“Vice-President. I’m second in charge of the club. Queen Bee means Nanci is head of the old ladies,” I replied.
“But she’s not an old lady. Our Nana is, and she’s wrinkled and miserable,” Poet said.
Out of the corner of my eye, Nanci preened.
“A biker’s wife is called an old lady,” I explained.
“Why?” Poet asked.
That stumped me. “Huh, I know what an old lady is, but no idea why they’re called that.”
Nanco screwed her nose up. She was unaware, too. Amy looked smug.
“Go on,” I said, pointing.
“It comes from the hippies, I think, they called their serious girlfriends old ladies, to show she was taken. Bikers took the term and made it important to their culture. That’s what I heard anyway,” Amy explained.
“Cool,” Cassian muttered. He kept glancing towards the door. “Mom, can we go explore?”
Before Meadow could answer, Chill burst into the clubhouse with a horrified expression. “Fu—fudge me!” he exclaimed, changing word mid-speech.
Screams erupted outside, and I got up.
“What’s happened?” I demanded.
The doors opened again.
Chill screeched, which was echoed by Amy’s horrified scream as Razor walked in with Kya on his shoulders. At least I assumed it was Razor because his face was painted the same as Pennywise’s. Kya’s was identical.
“Nope!” Chill shrieked and raced for the stairs.
“Make him go away!” Amy babbled. When I turned around, Amy had disappeared. I frowned, confused.
Cassian smirked and pointed under the table.
I bent, peered underneath, and discovered Amy huddled in a ball. Tongue in cheek, I stared at her as she gazed back.
“Has he gone?” she whispered.
I shook my head while trying not to laugh. She survived an airship crash but was frightened of clowns?
“Is it clowns or just Pennywise?” I asked.
“Both.”
I straightened, looking into the amused face of Razor. “Go wash it off, dude, and Kya too.”
Razor pouted but turned on his heel towards the kitchen. Meadow was coming out as he did, and she screamed and threw the contents of a pan over him.
“Shit!” Razor exclaimed as Meadow kicked his shins hard and fled.
“Damn,” I gasped and began laughing. I was still chuckling when Sabre entered. He took one look at Razor, covered in soup and bits of food, and roared with laughter.
“Not so funny when Meadow throws shit over you, is it!”
“Once you’ve washed up, you can clean this mess up,” I ordered, and Razor stomped off. He was muttering in Kya’s ear, who was giggling like crazy.
Amy slowly crawled out and, with dignity, retook her seat. Yeah, that wouldn’t last long; too many witnesses had watched her duck under the table.
