16
I checked my watch. Almost five. Time to head home. I revved the engine and pulled an illegal U-turn at the end of the block to get back to California Street. Rush hour traffic had started, but within twenty minutes I was at my apartment. I parked in front and trudged up the stairs. Wizard’s bell was tinkling as I turned the key in the lock. One light set on a timer burned in the living room. Wizard rushed to greet me and pushed heavily against my shins as I dumped my purse on the table. I reached down and picked him up.
He emitted a series of quacks which I interpreted as, ‘Why weren’t you here to feed me on time?’ He settled on his haunches on the kitchen floor while I opened a fresh can of salmon in gravy and plopped it in his dish. Then I stripped off my clothes and pulled on a pa
