We put off packing and cleaning Goose’s former residence for cuddling and laziness, until Goose had to go in to clean the store. The next day, procrastination set in again, and more after that, until the weekend was once again upon us.
The county fair was always one of the last rites of summer for me. Goose wasn’t big on crowds, but he’d agreed to come along. Rip, Carrie, and Nami were with us, too, though Shelby thought it best to stay back and babysit Toto and Wilbur.
“It’s better if I avoid the cotton candy, funnel cakes, foot long hotdogs, fried Milky Ways…”
“Bring you home one of each, my pet?” Rip had asked.
“You better! I’ll be there in spirit.”
“And via Facetime,” Rip had told her, “for the parade.”
“I love a parade.” She and Goose had sung it.
Shelby’s loved ones, me includ
