Page 47 of Dark Endures

“—But then I wouldn’t have learned anything.”

Exactly. “One more lesson. But this one I’ll make easy. Don’t torment Pit. He’s a bit on edge right now.”

“I thought you didn’t like easy lessons.”

True. I try not to snort. “Pit likes hard lessons. And I won’t stop him from whapping you upside the head.”

“Noted.” Everett grins. “Torment Pit anytime I can.”

This kid is going to keep us on our toes. Maybe I should tell Louisella he stole from the library. Then he would be her problem. Matthew won’t thank me for the gift. There’s got to be someone else that can keep up with Everett…

Repeating Day

Mindy

Ten minutes. I can do all my paperwork in ten minutes and not just because that’s all the time I have.

Because it’s more time than I have. The dogs are going to have to do their business faster this morning. Everything has to be done faster this morning.

Flipping through my mail, I toss the junk mail right in the trash and separate the bills to be paid. Thankfully, most of them are taken care of automatically. All I have are two bills that need to be paid via check.

Wait, what’s that? It looks official. But then scammers have gotten really slick with their mail. That’s probably what it is. I tear the official-looking letter open.

Notification of sale… Huh?

They sold my apartment building. That’s odd. Why did they need to tell me that? Does it give me the information on where to pay my rent? Generally, I just drop a check in the box downstairs on the first of every month.

But it doesn’t say anything about that. Odd.

Oh well. That’s a problem for another day. I finish my bills, pull on my sneakers, and head out the door.

My neighbor is waiting for me at the door, leash in hand. “You’re late, Mindy. Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine. I just overslept.” Those extra fifteen minutes felt amazing.

“Did you hear the building has been sold?” She gives me the leash.

Just barely. But I don’t have time to discuss the local gossip today. “Sure did.” I start down the steps.

“Hopefully they don’t plan on making this some snooty rich apartment building.”

Like that is possible in this neighborhood.

Down a flight of stairs, we stop for the next dog.

“You’re late today, Mindy. Everything alright?” Rusfis’ owner asks.

Is it sad I remember people by their dogs? “Just fine. I overslept a bit.”

“That never happens.”

Yeah, but I’ve never worked three jobs for almost a month before either. “It won’t happen again.”

He nods, holding out Rusfis’ leash. “Did you hear they sold the building? I heard some fancy developer bought it. And they plan to make it into an office building.”

What businesses would want their employees to come to this neighborhood? “Yes, I heard about the sale. Gotta go. I’m running late.”

Down another flight of stairs, Muffin waits impatiently with his owner. “Are you okay, Mindy? You’re never late.”

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