Page 78 of Swerve
“Tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“You do remember we have two chickens in the back seat?”
He glances over his shoulder. “You call and see if we can get a reservation, and we’ll run back to the city, deposit the chickens at your house, and change clothes.”
“I’ll look up the number,” she says, picking up her phone.
Emory
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
?Emily Dickinson
THE RESTAURANT AT Hotel California has an eight o’clock reservation for two available. Knox drops me and the chickens off at my house and heads back to his apartment to get clothes, because a coat and tie are required attire.
I spend twenty minutes or so fixing a spot for the chickens in the laundry room. An extra litter box borrowed from Pounce filled with kitty litter seems to suit them fine for a potty, as they both make immediate use of it. I place a water bowl and food bowl next to a pillow, then look online to find out what to feed chickens, afraid to guess and be wrong.
At the top of the search request: “Many chickens also love food treats such as corn, bananas, tomatoes, or leafy greens. Healthy treats such as these make a nice supplement to a pelleted ration. Make sure to avoid feeding highly salted foods, chocolate, avocado, alcohol, or caffeine, as these foods can make your bird ill.”
For now, spinach, tomato, and banana should suit them nicely.
Remembering that chickens like to roost, I place a broom between the washer and dryer, then pick up each chicken and set them atop the broom stick. They each squawk at first, but then massage the stick with their feet, moving left then right until they find a spot they’re happy with. Soft clucking indicates they’re satisfied with my offering.
I leave the laundry room, closing the door firmly behind me. Introducing them to Pounce will have to come later.
In my room, I scan my closet for a dress that seems appropriate for the restaurant, finally deciding on a black sleeveless that fits nicely but falls short of sexy.
I jump in the shower, quickly pull my hair out of its ponytail and give it a quick shampoo, not taking time for conditioner. I run a razor over my legs and armpits, then towel off before grabbing the blow dryer from a cabinet drawer.
Pounce meows persistently, weaving back and forth between my ankles. I reach down and rub his back. “I miss her too. We just have to get her back. Neither one of us is going to give up hope.”
Knox
“Knowing someone isn’t coming back
doesn’t mean you ever stop waiting.”
?Toby Barlow
HE SHOULDN’T NOTICE how she looks.
He actually tries not to while she locks the front door of the house and walks quickly to the Jeep. He wonders if he should get out and open her door, then decides it will seem like this is something other than what it is.
She gets in, tugs down the skirt of her dress, before clicking her seat belt.
He backs out of the driveway, keeping his focus straight ahead. “Chickens settled in?”
“Actually, they seemed happy. I looked up what to feed them. Luckily, I had some spinach and bananas.”
“Are you going to keep them?”
