I stepped between the cash register and the display case to get back to the kitchen. The floor changed from wood to golden brown square tiles. The walls were the same bright yellow as the front. I walked past a sink and a dishwasher and then around a large kitchen island with a weathered wooden bottom and a stainless-steel top. All the cupboards that lined the walls were painted teal. There were two large refrigerators and two large freezers along the side wall. Across from those were four large ovens. I paused in front of what must have been a mixer. It was bright red and as tall as me.
I wandered around the room for a minute, occasionally grabbing random utensils off the hooks on the walls and studying them. I tried to figure out what they might be used for. I was pretty sure at least a few of them were torture devices.
As I reached the small desk in the back corner, I remembered the note in my hand. There was a lump at the bottom of the envelope and I pulled out a small bottle full of sparkly white glitter attached to a chain. I set it on the desk and pulled out the piece of paper. I unfolded the page and saw her familiar curly handwriting.
Dear Susanna,
Thank you for coming to help me. I’m sorry to leave you like this, and I’m sorry I left you all those years ago. When I get back, I’ll explain everything. I’m sure you’ll do a great job keeping the pie shop running. I’ll be gone for a few days. A week at the most. There are enough pies for today in the fridge, but starting tomorrow you’ll have to make your own. Wear the necklace while I’m gone, it might come in handy. If you have any problems, Flora, Lena, or Mr Barnes can help you.
Love and Sparkles,
Aunt Erma
P.S. Please take care of my Mitzy for me.
I stared at the note. What the heck was a Mitzy?
There were two purple doors at the back of the kitchen. I opened one and peered out into a little alley. Behind the other one was a staircase. I heard the pitter patter of little feet and a small brown ball of fluff came flying at me.
‘Ah!’ I jumped back in surprise. The fur ball shot around me in circles before coming to rest at my feet, perfectly still except the wagging tail. Big brown eyes gazed up expectantly. Oh no, I thought as I saw the name ‘Mitzy’ written in rhinestones across the glittery red collar.
I took a step back, and the dog calmly stood, took a step forward, and sat down again. I checked the paper in my hand, hoping to find more thorough instructions, but there was nothing else. Between the ages of four and eight, I asked for a puppy every year for my birthday. Every year my parents bought me a stuffed animal dog and presented it as though they were fulfilling my every wish.
Since then I had learned to recognize dogs for what they were – dirty, smelly, and unpredictable. Great.
I could pinpoint the exact moment when my feelings about dogs changed. I was thirteen and I was over at my friend Lily’s house. She had a twin brother, Ed, and I was totally in love with him. I was at their birthday party, and I had lost an earring. I was on my hands and knees looking for it under the sofa while everyone else was in the kitchen getting pizza. Ed came to help me find it. He told me he liked my side ponytail. At that moment, I knew we were going to kiss. As I leaned forward and closed my eyes, ready to take this next big step in my romantic life, I was greeted not by the warm soft lips I was expecting, but by the large wet tongue of their black Lab who had appeared out of nowhere to participate in this monumental occasion. Needless to say, a romance with Ed didn’t blossom from that day, but my aversion to dogs did.
I shuddered. I could still remember exactly how that dog’s tongue felt in my mouth.
As though she could sense I was at a loss, Mitzy walked over to the back door and looked meaningfully over her shoulder. I found a leash hanging on a hook nearby and clipped it on her collar. She led me around to the front of the shop where there was a patch of grass. While she did her business, I took the opportunity to look around and take in my new surroundings.
The pie shop was just off the main street. On one side was a florist called Petunia’s Petals. The windows were packed with various brightly colored bouquets. On the other side was a vacant building. Remnants of clear tape clung to the front windows, and I could see the outline of the letters over the door that read, ‘Vinnie’s Video Galaxy.’ Flora was watching me through the window of her bookstore just across the street. She waved when she noticed I was looking back at her. I felt a little tug on the leash and realized Mitzy was directing me back towards the door.
‘Excuse me.’ I heard a voice behind me. I turned and saw a round man with thinning brown hair and a dark green cardigan hurrying towards me. He stopped by my side and pushed his gold-rimmed glasses further up on his nose. ‘You seem to have forgotten to pick up after your dog.’
‘What?’
‘You need to pick up after your dog,’ he repeated.
‘Pick up what?’ I asked.
He pointed to the pile in the grass. Mitzy assumed we were admiring her handiwork and wagged her tail proudly at us.
‘Ew, no,’ I said horrified.
‘It’s the law,’ he said almost joyfully. ‘I’m Sheriff Buddy.’
I glanced around uncertainly. ‘I’m Susanna. How do I…’ I trailed off. Was this some kind of new girl hazing? He pulled a plastic bag out of his pocket. I’m guessing he always kept a stash on him in case opportunities like this arose. He demonstrated putting it over his hand and mimed picking up the pile before pulling it off his hand and giving it to me.
Disgusted, I put the plastic bag over my hand and picked up Mitzy’s mess under his watchful eye. With a satisfied nod, he was off.
‘Nice to meet you,’ he called over his shoulder.
‘You too,’ I said, not really meaning it.
Once inside, I disposed of Mitzy’s mess before heading upstairs to Aunt Erma’s apartment. There was a door at the top of the stairs that stood open. Had it been left open or could Mitzy open doors?
The apartment was colorful and cozy, just like Aunt Erma’s house had been when I was a kid. She used to have a secret room in her house that only she and I were allowed to go into. It was filled with toys and games and books. We would pile blankets and pillows on the floor and spend hours in there. In retrospect it was probably just a walk-in closet, but at the time I thought it was the most fabulous place in the whole world.
The door opened into the living room where there was a soft red sofa in front of a small television. The sofa had a blue and green quilt draped over the back. Fairy lights lined the bookshelves on the wall. One of the shelves was full of toys. I recognized some of the toys from the secret room. There was a new addition, a doll with blue hair, wings, and a wand. When I picked her up she said, ‘Can you feel the magic?’ in a sing song voice. Hmm, a little creepy. I set her down facing the back of the shelf.
I walked through the living room to the kitchen. It was small. There wasn’t even