Beautiful World

“Tre, who is this?” Muriel asked. Her son looked between her and the girl he was kissing.

“Uh…” he said. The girl looked at him.

“Who is this?” she asked. Muriel stepped forward.

“I am his mother,” she said. “And who are you?” The woman turned back to Tre.

“Mother?” she asked. “You said that you lived alone!”

“Sort of…” Tre said with uncertainty in his voice. He nervously laughed as he rubbed the back of his head.

“He certainly does not!” Muriel snapped. Aisha grabbed her by the shoulders.

“Now, now,” she said. “Surely we can talk about this.” Her usually meek friend whipped her head around, glaring. Lewis and Clyde quickly shook their heads.

“Shhh,” Aisha said. “Shhh. Shhh.” Muriel still looked ready to attack someone. The leader clapped her hands together.

“Okay!” she said aloud. “Let’s just have a new cup of tea and talk.” Everyone just looked at her. Aisha turned and marched into the kitchen. The remaining old biddies looked at each other. Tre felt like running away. His lady friend gave him a stern look, demanding answers.

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The kitchen became full really quick.

“Here you are!” Aisha said as she came out with a tray of tea cups.

“Why ya actin’ like it’s ya ‘ouse?” Clyde asked. The leader clicked her tongue as she set down the tray. Muriel grabbed a cup without taking her eyes off of her son. Tre pressed his lips together.

“Uh…” he said. His mother dared him to speak. He put his arm around the younger woman.

“So… This is Yasmin,” Tre said. “This is my girlfriend.” Yasmin looked ready to push him off.

“Girlfriend?” Lewis asked.

“Since when?” Muriel asked.

“Uh…” Tre said.

“Six months,” Yasmin grumbled. The old biddies stared at them, wide-eyed.

“What?!” they shouted.

“When were you going to tell me?” Muriel asked with her arms folded across her chest.

“I don’t know!” Tre said. “Soon, maybe?” He rubbed his forehead.

“That is not good enough,” his mother hissed. Tre began to wish that he was anywhere but here.

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Juliet sat at the Sunny Plum café, waiting for her tea. She looked up when she heard footsteps walk up to her.

“I’m sorry about that,” Annie said. “Tucker can be incompetent at times.”

“I heard that!” her husband yelled from the counter. She glared at him before setting the tea down on the table.

“Thank you,” Juliet said in a low voice. Annie noticed the look on her face.

“What’s the matter, dear?” she asked. The younger woman sighed.

“It’s my brother,” she said. Juliet paused. “I don’t know how exactly to say this.” Annie gave her a curious look.

“Is he in trouble?” she asked.

“Maybe…”

“What do you mean?”

Juliet nervously laughed. “He has a kind of girlfriend…” She hoped that she didn’t have to finish that sentence.

“What do you mean kind of?” Tucker asked. Juliet turned her head and nervously laughed.

“I think she’s using him,” she finally admitted. “But I don’t have any proof. He keeps buying her expensive gifts with money that he doesn’t have.”

“Where is he getting the money?” Annie asked. Juliet turned back to her.

“I don’t know,” she said.

“Oh no,” Annie said. “Do your parents know about this girlfriend?” Juliet clenched her together as the color drained from her face.

“That’s what I was afraid of,” she said. She buried head in hands. “Oh no…”

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“What do you do for a living?” Aisha asked.

“I’m a model,” Yasmin said. Muriel cut a cold glare at her. The leader had to grab her on the shoulder to keep her from jumping across the table. The old biddy was already screaming in her head. Yasmin snorted and rolled her eyes.

“You live with your mum?” she asked.

“Sort of,” Tre admitted. “I’m looking for my own place at the moment.” Muriel wrinkled her nose.

“Since when?” she asked under her breath. Tre opened his mouth, but before he could speak, the front door opened in the living room.

“I’m home,” a man’s voice said. Everyone looked up to see Evan stood in the doorway looking just as confused.

“Oh…” he said. “What is all of this then?” Tre wanted to sink down into the floor and disappear forever.

Bad New Girlfriend