Atmosphere

Lewis didn’t want to go home. But she didn’t have a choice. It didn’t help that Lily wouldn’t let up on the subject.

“You can’t keep avoiding her like this,” she said. The farmer didn’t even dignify that with an answer. Why did the leader have to be so annoying and right at the same time? Muriel rolled over onto her side.

“How long do you think she’s going to stay this time?” she asked. Lewis rolled her eyes.

“I have no idea and I don’t want to know,” she said. The farmer dropped her head and sighed. The other three old biddies looked at each other.

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Gloria looked into the Sunny Plum. She blinked several times. Everything looked so blurry. The old lady pushed open the door.

Annie was finished wiping down the counter when she looked up. She forced a tight-lipped smile as she watched the woman wandering around the café.

“Gloria?” she asked. The other woman stopped as she turned her cocked head.

“Annie! How have you been?” she asked. She wandered her way up the front. Only, the old woman was starting to veer to the left.

“This way!” Annie said. Gloria looked up and kept walking toward the left.

“No, this way!” the café owner said.

“Oh!” Gloria said. This time, she turned forward and resumed walking. Annie sighed and shook her head. Why didn’t she get some glasses?

“What can I get you today?” Annie asked.

“Just some tea and some biscuits,” the other woman said. The café owner rang up the order. She stared at her with her eyebrow raised.

“Anything else?” she asked.

“No,” Gloria said.

“Ten pence,” Annie said. The other woman reached into her pocket and gave the café owner the money. Her friend handed back her change.

“Dustin!” Annie shouted. “One tea!”

“Yes, auntie!” the boy shouted from the kitchen. It took Gloria about five minutes to find a chair and sit down.

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Lewis finally decided to get up and face the problem waiting for her at home. Anything to shut their leader up. Lily just had to keep going. The farmer stood up, waving her off.

“Alright, alright! I’m going! Geez!” she said. Lily gave her back a little wave.

“Good luck!” Clyde shouted with a huge grin. Muriel lay back down and closed her eyes. However, Lewis wasn’t going to be the only one to have relatives coming back home for the summer.

Meanwhile, back at Muriel’s house…

End