Shame on the Moon

William looked at the old biddies with a confused look on his face.

“Are you serious?” he asked.

“Why yes,” Aisha asked. He quickly shook his head.

“Oh no!” William said. “I don’t want it! I don’t need it!” He tried to slam the door in their faces. Aisha was quick to grab onto the door. The old man tried to close the door.

“Oi! Let go!” he shouted.

“Let us help you,” the leader said.

“No!” he shouted. “Now leave!”

“Please?” Aisha asked.

“William?” an old lady voice asked. “Who’s at the door?”

“No one!?” he shouted.

“Just friends!” Aisha yelled.

“What?” the old woman asked. William clicked his tongue and gritted his teeth.

“No one! They were just leaving!” he shouted.

“No, we’re coming in!” Aisha shouted. She managed to push open the door and walk inside. The other three old biddies followed her inside. Lewis, Clyde, and Muriel all had nervous grins on their faces. William gritted his teeth.

“Get out,” he growled.

“William?” the old lady asked. Everyone looked up to see her standing in front of the stairs. She had a confused look on her face.

“Who are these people?” she asked. William groaned and rolled his eyes.

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“What do you want for your birthday?” Tucker asked. Annie looked at him, frowning.

“Are you going to take me anywhere?” she asked.

“Maybe…” he said. The couple didn’t speak for a long moment. Annie frowned her arms across her chest.

“Take me out to dinner,” she said. Tucker nodded.

“Okay,” he said. “Where to?”

“Somewhere nice,” Annie said. Her husband tried to keep it together.

“Okay…” he said. Annie raised her eyebrow.

“I want to go into the city for dinner,” she said. Tucker gritted his teeth.

“Okay!” he said.

“Take me to Pearl’s,” Annie said. Her husband threw his hands up in the air.

“Good god, woman!” Tucker shouted. “Are you kidding me?! Do you really think I’m made of money?” His wife rolled her eyes.

“I knew it,” she said.

“Come on!” Tucker said. “I’m trying to meet you halfway here!” Annie frowned and shook her head. She turned and walked into the kitchen. Tucker threw his hands in the air.

“What do you want from me, woman?!” he shouted. The café owner slapped his arms to his side and groaned.

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All of the adults sat around the kitchen table. William glared at Aisha. No one would look at her. The clock ticking in the background filled out the silence. Muriel pressed her lips together.

“I probably should get going now,” she said. The old biddy tried to stand up, but Aisha quickly grabbed her wrist. Her friend turned her head. The leader shook her head. Muriel looked at the rest of the people at the table. She sighed and dropped her shoulders as she sat down.

“Anyone hungry?” Liz and Clover’s grandma asked. No answer. William snorted. Why were they there? He could just walk away. Seemed so easy. Who was going to stop him anyway?

Everyone looked up when the front door opened.

“We’re home,” Clover said as she and Liz walked inside. The girls paused when they saw all of the adults sitting in the kitchen.

“Oh…” Clover said. “I wasn’t expecting more people over for dinner tonight.”

“They aren’t staying,” William said.

“We would love to,” Aisha cut in. The nieces had confused looks on their faces.

“Uh… okay then,” Clover said. William sat back with his arms folded across his chest. This was going to be a long evening, wasn’t it?

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Meanwhile, a red sports car pulled up just outside of Lewis’ farm property. The driver turned it off and climbed out.

End