Earnest by Kristin von Kreisler Page B

Constance greeted him, with sagging leaves and withered fronds. Earnest circled the half-filled garbage bags, the empty flower buckets, and the chests and tables, now denuded of their merchandise. He bumped his cone against the base of Anna’s sink, where sooty metal Buddhas were soaking in soapy water.
    Anna held up Earnest’s gray lily pad so he could see. “Smoke got your bed. I’m going to throw it out, but don’t worry. Last night I ordered you a new one online.”
    For now, Anna set her sleeping bag on the floor and patted it to encourage Earnest to nestle in for a nap. She did not mention that she’d gotten her bag from the storage locker that morning, and Jeff ’s had been missing. Or that she’d not seen him at the condo last night. Later today Earnest would get home and realize that his family was divided. She dreaded the distress that would cause him.
    Her own distress was enough for them both.Two days after learning of Jeff’s deception, shock and resentment still churned through her—but now also sadness, and sometimes she felt numb. Her feelings must have emanated from her with an odor as arresting as ammonia because Earnest cocked his head and watched her, his face somber.
    His pensive eyes informed her that he had noted her unhappiness, and his conclusion was, I smell a rat.
    â€œYou get some rest, Sweetie. That’s your job right now. You’ve had a huge ordeal.”
    What’s going on? What are you not telling me? asked his forehead furrows.
    â€œHere, Earnest. Lie down.”
    Â 
    Winston Somebody—Anna didn’t catch his last name—looked like a hedgehog. He had small round eyes, a pointed nose, and a salt-and-pepper flattop that grew in the manner of freshly mowed grass. He walked into Plant Parenthood and introduced himself, but shrank back to the doorway when Earnest came to greet him.
    Winston glared at him as he would have at a weevil. “Does he bite?”
    â€œIn that cone, he couldn’t if he wanted to. He’s just trying to say hello,” Anna said.
    â€œGet him away.” Winston waved his arms. He could have been fanning poison gas.
    How absurd. “Here, Earnest. Come back to the sleeping bag.”
    Earnest looked insulted. From deep inside his cone, he shot Winston a black, distrustful look. Earnest sat with his front paws extended so his body made a tripod—the better to spring forward and bark if Winston tried anything funny.
    â€œAt least he obeys,” Winston sniffed. He edged back into the room, as far away as possible from Earnest. “I’m an adjuster for Seaco Insurance. I need to estimate the damage here.”
    â€œBe my guest.” Anna picked a Buddha out of the sink. As she squeezed a soapy sponge over his head, gray dribbled down his robe and left behind shiny brass trails. Anna dunked him back into the water and wiped the sponge over his face and arms.
    Slinking around the windows, Winston glanced repeatedly at Earnest to make sure he wasn’t gearing up for an assault. He walked the shop’s perimeter, then stepped behind Anna’s counter, a protective barrier in case Earnest decided to lunge at his throat. He smoothed a hand over the wall and grimaced at the residue. “Looks like the main problem in here is from smoke.”
    â€œThat’s true of the whole house except the kitchen,” Anna said.
    â€œIt’s going to need a lot of fixing.”
    â€œWhen will you do it?” Anna asked, though she assumed Mrs. Blackmore didn’t intend to fix anything.
    â€œI don’t do repairs. I estimate them.”
    â€œSo you have no idea when the electricity will be turned back on?” Anna asked.
    â€œThat’s an easy question. Not till the house is rewired.”
    Disappointed, Anna groaned and gripped the Buddha. If a fig had fallen from his Bodhi tree and bonked him on the head, his scowl would not have been as dark as hers.