Pete decided he was going to try all the entertainment options available on the ship. Well, all the species-appropriate ones at any rate. Maybe even a few of the marginal ones. He wasn’t sure what zero-G rollerskating would look like, but he was looking forward to finding out.
He also signed up to attend a show that evening that was listed as a performance of cultural taboos from an uncivilised world on the galactic fringes explored through interpretive dance and vocal noises. It sounded a bit pretentious if he was honest. But he figured he could always duck out early if it didn’t work for him.
After dinner, he spent some time exploring the ship until it was time to head to the ship’s entertainment suite. He got a bit lost, though, so by the time he found where he was going, he’d already missed the start of the show.
As the door slid aside, someone was belting out a song that seemed to be called ‘Donald, Where’s Your Troosers’. Songs in the GU were hit and miss. Pete loved some of it, but other styles were so completely alien as to be completely unrecognisable as music. This reminded him of … something. The room was crowded, with most of the audience standing. Pete couldn’t actually see where the singer was. He crept as unobtrusively as he could into a place where he could see the show.
As he moved, a strange sensation gripped his chest. He couldn’t put his finger on what it was, but something definitely had his heart racing.
When he caught the singer’s eye, Pete’s heart stopped beating and simultaneously decided to make a break for it. Was it hot in here? How could it be too hot? Pete was perpetually cold. Nothing was ever too hot for him. And yet…
Pete’s presence seemed to have the same consequences for the singer. He tripped over his words and then stood stock still.
Kevin!
As surprising as it was to see him, Pete couldn’t help but laugh when he thought of how he would have responded a few short years ago. Because it wasn’t just Kevin. Or rather, it was just Kevin. But it was Kevin in a large blond wig and a face full of makeup: blue eyeshadow and caky mascara. We wore a long, stripy scarf, a fedora, and red stilettos – and nothing else.
The two men stood gawping at one another. Pete’s heart couldn’t decide whether it wanted to beat like a runaway train or stop completely. Kevin opened and closed his mouth several times, but nothing came out.
After a few false starts, Kevin said, ‘Sorry. Sorry, darlings. The show must go on, eh? No matter what ghosts from your past walk through the door.’ He started his strange song over, while motioning at Pete to stay where he was.
