Chapter Three: Shelter:

I took them back to their house. I took out my key and unlocked the door. (I don’t know why I still do this. There’s no one in this neighborhood but me. It’s an old habit, I guess.)

“How you are,” I said. “It’s not much.” Nancy said nothing as she walked inside. Ava followed behind me. I walked behind them. There isn’t much to describe my house. I mean, it’s a house. Nancy walked over and sat down on the couch.

“Nice place you got here,” she said. She doesn’t mean it. She’s just happy to be in a room. I sat down on my recliner. Honestly, it’s seen better days. Sometimes, I feel like I am sinking into the cushion. Ava spotted Marshmallow standing in the corner.

“Doggie!” she said. She wandered over to the dog.

“Sweetie, no!” Nancy shouted. The little girl reached for the dog. Marshmallow backed up and growled.

“Marshmallow!” I shouted. “No!” The little dog went quiet. I turned back to Nancy.

“So where did you come from?” I asked.

“Out there in shelters,” she said. She gave me a strange look.

“Why are you still here?” she asked. I shrugged.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I guess I didn’t have a reason to leave.” She was about to speak when I put up my hand.

“I know, I know,” I said. “I should’ve evacuated along with everyone else. But I didn’t, okay? Don’t ask me why.”

“Okay, okay,” Nancy said. I breathed out. I’m not used to this much chatter. Marshmallow doesn’t talk back at all. He just barks when he’s hungry. He doesn’t really argue back. Nancy wasn’t either… yet.

“So… where are you planning to go?” I asked.

“We were going to find another shelter to stay in,” Nancy said. She looked down at her stomach.

“Apparently, there is a limit to how many people can be allowed in a shelter,” she said. I wrinkled my nose.

“Seriously?” I asked.

“We were trying to be careful and… yeah…” she said.

“A boy or a girl?” I asked. Nancy shrugged and shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know what I am doing at all.” Ava tried to pet the dog again. This time, Marshmallow just stared at her. He didn’t try to attack her but he was growling again.

“Ava, honey, leave the dog alone,” Nancy said. The little girl looked up at her. She stared at her mouth with a little pout.

“You don’t know if that dog has its rabies shots or not,” she said.

“He’s fine,” I said. “He used to be a neighbor’s dog. So I think he had all of his shots.” Nancy gave me a cross look. I shut my mouth when I realized what I had just done. I should not have done this. Nancy was still glaring at me. I slapped my knees.

“Right…” I said. “I bet you are still hungry. So I am going to get on that now.” Nancy frowned at me as she stared at me like she wanted to slap me. I nervously laughed to myself.

“I’m getting up and going to the kitchen now,” I said. “See you in a few minutes.” I got up after struggling to stand from my recliner and walked into my tiny hole of a kitchen with Nancy’s eyes on my back. I really need to throw it out or do something with it one day. I mean I nearly fell back into place for Pete’s sake.