The woman muttered in Cantonese as she loaded the washing machine and cooked. Blasted kid was going to put her in an early grave.

"Who is she?" Gwen whispered, even though Hobie's room door was closed

"She's the old bat I rent my room from," Hobie swirled a finger around.

He rented her attic. It was decent sized. Bigger than his van with him able to have a queen sized bed, comfy accent chair, desk with its own chair and dresser and trunk. Also some shelves.

"It's got a little more leg room," punk leaned onto his pillow.

"I love your decorating," Pav teased him about the floral wallpaper.

"She won't let me change it," he grumbled, "But I get to hang posters at least." sweet memories from his runway time.

A shout called for the group, "Come down and eat!"

Hobie jumped up, "Hope you guys are hungry. She cooks some delish meals."

The group quickly made their way to the kitchen, finding a pleasant spread. Cooked mini sausage, stir fry, tofu soup, rolled egg and of course rice.

"Sit down and eat," she spoke far more calmly now, "Do you plan on introducing me to your new found friends?"

"Yeah," Hobie nodded, grabbing his bowl, "That's Gwendy, Miles and Pav. This is Brei Yah. Just call her Nan or BreMa."

They all gave a variation of greetings to her. It was awkward, but nicer now that she wasn't shouting at them.

"It's upsetting you had to see me like that on our first meeting. But I was worried about local idiot. I did not survive 4 children, 7 grandchildren and husband for you to be my end."

"I'm sorry, I got busy," he chewed.

"Busy with what, huh? You always going 'Spider-man this, spider-man that. Propaganda'! What job do you have? Huh? How you afford these groceries? Did you steal them, am I going to have police at my door?"

She got closer with each nag until she was practically on top of him.

"No, I didn't steal them," Hobie rolled his eyes, "I do have some money."

"Money from where? When your next concert? How about you write song? I haven't been to a concert in 5 months. When was the last time you cleaned your guitar strings? Or your amp!?"

"I cleaned them three weeks ago!"

"When you write new song? Huh!?"

"How about I write a song about an old bat who's always fluttering about!?"

"Then get to work! Write it!"

The teens watched the back and forth between the two, unsure how to react. Obviously this was common. Figured it was best to just quietly continue their meal.

"Hmm," Nan turned her nose up, unconvinced, "Hurry up and eat, give me those clothes so I can wash them."

"And what am I supposed to wear if you're washing all my clothes?"

"You go up to your room and- I don't know what I'm even doing talking to you," she stormed off, muttering to herself.

The rockstar snickered, "She's great fun."

"Yeah, a barrel of it," Gwen raised her eyebrows, sipping the soup.

"She seems fun," Miles heard her coming down the stairs, "How long have you rented here?"

"Like a year, I guess," he spooned rice into his mouth, "You have to ask her about her travels. Her dad was in the army."

"This is pretty good, very flavorful," Pav sipped his soup, grabbing more rolled egg, "Why is it that grandmas make the best food?" He put more sausage on his plate.

"The veggies are extra good," Spider-punk pointed, going for more of everything, "Better eat it all, or she'll have an actual tiff on how she cooks and no one appreciates and yada yada."

"Come on, I need to wash your clothes," Nan stormed back into the kitchen.

"So you want me in my knickers around my mates?"

"I need to wash those and you need to wash, you smell like vegemite!"

He shrugged, "And you smell like Kimchi."

"Stop being local idiot and find brain buried under giant spider breeding ground you have on your head. Are you done eating?"

"Its not a spider, they're call wicks. And I want some more eggs," he reached over, only to suddenly be yanked out of his seat by his choker.

Nan began yelling at him in cantonese again as she dragged him off to the bathroom.

"Let go! I'm walking, let go!" he complained, hurrying after her.

The three watched him get dragged away and the door slammed shut, with a lock click.

"It only makes sense he would find an old lady that can go toe to toe with him," Gwen crunched on her stir-fry, "This is better than him just living in a van."

"I mean, the van is good for a solid escape if he needs it," Pav inhaled happily. He was nice and full.

"True. At least he has a car," Miles drank his bottled cola, "Mmm."

The door to the bathroom swung open as the woman walked out

"Close the door!"

"Shut up! They've seen a chest before," she turned her attention back to the teens, "You just put the dishes in the sink. He will take care of them after I get him scrubbed."

She grabbed a bag next to the couch and walked back to the bathroom, telling them to play in Hobie's room or something until she had him smelling better.

X

"So this is your new fashion statement?" Brei lifted her glasses to read the package.

Hobie sat in the tub with his knees to his chest, "Kinda. Jess says I'm a little."

"Yes, almost see through with how little you are," she agreed.

"No. Like I'm small."

"Yes. Very small because you never eat enough."

"No, Nan," he huffed in frustration, reaching for the package, "I use these because-"

"I get it, you little baby. That's why you need to eat more, so you can grow big and strong," she set them aside and got her loofah, "Now stay still so I can wash you and get that horrible odor off."

She took her cardigan off and grabbed his arm, beginning to scrub his pits and side, leading to him laughing and squirming.

"Tickles! It tickles!"

X

After a half hour Hobie hurried to his room in fresh lounge clothes, "She's bloody bonkers," he shook his head, "And she says she wasn't done interrogating you to make sure you're not dealers. AFTER SHE CHECKED ME FOR NEEDLE MARKS!"

"And you be happy I didn't find any! Quit being asocial and get down here!"