Hot Space
Nick began work in his garden. He loved mornings like this. So quiet. So
peaceful. He closed his eyes and took a breath. This was the perfect morning.
Sort of.
“Oi!” a voice shouted. The old man froze. No. Don’t tell me…
Against his better judgement, Nick turned around. Clyde stuck her head out of
her door, grinning.
“Hi!” she shouted. Nick threw back his head and groaned.
“What do you want?” he asked. The dirty old biddy walked out of her house. Nick
looked back at his house.
“My wife is inside, you know?” he asked. Clyde gave him a goofy smile. Once
again, his words never got through her thick head. She took a step forward and
he stepped back.
“Oh no, you are not doing this today!” Nick snapped. Clyde giggled like a little
naughty schoolgirl. She ran forward and tackled her crush.
“Gah!” Nick shouted as they fell back into the chopped-up grass. Clyde was still
smiling.
“Get off me!” he shouted. She threw back her head and laughed. Nick tried to
push her off but she wouldn’t let go.
“This is the third time this week,” he muttered. He turned back to his house.
“Kay!” Nick shouted. “Help me! Clyde’s at it again! Kay! Kay!” His wife sat at
the living room window just staring at him.
“Kay!” Nick shouted again. “Kay!” The whole time, Clyde just laughed.
----------
Aisha, Lewis, and Muriel sat in the Sunny Plum, waiting. They stared at each
other, daring someone to speak. Annie and Tucker watched from behind the
counter.
“What do you think happened?” Tucker whispered.
“I don’t know,” Annie said. “And I don’t like it.” She walked over to their
table.
“Anyone ready to order?” Annie asked. The three old biddies looked up. Suddenly,
the bell rang as the glass door opened.
“’Ello, ello!” Clyde shouted with her arms in the air. Aisha sighed and rolled
her eyes.
“Clyde!” Lewis said. “So good to see you.” Clyde snickered to herself as she
slid into the café. She took a seat between Muriel and Aisha. The leader
wrinkled her nose.
“Why are you covered in grass?” she asked. Clyde burst out into loud laughter.
Annie cleared her throat.
“Anyone ordering anything?” she asked.
“Four teas,” Aisha said.
“Five pence,” Annie said. The old biddies looked over at the leader. Aisha
looked at all of them.
“What?” she asked. Her friends grinned at her. Aisha rolled her eyes.
“Fine,” she said. The rich old biddy pulled out her purse and paid up. Annie
took the money. She turned and walked back to the counter. Clyde put her arms
behind her head.
“So, what did I miss?” she asked. Her friends all looked at her with no emotion
on her face.
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William was asleep on the couch when the phone rang. He forced his eyes closer
tighter. He had a guess of who it was.
“Not now,” he muttered to himself.
“I’ve got it!” Clover shouted from the kitchen. William turned over on the
couch.
“Grandma!” she said. Her uncle sighed to himself. And here we go. The call only
lasted for five minutes.
“Really?” Clover asked. “When? Okay, goodbye.” She hung up the phone and ran
into the living room.
“Uncle!” she shouted. William put his arms over his head.
“What?” he asked. Clover put her hands on her hips.
“Grandma’s coming to visit!” she said. The old man sat up like a bullet.
“You can’t be serious,” he said. His niece blinked.
“Did I do something wrong?” she asked. William was quick to shake his head.
“No, no,” he said. “You didn’t do anything.” The old man stood up walked down
the hall.
“Uncle?” Clover asked. He walked past her and disappeared down the hall. She
heard the door close. Muzzled screaming followed behind. Clover pressed her lips
together and shook her head.
“Oh boy…” she muttered to herself.
-----------
Aisha finished her tea before sitting it down on the saucer.
“My niece is coming for the weekend,” she said. Her friends didn’t speak at
first. Lewis narrowed her eyes.
“What does this have to do with us?” she asked.
“I’m going to need your help,” Aisha admitted rather sheepishly. Her friends’
eyes widened.
“What?!” they shouted.
“Yeah…” the leader said, nodding. Muriel, Lewis, and Clyde all looked at each
other. The three of them started to get up.
“Get back here,” Aisha hissed as they tried to sneak away. Her friends all
froze. Aisha looked up, frowning. The look in her eyes warned them about how
serious this was going to be. Something told them that didn’t have any choice
other than to agree. Too late to back out now. Aisha poured herself more tea.
End