Because the Night

Long nights. Everyone has them. Brit-Wales is no acceptance. It all started with a power failure in the town. By six in the evening, everything was pitch black. The townspeople had to come up with a way to pass the time until the power came back.

Lewis sat down at her kitchen town with a cold cup of tea in her hand. At least, Kat wasn’t crying anymore. Her aunt didn’t hold her breath on that lasting long. Lewis frowned as she took a sip.

“So what are you going to do now?” she asked. Kat shook her head.

“I loved him so much,” she said in a soft voice. Her aunt rolled her eyes.

“You always say that about every guy that you date,” she muttered under her breath. Kat looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

“Excuse me?” she asked. Lewis set down her mug and sighed.

“Have you ever thought about just spending time for yourself for a change?” she asked.

“Huh?”

“Look, you do not need to have a man in your life all of the time. Just try being single for a little while. You might actually be happy for a change and not come running to me every time it doesn’t work out.”

Kat looked at her like a lost little pet puppy. “I can do that?”

“Yes. It worked for me.”

“But you’re old.”

Lewis gritted her teeth in an attempt not to bite her niece’s head off. She’s lucky that my brother made me promise to look after her, she thought.

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Muriel ended up staying at her next-door neighbor’s house for the night. She couldn’t help but to notice the tension in the air between Liz and Clover. Part of her told her not ask, but she couldn’t help but to open her mouth for some reason.

“Excuse me,” the old biddy spoke up. “But is there something the matter?” The sisters looked up at her.

“Yes,” Clover said.

“No,” Liz said. Muriel’s eyes switched back and forth between them before turning her attention to William and Greg. Both men only shrugged and shook their heads. Muriel rubbed her forehead as she whispered that she could’ve ended it there. But, Clover blew up her bangs as she frowned.

“Liz doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut,” she complained. Her sister threw up her hands.

“Hey, I’m only trying to help you out,” she said.

“I didn’t ask for it!”

“You and Greg weren’t going anywhere!”

“And that was fine.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“Yes, it was.”

Liz smiled and raised her eyebrows. Muriel looked back and noticed Greg looking away, red in the face. Her eyes turned to William.

“You don’t even want to know,” he mouthed at her. Muriel nodded and kept her eyes low.

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Meanwhile, Clyde smiled as she watched Nick trying to fix one of the generators in their neighborhood. She darted straight for him in the yard.

“Nick, me honey!” she shouted. The mechanic paused and shivered as he heard the footsteps getting closer. Clyde jumped and tackled him in a wild hug. She laughed as he tried to push her off.

“Did ya miss me?” the grungy old biddy asked. Nick’s nose hairs curled as he smelled her worn out jacket.

“Get off!” he shouted. “I have work to do and I’m married!” Clyde flashed her crooked yellow-green teeth as she grinned at him.

“That’s barry!” she shouted. “Take meh wit ya!”

“No!”

“Yes!”

Inside his house, Nick’s wife, Kay, sat in the kitchen window watching her neighbor man-handle her husband like she normally did. At one point, Nick turned and mouthed at her to come to his rescue. She just sat there was a blank stare on her face. Her husband shook his head at how useless his wife was asking in this situation again. Clyde grinned the whole time.

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Aisha and Karen sat around in the Sunny Plum Café. Annie and Tucker watched them from behind the counter. The former frowned at the remaining two old biddies.

“How long do you plan on staying here?” she asked. Aisha turned her attention to the owners.

“It’s too hot at my place,” she said.

“And you?” Annie asked Karen.

“Oh, I can’t really see too well in my house as it is,” the other old biddy said. “I would be tripping over everything and hurting myself.”

“Uh-huh,” Annie muttered.

“Come on, love,” Tucker said as he touched her on the shoulder. “They aren’t going to do anything. We can let them stay a little bit longer. We’re closed already anyway.” His wife snorted as she pushed him off.

“Whatever,” she grumbled. The woman walked to the back of the café.

“Where are you going?” Tucker asked.

“To bed!” Annie shouted. “You deal with them. They are your problem now!” She slammed the door from down the hall. Karen, Aisha, and Tucker nervously chuckled.

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By morning, the power was restored. Needless to say, everyone was happy to be home and away from their company before noon.