Late for the Sky II

Today is a do nothing day. The four old biddies lied on the grass, looking at the clouds in the sky. A smile came onto Lewis’ face.

“When was the last time when did something like this?” she asked.

“Yesterday,” Pauline replied. The farmer looked at her, puzzled.

“Did we?” she asked.

“Yes,” the rich old biddy said. The farmer thought about that answer. She nodded once it came to her.

“Oh yeah!” the farmer said, “We did, didn’t we?”

“That’s all we do,” Pauline said.

“Is that a problem?” Muriel asked. The rich old biddy frowned.

“Not really,” she said, “But it would be nice to something different for a change.”

“Why?” Clyde asked. Pauline shrugged at her. Muriel sat up.

“What is it, Mur?” Lewis asked. The old biddy looked at her friends.

“I just thought of something,” she said. Her friends all turned to with intrigue on their faces.

“What?” Pauline asked. Muriel paused before speaking.

“Did I close my bedroom window this morning?” she asked. Her friends lowered their heads. Muriel looked at all of them.

“What?” she asked.

“Muriel!” Pauline complained. The friend blinked at her.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“You always say things like that,” the rich old biddy complained.

“Do I?” the friend asked.

“Yes!” the other chimed in.

“Hm…” Muriel replied.

“Can’t you come up with something more profound?” Pauline asked. Muriel lied back down on the grass.

Clover sat on porch lost in thought. Liz came out to the front door. Her younger sister turned when she heard footsteps. She waved at the older girl.

“Hey,” Clover said.

“You okay?” Liz asked. The younger sister nodded.

“Yes,” she replied, “Why do you ask?” Liz walked over and sat down beside her.

“Are you still thinking about grandma?” she asked. Clover stared her with wide-eyed.

“How did…” she began to ask. Liz patted her on the head.

“I went down this same road too, remember?” she asked. Clover pressed her lips together as she looked down at her lap.

“Why does Uncle Will keep hiding here from us?” she asked. Liz took a second to piece together what she wanted to say.

“Well…”she said. “There’s probably a good reason that he won’t tell us about her.”

“Like with all of those liquor bottles that he keeps in his desk and under his bed,” her sister said.

“Yes,” Liz replied. But then, she paused. “Wait, what?”

Pauline looked over at Muriel.

“How are your kids doing these days?” she asked. Her friend frowned at that question.

“Juliet is doing fine as usual,” she said, “But Tre…” The look of discomfort on her face told her friends everything.

“Oh,” Lewis mumbled.

“I sent him off to college so I wouldn’t end up taking care of him for the rest of my life,” Muriel explained, “But with his rubbish grades and poor conduct, he’ll end up home with me.” She lowered her head at that thought.

“He’s turning into his father,” she complained.

“Maybe you could send him to work in the factory?” Pauline suggested. Muriel turned to her with that twisted expression on her face.

“Who would take him?” she asked. They all sighed at that question.

Tucker stood at the counter on this slow day waiting for the next customer to walk into the Sunny Plum. Annie’s a bit cranky at the moment. He tried everything in his power to avoid her today. She didn’t like to be cheered at times like this. Last time he tried was that years ago and it didn’t end well. He had to take cover at one of his friend’s house. Tucker shook his head.

“Get married, my father said,” he muttered to himself, “Life will be better he said.” The café owner sneered at his old man’s words. “I hope that bastard rots in his grave!” he complained aloud to no one in particular.

“Tucker!” his wife yelled, “The sink’s broken again!” The husband rolled his eyes.

“I just fixed it this morning!” he shouted back.

“Well you did a sodding job of it!” Annie screamed. Tucker groaned and rolled his eyes.

“Fine, give me a second,” he complained. Then, he walked back to the kitchen.

Clyde lifted her head and looked down the hill. A monkey-like grin spread across her grimy face.

“’Ey out!” she yelled, “Look who it is!” The other three old biddies looked down the hall to see Mrs. Brown and Mr. Brice walking hand-in-hand like two teenaged lovebirds. She laughed at what he was saying down below. Pauline rolled her eyes.

“In broad daylight?” she asked. “Really?”

“Sad,” Muriel replied. Clyde crawled further down for a better look. She drew in a lungful of air.

“’Ey, Brice! ‘Ey Brown!” she screamed at loud enough for the whole town to hear her, “’Ow’s yo ‘Usband?!?” The couple took off running below. Clyde fell back on the grass, rolling with laughter. Lewis couldn’t help but to smile to herself. Muriel only straightened her glasses.

“I can’t help but to feel sorry for Mr. Brice,” she said. Lewis and Pauline looked at her with odd looks on their faces.

“Why?” the rich old biddy asked. Muriel shrugged and leaned forward.

“Well, adultery makes people crazy,” she said, “Smart people are already crazy. I’m just worried when Mr. Brice will snap.” Lewis narrowed her eyes at her.

“You are really strange sometimes, you know that Mur?” she asked.

“What?” the other old biddy asked, “It’s true!” Lewis shook her head and looked back up at the clouds in the sky.

This is a rather slow day in Brit-Wales today. Maybe something more exciting will happen tomorrow. Maybe…

Slow News Day