Out of the Silent Planet

There was a knock on the door. Muriel lifted her head. Who was that now?

“Stay here. We’re not done yet,” she hissed. Her children said nothing. Muriel got up and walked over to the front door. She looked out the peephole.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“It’s us!” Clyde shouted. Muriel about jumped back with a gasp. What is the world? She quickly opened the door. Clyde and Lily stood outside.

“You lot?” she asked.

“How are you doing?” Lily asked.

“Not so good,” Muriel said. She looked like she was about to cry. Lily and Clyde looked at each other. Suddenly, the phone rang in the kitchen.

“Excuse me,” Muriel said. She quickly darted back into the house. Lily pushed her way in before she could close the door. Clyde followed behind. Muriel didn’t even look behind her. She made a B-line for the kitchen.

“Hello?” she asked.

“Oh good! You are still here. Kat is pregnant!” Lewis blurted out over the other line. Muriel’s eyes widened.

“What?!” she asked. Clyde and Lily caught up in time to hear that loud outburst.

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Around noon, the postman rode up on his bike to the Sunny Plum. He pushed open the door and walked inside.

“Delivery!” the postman shouted. Annie lifted her head. Her heart jumped in her chest. She ran from behind the counter and hurried across the room.

“Auntie?” Crusher asked. The sound around Annie faded away. The postman held a large box in his hands.

“Is that from Tucker?” she asked.

“Yes, miss,” he said.

“Where do I sign?” Annie asked. The postman handed her a clipboard. She picked up a pen and signed on the bottom line. Her eyes were filled with tears.

“Uh… are you alright, miss?” the postman asked. Annie nodded as she wiped her eyes.

“Yes, yes, I will be fine. Thank you,” she said.

“Uh… you’re welcome, I guess. Um… have a good job,” he said. The postman turned and walked out the door.

“What did you get?” Gloria asked. Annie lifted her head with a huge grin on her face.

“Something that’s going to make things around here so much better,” she said.

“What is that, Auntie?” Crusher asked.

“Oh, just a hot chocolate maker,” the café owner replied. “Just a little something I always wanted.”

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Meanwhile, Muriel, Clyde, and Lily sat in Muriel’s living room. Tre and Juliet watched them from the kitchen. The leader blinked as the news sank in.

“What happened, now?” she asked. Muriel pressed her lips together.

“Kat is apparently pregnant,” she said in a low voice.

“What?!” Lily and Clyde asked in unison. Muriel nodded uneasily.

“Yes,” she said. The three of them sat there in stunned and uncomfortable silence as they knew what was coming next.

End