Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
William looked like he was about to faint.
“It’s you!” he said. Lily raised an eyebrow at him.
“William, is that you?” she asked. His nieces started at him as he tried to back
away as he shook his head.
“Uh-uh,” he said. “No way! Nope! No way! No! No!” The other old biddies shook
their heads.
“What are you talking about, William?” Muriel asked. The man looked like he was
going to scream.
“No! Why did you say that?!” he asked. The former teacher stood up.
“I knew it was you!” she said. William hung his head in shame. Meanwhile,
Crusher turned to his aunt.
“What’s with him?” he asked. Annie shushed him as she held up her hand. She
could take her eyes off of these patrons. The old biddies weren’t her favorite
people but still…
“Uncle, what’s wrong?” Clover asked. William started to look dead inside.
----------
“How do you know each other?” Liz asked.
“Our school days,” Lily said. “William was always getting into trouble with the
teachers. The old man frowned as he tried to look anywhere but at her. The old
biddies were either looking uncomfortable for him or trying not to laugh.
“Good times!” Clyde shouted. Lily stuck up her nose when she said that.
“Do you have to be so loud?” she asked. The dirty old biddy grinned at her. The
teacher turned her head away.
“Please don’t grin,” she said. “Your teeth give me nightmares.” Clyde frowned as
she stuck up the V-sign. She clicked her tongue for good measure. Lily gave her
the stink eye.
“Were you two ever dating?” Clover asked.
“No!” William and Lily were quick to say. Lewis threw back her hand and laughed.
“Them? An item?” she asked. “You’d sooner see me in a dress than them being
together.”
“You didn’t have to say all of that,” Muriel said.
“What?” Lewis said, shrugging. The next question just had to go and make things
even more uncomfortable.
“Would you like to date?” Clover asked. Everyone got quiet.
“No!” Lily and William were quick to say. The younger niece held up her hands.
“Okay, okay,” she said. Liz put her hand on her shoulder. Annie walked over to
William and his nieces’ table.
“What can I get you today?” she asked. Everyone could breathe from the
discomfort.
“Three teas,” William said. Annie walked back to the counter. The man leaned
back and rubbed his forehead. He looked and saw his nieces staring at him. Oh…
The old biddies looked at each other.
“Why did you do that to him?” Muriel asked.
“What?” Lily asked. The other old biddies sighed and shook their heads. Clyde
smiled as she laughed to herself. Crusher went around and served everyone their
tea without saying a word.
End