Shining Star

It’s potluck night in Brit-Wales. Muriel was just happy to get out of the house. That was first time anyone saw her smiling in days.

“How are your children?” Aisha asked. Muriel forced herself to smile.

“Can we not talk about them at all?” she asked. “I just want a stress-free night tonight.” Lewis and Clyde looked over at the leader. Aisha put up her hands.

“Okay,” she said.

“Thank you,” Muriel said. She took a breath at the table. Clyde took a look around.

“When we eatin’?” she asked. Aisha reached over and smacked her in the back of the head.

“Ow!” Clyde wailed.

“Speak with proper grammar!” the leader snapped. Clyde stuck out her tongue while flashing the reserved V-sign. Aisha gritted her teeth.

“You!” she said through gritted teeth.

“Come on, guys,” Lewis said. Muriel tried not to laugh. Aisha cleared her throat.

“You’re right,” she said. Clyde turned to Lewis with her tongue out again. The farmer tried not to laugh. Muriel sat back, smiling.

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Tucker and Annie uncovered the food in the kitchen. The latter paused.

“Tucker,” she said.

“What is it now?” he asked.

“Did we bring the beef pie?” his wife asked. Tucker threw back his head and groaned.

“Yes,” he said. “We’ve been over this several times back at the café.”

“You sure?” she asked.

“Yes!” Tucker said aloud. Annie raised her eyebrow and began walking around at all the dishes on the counter. Her husband rubbed his forehead.

“Do I have to show it to you again?” he asked. Tucker walked down beside the counter and came up to one of the covered trays. He rolled back the foil.

“See?” he asked. “Here it is.” Annie walked over and took a look for herself. She still frowned as she saw the content. Tucker saw the look on her face.

“What is it now?” he asked.

“It got cold,” she said.

“Of course it did! It’s been in the back of the van for three hours,” Tucker said. His wife clicked her tongue at him and finished unwrapped the meal. Her husband rolled his eyes and went back to unwrapping the rest of the meals.

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Clyde looked around. She sat back and sighed. More like groaned aloud. Again. Aisha turned her head, glaring.

“Will you stop doing that?” she asked.

“Wha?” Clyde asked.

“You keep asking the same question every five minutes!” the leader said. “Cut it out!”

“But I’m hungry!” the dirty old biddy wailed.

“We’re hungry too, but be patient,” Lewis said.

“I can’t!” Clyde shouted. She stood up in her chair. “Oi! We starvin’ over ‘ere! Get us some food!” Aisha clenched her teeth and smacked the dirty old biddy in the leg.

“Knock it off!” she snapped. “Stop that!”

“Ow!” Clyde screamed. By now, all eyes were on them. Aisha gritted her teeth.

“Stop this foolishness right!” she said under her breath. “You have people staring at us!”

“I don’t care!” Clyde said. “I’m hungry! I want to eat now!” Lewis was trying not to laugh when she noticed Chris across the room. She stuck up her arm in the air.

“Chris!” the farmer shouted. “Chris! Over here!” The man in the black clothes looked up. He made his way over to the crowd. Aisha turned with big eyes.

“You can’t be serious!” she said.

“Hey, ladies!” the man said with his arms out. The old biddies could already smell the booze on him. Chris broke into a huge smile with his croaked teeth.

“So good to see you!” Lewis said. The leader rubbed her forehead and groaned.

“Could this night get any worse?” she asked.

“I’m still ‘ungry!” Clyde yelled, still standing in her chair. “Where is the damn food! I’m stravin’ over ‘ere!” The whole time, Muriel smiled to herself. It beats being back at home, she thought. She waved over at William, Liz, and Clover across the table. Yeah, it looked like another long night at the Pot Luck.