” a woman said.
“It’s fine,” Joe said. “I know how to do it now. Watch.”
Kaden smiled as Joe repeated what he’d done, saying the instructions out loud as he tied the lace on his other shoe.
The little boy sat next to Joe and copied him.
“I did it!”
“You did!” Joe whooped. “So did I! We are amazing humans.”
