The Killing Moon
Lewis could tell when trouble was heading for her. That man brought it with him.
Now, she had to try and keep the wall from breaking down. The farmer clapped her
hands.
“Right!” she said. “We’re going out to eat today!” All of the women looked
confused.
“Why would we do that?” Kat asked.
“We can’t stay in here feeling sad and sorry for ourselves,” Lewis said. She
turned her friends watching in the kitchen.
“Isn’t that right?” she asked.
“Sure!” Aisha said, standing up. Muriel and Clyde looked at each other. What was
the point of arguing anymore? At least Lewis was the one in command. But what
made her change her mind so quickly?
Lewis clapped her hands together.
“Come on! What is everyone sitting around for? We have to get going!” the farmer
shouted. She turned and walked out her front door. Lewis didn’t have a plan to
deal with all of this just yet.
----------
William flopped back onto the grass in front of his house. Liz still wasn’t back
yet. Clover decided to take off and leave too. It felt rather peaceful, but he
was still going to need some help with Liz. But he wasn’t good at this
relationship business.
That was he called Lewis to see if Liz was over there. Maybe that farmer could
be of some help. Then William frowned to himself. He long had she been widowed
now? Muriel had been divorced for how long? Aisha was still single and Clyde’s
husband ran off with a local hooker. Plus, Annie and Tucker constantly fought in
Sunny Plum. Had Gloria ever been in a relationship?
William’s frown deepened. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to have any of those talk
to Liz about relationships. He struggled to push himself up.
“Right,” he said to himself. At times like this, he had the girls to help him
up. Took about ten minutes, but he was standing up now.
“Right,” he said again. William turned and walked back into the house.
----------
“So what is the plan?” Aisha asked as they walked down the street. Lewis looked
over her shoulder.
“Honestly, I have no clue,” she said. Her friends had flat looks on their faces.
“What exactly happened?” Muriel asked.
“Nothing,” Lewis lied. She turned back to the younger women in front. Kat and
Liz had to be pulled off of the couch to get them outside. Even now, they didn’t
say a word.
“Are we just gonna to walk around town like this?” Clyde asked. Aisha’s nostrils
flared at that question. Muriel grabbed her by the shoulder.
“I guess…” Lewis said.
“You know what?” Aisha asked. “I still want some tea.” Lewis smacked herself in
the forehead.
“Oh bollocks, I forgot about that,” she said. She turned to her friends.
“I am so sorry about this,” she said.
“It’s fine,” Muriel said. Suddenly, Aisha took the lead in front of the old
biddies.
“Good thing I know just the place, isn’t it?” she asked. The younger women
turned back to her. The older ones said nothing. She had them trained after all.
----------
Annie looked up when she heard the bell ring over the Sunny Plum’s door. She
immediately frowned at the sight of Aisha and the other four old biddies. But
then she became confused when she saw Liz and Kat following behind.
“What’s going on here?” Tucker asked.
“Long story,” Lewis said. Aisha walked up to the counter.
“We’re not staying long,” she said. “Just six teas, please.” Annie reached as
she rang them up.
“Nine pence,” she said. Aisha paid with a smile on her face. Then the group took
their seats at the table.
“Hey Liz,” Tucker spoke up. “Your sister was in here earlier.” Liz turned to him
with a numb and tired look on her face.
“Oh…” he said quietly. Annie elbowed him hard in the side.
“Ow,” he said. They went back to staring at the table of old ladies talking and
waiting for their tea.
--------
William made his way over to Lewis’ farmhouse. The truck was in the path, but he
couldn’t tell if anyone was home. Still, William had to at least try. He walked
down the dirty path. Halfway there, he stopped. A young man with dusty hair
stood around the front door. He paced around his hands in his pockets. William
had never seen this twenty-something man before.
“Um… Who are you?” he asked. The young man stopped and turned his head. The men
stared at each other as they stood inches away.
End