Invisible World

Muriel is about to snap.

“How long do you plan to stay here?” she asked aloud. Tre and Evan looked up. The old biddy had the look of fire in her eyes.

“Why are you even here?” she asked. “I liked being alone. I didn’t have to clean up after everyone. The house was so quiet. Why did you have to come back?!” Evan and Tre looked at each other.

“Are you okay?” Tre asked.

“No!” Muriel shouted. She gritted her teeth and tried not to scream. “I can’t do this.” She got up and walked out the door. Her son and ex-husband looked at each other.

“What was all that about?” Evan asked. Tre shrugged and shook his head.

---------

Muriel made her way down to the Sunny Plum. Clyde, Lewis, and Aisha already sat at their usual table.

“Yo,” Clyde said, waving. Muriel sighed as she walked over to the table.

“I can’t take this anymore!” she complained. “They have to go!” The old biddy buried her head in her hands.

“They are driving me nutters,” Muriel complained. Meanwhile, Annie and Tucker watched them from behind the counter. The wife narrowed her eyes.

“Oh dear,” she said. “Not this again.” Tucker turned his head.

“But they haven’t done anything this time,” he said. His wife looked at him.

“Yet,” she added. “I am not taking any chances.” She took a breath and walked over to the old biddies’ table. Muriel looked up when she heard the footsteps.

“What can I get you?” Annie asked.

“I don’t care,” the old biddy wailed. The café owner frowned as she looked over at Muriel’s friends.

“Just get her some tea,” Aisha said in a low voice. Annie wrote down the order.

“Okay,” she said. “I will be right back.” Muriel dragged her head in her hands as Annie walked away.

“I can’t take this anymore,” she said. “They have to go. Both of them!”

“You can’t throw them out like that,” Aisha said. Muriel glared through the cracks between her fingers.

“And why not?” she asked.

“They are family,” the leader said.

“So?” Muriel asked. Aisha tried to think of something to say, but nothing came out. The other old biddy lowered her hands as rage started to build up.

“Help me,” she said.

“What?” Lewis asked.

“I can’t take this,” Muriel said. “They have got to go. Help me throw them out!”

“Now, Muriel…” Aisha said.

“Please!” Muriel begged. She slammed her hands down onto the table that it shook. Her friends grabbed their cups and plates.

“Oi!” Tucker yelled. “Don’t go around banging on tables! They are a pain in the arse to fix. You break it, you pay for it! You hear me?” Muriel took in a deep breath.

“Yes,” Lewis said. Tucker didn’t take his eyes off the circle of old biddies. Muriel leaned back in her chair.

“Just… please,” she pleaded. “I’m about to lose my mind. Please… help me.”

“Okay,” Lewis said in a low voice. “Sure. We can help you.” Aisha looked at her with big eyes.

“What are you doing?” she mouthed.

“Just go with it,” Lewis mouthed back. Muriel’s eyes lit up.

“Cheers!” she said aloud. For the first time today, she started to smile. Aisha pressed her hand to her forehead. Lewis shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. Meanwhile, Annie came back to the table, frowning.

“It’s always the same crap,” she muttered under her breath. The café owner shook her head and served Muriel her tea.

End