Page 33 of You'll Love it Here

He turns around and closes his suite door hard.

Suddenly, I wish that electricity wasn’t an actual force in the universe. Something that needed maintenance.

And I’m so exhausted at the idea of it all. It shouldn’t be this hard.Wouldn’tbe this hard, if these were normal people.

When I get back to my apartment, I plop onto my couch. Ernest sidles up to me and presses his nose to my palm, so eager to smell the world of bullshit I was just in.

I pull my phone from my pocket. One new message is displayed on the screen:

Jane Brando, 4:09 p.m.:Shit I completely forgot about the electrician and ended up stuck at work! Obviously, I don’t want some random guy let in while I’m not there. Have you seen that news report about the man who hid cameras in girls’ rooms? Please let’s reschedule.

I type out a reply:No worries, he will be back Tuesday, June 8.

I mute the Slack app for the night. If today proves anything, I know for certain I can’t live among these people much longer.

An Ernest Walk

Sami is leaning against the brick wall in the alley beside the restaurant when I head over to do our daily dog exchange. I didn’t expect he’d still be here; I’m almost half an hour later than our usual time. I tug Ernest’s leash, and the little guy trails after me without any sense of urgency, taking his tiny steps like each foot exists in its own universe.

“Hey, sorry for the wait. Got caught up with building stuff.” Sami’s whole face breaks into a grin as he kneels to touch Ernest’s nose. “You weren’t just waiting here the whole time?” I ask as my feet crunch against the gravel.

“I guess I was?” Sami’s eyes flash toward me like he was caught out.

“I’m so sorry. I was trying to handle these electrical inspections, and it was just... a nightmare. I lost track of time.” I don’t mention that I took a shower after I got back from Norm’s place to wash any remnants of stink off, then lay in a towel staring at the wall for ten minutes letting my thoughts disturb me, before I realized I needed to go.

“Oh, it’s all good.” Sami’s voice is easygoing. “I was just adding unsalted nuts to the crow trading post I’m trying to get going.” He gestures to a tall metal bird bath contraption next to the diner that I’d never noticed before, and continues, “I figure if I keep giving them little gifts here, one day they will give me something in return. A piece of foil or button is my dream.”

I nod, and my words come out automatically. “Well, thanks for understanding. I know you’re busy.” I hold out the leash handle. All I want to do right now is get back to my apartment, bury my head in my pillows, and try to pass out.

“Notthatbusy. Like I said, I’m trying to get Russell over there to be my friend, and it’s not going well.” He chuckles as he points to a crow on a powerline, but his grin flattens when we lock eyes. “Hey, Mona, you doing okay?”

“Yep,” I nod. “Fine. Like I said, the inspections were just a little chaotic.”

Sami stares at me a touch too hard, like he’s trying to decipher something. “Why don’t you come for a walk with us? The street is good this time of night.”

“I can’t. I should get back to...” My voice fades at the realization that I don’t have anywhere I need to be. I don’t have anything left to do. Maybe I can learn embroidery?

“It’ll only be a few minutes,” Sami promises as he starts walking up the alley. “Come on, let’s make that Bill Cleg guy with the infograph proud.”

I suppress a grin as I catch up to him. It’s unfortunate that he has a knack for remembering all the weirdo shit I’ve said as of late.

Our steps fall in line together. He hands me back the leash, and the comforting warmth from his hands is still infused in the leather. “As a fellow local businessperson,” he says, “you should never take a rough inspection personally.”

“Is that so?” I glance up at his half grin.

“Yep. It’s par for the course. I don’t know why, but this one health inspector really had it out for me—I was basically told I’m a terrible person trying to murder people because my hand soap wasn’t optimally placed near the sink.”

“I mean, fair.” I grin, my mood somewhat boosted. “That’s a clear indicator that you’d let customers shit on the floor if given the chance.”

“Shit, I did say that, didn’t I?” Sami nods, stoic. “Good point.”

I tug Ernest away from sniffing a tiny plastic baggie on the ground. There’s a bunch of garbage on the sidewalk, so I watch my feet, taking careful steps lest I step in anything unseemly.

Sami’s gaze moves down the alleyway. “We used to play street hockey here. It was the only road nearby where cars weren’t constantly driving.” He must catch the skepticism in my eyes because he quickly adds, “It was a lot different then, if you can believe it.”

I try to imagine that. Right now, it’s not uncommon for an actual human turd to crop up around here. Heartbreaking, if I think too hard about it. “I’m having a hard time picturing it back then.”

Sami’s lips press together, a distant look in his eyes. “The whole street was busy, not full of ugly construction lots, but with little family shops and stuff. My friend Theo lived in your building when his family first moved to Canada. They used to own a florist. Irene loved them because they were always bringing her flowers.”