Atmosphere/She’s Lost Control

Around noon, a young man got off another train at the station. His sister would already be there. She didn’t even know that he was coming back here too. The last thing he expected was to come home. The young man didn’t want to have to come down to this. But, what choice did he have? He threw back his head and sighed.

Might as well go and get this over with, he thought. The young man began his walk into town.

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“Need a fag?” Clyde asked. Aisha cut a cold glare at her.

“Wha?” the old biddy asked.

“Disgusting!” the leader said. “Smoking is unhealthy and gross!”

“Okay, okay, geez,” Clyde said. Juliet tilted her head.

“Is something wrong, mum?” she asked. Muriel forced herself to smile.

“No, honey!” she said. “What gave you that idea?” Her daughter gave her a strange look, but said nothing. At the counter, Tucker and Annie watched the reunion play out.

“Why isn’t she so happy again?” Tucker asked. His wife shrugged.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “Maybe because she was happy to be free or something.”

“Ah,” her husband said. Muriel turned her head to them. The couple pretended to go back to work. Muriel put her head back on the table. Lewis rubbed her back.

“There, there,” she whispered. “It’ll be okay, we’ll get you through this. Hang in there.” Juliet kind of looked away as her mother groaned aloud again.

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But, it would get worse as Muriel would see hours later. That’s not coming up yet. For now, William, Liz, and Clover had just returned home when they spotted a man standing in front of Muriel’s house. The old man narrowed his eyes before a light blub went off in his head.

“You’re kidding me,” he said.

“Who is that?” Clover asked. William stepped forward, cocking his head.

“Tre?” he asked aloud. The young man turned his head.

“Bill?” he asked. William clenched his teeth.

“I told you never to call me that,” he hissed.

“Sorry, mate,” the Tre said.

“And don’t call me ‘mate’!” the old man barked. Tre backed up and put up his hands.

“Okay, sorry,” he said. Tre’s attention turned to Clover and Liz beside his former next-door neighbor.

“Liz, Clover,” he said. “You’ve grown up… quite well, may I add.”

“Uh… cheers,” Liz said. Clover looked the other way as her uncle glared at the young man. Tre took another step back. It was then another confused look came over William’s face.

“Say, Tre,” he said. “What are you doing back in Brit-Wales?”

“Oh,” Tre said. “I got divorced.”

“What?” William asked. “When this happen?”

“About six months ago. My ex took the flat and now I don’t have anywhere else to go for the time being. So, I just came home.”

The old man blinked at him. “Does Muriel know you’re here?”

“No…”

“Does Juliet know you were coming here?”

“No…” Tre gave William a blank look. “Wait, Jules is here too?”

“I see…” the old man said. Liz looked at her uncle.

“What’s going on?” she asked. William awkwardly chuckled. Muriel’s really not going to like this, he thought.

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Muriel sneezed outside of the Sunny Plum.

“Somebody’s talking about you,” Juliet said. Her mother eyed her.

“I can’t imagine who,” she said. Aisha clapped her hands together.

“So, what are we doing today?” she asked. Lewis, Clyde, and Muriel all groaned.

“Can I just go home for the day?” Muriel asked. “I don’t feel so good.” Juliet rubbed her on the shoulder. The leader sighed.

“You are excused since your daughter is in town today,” Aisha said. Muriel heavily breathed out.

“Cheers,” she said. The old biddy about fell onto the ground, but Juliet caught her just in time.

“Come on, mum,” she said. The daughter had to drag her mother away down the street. Lewis quietly waved.

“Good luck!” Clyde yelled, jumping up and down. Muriel only groaned again. Aisha smacked the dirty old biddy in the back of the head.

“Ow!” Clyde shouted.

“Don’t be a tosser,” the leader said. Muriel could barely hear them fighting as she was being dragged further away. She wished that this whole morning was a total nightmare.

She had no idea how much worse things would get for her back at home. For now, she wallowed in misery, thinking that she was already at the worst. If Evan comes back, I will kill myself, Muriel thought as she was dragged further away to home.

Children Returning to the Nest