Pie in the Sky – Rosalia Scalia

Andre hummed to himself. Alice picked up the beaded air freshener containers from the box and pictured Rudy. Of course he’d insist on scented beads. Andre pulled a box with a cat water fountain in it and handed it to Alice. “This too.”

Alice led him down the stairs into the basement, where she had kept Bella’s litter. Andre arranged the boxes side by side and poured litter into each one. Alice set the kittens down, one in each litter box, as soon as Andre finished.

“I hate to leave them,” he said. “They’re the last two. I kept the mom. She’s a tuxedo. She had seven kittens, all mostly all black or gray. These are the only tuxes.”

The kittens climbed out of the litter boxes and scampered into the front room of the basement, where household goods sat lined on shelves in neat, organized rows. When Andre saw the shelves, he chuckled. “Looks like the house version of the plumbing shop. I’m sorry about Rudy,” Andre said. “He was a character.”

She didn’t want him to leave. 

“Helen said to tell you ‘signs come in all ways.’”

“Thank you,” she said.

“Not me. Rudy. He insisted on stainless steel litter boxes. Didn’t know they existed, but they’re easier to clean.”

“Goodness, where are my manners? How about something to drink? How about some pizza?”

Andre shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m vegan.”

“It’s from Pie in the Sky Pizza.” 

Andre set the folders on the kitchen table and sang the sea shanty aloud as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink.

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