Up on the Sun

Well, one of Muriel’s problems is solved. She leaned in at the doorway with a big smile on her face. Evan and Paula sat in the living room, talking.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Clyde asked next to her.

“Shhh!” Muriel said. Lewis and Aisha joined in for a listen.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” the leader whispered.

“Shhh!” the other three whispered back. Aisha had no choice but to be quiet. She couldn’t get the girls away from the doorway. Evan dropped his head. Paula shook her head. Muriel covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh. The new wife looked at the doorway. The biddies ducked back behind the doorway. Muriel couldn’t help but smile to herself.

“I’m going to get me house back,” she whispered through her hand.

“What about your kids?” Clyde asked. Aisha smacked her on the back of her head. Muriel paused before lowering her hand and frowning. Lewis and Aisha looked at Clyde.

“Wanker,” the farmer hissed. Clyde put up her hands.

“Sorry,” she whispered. Muriel buried her head in her hands and groaned to herself.

Meanwhile, Paula and Evan kept talking.

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“Auntie,” Crusher said at a table in the Sunny Plum. Annie looked up from drying a glass.

“Yeah?” she asked. The big boy stood up and sighed.

“How do I get a bird to like me?” he asked. Annie gave him a little smile.

“Was it that customer who came in here the other day?” she asked. Her nephew’s face turned bright red.

“Oh!” Annie said. Crusher held his face. He let out a loud moan.

“Aw,” his aunt said. She walked over to the table.

“You don’t have to feel embarrassed,” Annie said. “This sort of thing is normal.” Crusher dropped his head lower.

“Dan,” she said. Crusher didn’t respond at first.

“Dan!” she said again. “Look at me. Look at me.” Crusher looked at her through the cracks behind his fingers. She reached over and patted him on the shoulder.

“I can help you out,” Annie said in a low voice. The boy slowly looked up.

“You mean it?” he asked.

“Yes,” his aunt said. Crusher jumped to his feet.

“Thank you so much!” he shouted. Annie sat back in her chair.

“Good,” she said. “Now get back to the kitchen.”

“Yes, auntie!” the boy said. He quickly ran back to the kitchen. Annie shook her head to herself before she got up and followed behind.

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“Bye!” Muriel said as she waved at the car pulling away.

“So ‘hat’s it ‘hen?” Clyde asked as she walked up to the doorway. Aisha smacked her on the back of her head.

“Ow,” she muttered. Muriel took a step back into the house.

“Yep,” she said. “I hope that he doesn’t decide to stay with me when he’s having a roue with his wife.” Muriel slammed the door shut and rubbed her hands together.

“And that’s that!” she said.

“Mum! We’re out of milk again!” Tre shouted. Muriel frowned and rolled her eyes. Oh yeah. She still had her adult kids to deal with. The old biddy buried her head in her hands.

“You okay?” Lewis asked. All she got in response was a loud muffled groan.

End