Everybody Wants to Rule the World

It was Juliet to come home first. Muriel and her friends saw the car in front of the house. The old biddy’s heart sank.

“Oh no…” she mumbled. Aisha rubbed her on the back.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. Muriel shook her head.

“No! It’s not!” she shouted. She tried to turn around and run away but the leader wouldn’t let her escape. To Muriel’s dismay, Lewis was helping Aisha.

“What are you doing?!” she wailed. “I thought you were on my side!”

“Well at least it isn’t Tre,” the farmer said. Muriel looked up at her as she paused. She didn’t say anything as Lewis and Aisha pulled her along to the front door. Clyde followed behind with her hands behind her head.

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It’s another day at the Sunny Plum. Danny Murdock stood, looking out the window.

“Danny!” Annie’s voice shouted from the back. The big boy froze in place before he groaned.

“Auntie!” he wailed. “I don’t like being called that! Call me Crusher!” He turned to see Annie behind the counter, shaking her head.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Danny,” she said. “And why aren’t you wearing your vest?”

“I don’t like to wear it,” he complained. “It makes me look stupid.”

“No, it doesn’t,” his aunt said. “It makes you look smart. You have to look professional for this.” Danny frowned as she took him by the arm.

“You don’t have time to mess around,” Annie said. “You have training today. Come on. Go put your vest on and wash your hands.”

“Yes, Auntie,” Danny/Crusher said. He reluctantly followed his aunt to the kitchen.

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Clover peeked over the fence.

“Ms. Muriel?” she asked. The old biddies looked up.

“Oh, hello Clover,” Muriel said.

“I knew that was you,” she said. Her neighbor walked over to her.

“How have you been?” the old biddy asked. “Are you back for the summer again?”

“Yeah,” the young woman said. “I am thinking about moving back, in fact.”

“Da City dat bad, eh?” Clyde asked. Aisha frowned as she smacked her on the back of her head.

“Ow!” the dirty old biddy wailed.

“Give it up, already,” Lewis said. “She’s not going to change.” Aisha huffed. Clover shrugged and nodded.

“I just needed a break,” Clover said.

“Is Liz here?” Muriel asked.

“No,” the young woman said, shaking her head. Everyone looked up when they heard Muriel’s front door open.

“Mum?” a woman’s voice asked. Muriel nervously laughed.

“Hello, Jules,” she said with a little wave. Juliet perked up and ran over to her mother. She ran over and hugged Muriel. Her mother tried to look happy to see her daughter. The old biddy looked at the others and Clover for help. Her friends didn’t say a word.

“Hello, Ms. Jules,” Clover said. Muriel frowned at her. Juliet looked up.

“Clover!” she said as she let go of her mom. “How have you been? You’ve gotten so big!” The younger woman chuckled.

“Fine,” she said. “I’m doing good. How are you doing?” Juliet started to frown a little bit.

“Owen left me,” she said. Everyone looked up at her.

“What?!” the old biddies asked. Juliet lowered her head.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. Muriel dropped her shoulders. The situation had changed.

End