The Final Countdown

It’s the summer of 1986. The old biddies are up to their old tricks again. Lewis stretched her neck from side to side.

“I don’t feel like doing much today,” she said. She turned to her friends sitting in the grass. Muriel was looking out in the distance. Clyde picked at the grass.

“Where’s Aisha again?” she asked. The farmer took a moment to think.

“I think she went up north for a job,” she said.

“Oh yeah!” Clyde said. She scratched the side of her head.

“It’s so quiet,” Muriel said. The other two said nothing. They were free now. Just one problem. What now? That question didn’t concern them at all. Lewis flopped back into the grass.

“This is nice,” she said. Clyde was already snoring. Muriel hit her on the arm. The dirty old biddy rolled over and snored louder. Her friends rolled their eyes.

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Annie leaned on the counter of the Sunny Plum. It looked like it was going to be another slow day. Tucker went across the country to look after a sick relative. He still hadn’t come back. She sighed and shook her head.

“Aunty?” she heard behind her. Annie turned her head. Crusher stood in the doorway.

“Hm?” she asked. The boy pointed behind him in the kitchen.

“I finished cleaning up,” he said. Annie narrowed her eyes.

“Did you now?” she asked. Crusher slowly nodded. He forced himself to grin. Neither one dared to move. A bead of sweat ran down the side of the boy’s head.

“Clean by who’s standards?” she asked.

“Yours!” he said. Annie walked over to the doorway.

“So if I look in the kitchen, I’m not going to find anything out of place?” she asked. Crusher quickly shook his head.

“No!” he yelped. “No, not at all!” Annie gave him a stern look as she pondered going in for a look. The big boy looked like he was about to crack. Suddenly, the door above the bell rang. Aunt and nephew looked up to see a new customer walking in. It was then Crusher could finally breathe. Time to get to work.

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Sometime later, Lewis, Muriel, and Clyde walked into the Sunny Plum. It felt good to be back again. Today had been a relaxing day. Now it was time for a bite to eat.

“‘Ey there, Annie!” Clyde said with a wave. The woman behind the counter rolled her eyes.

“Four teas,” Lewis said.

“Nine pence,” Annie said. The old biddies looked at each other. Who was getting it this time? The owner of the café folded her arms across her chest.

“Nine pence,” she said again.

“Can you give us a moment?” Muriel asked. Annie shook her head as her frown deepened. Really? They were going to do this again? How many times have they done this now? Annie was prepared to throw them out.

“I’ll cover them this time,” a voice spoke up. The old biddies and Annie looked up. A woman in a nice brown and red dress alone at a table with her grey hair up in a tight bun. At first, the old biddies gave her a blank stare. Muriel covered her mouth as she gasped.

“Lily?” she asked. Clyde and Lewis looked at their friend as they turned back to the other woman. The woman at the table pushed up her brown-framed glasses.

“You act surprised to see me,” she said.

End