There were two boxes of pizza and an assortment of snacks on a large ovular glass table before Kayla and her band. Liz was scratching at the locked door leading downstairs while the band continued practicing. Earl scooted the dog aside with his foot before reaching the door. He had a plate of chicken, macaroni, and string beans in his left hand. In his right hand was a cup of ice tea.
“Marion!” Earl said as Liz pressed against the door with him, almost making the man spill his drink on the ground.
Some of the ice tea dropped on the dog's snout. Liz looked up at Earl after licking the tea off her nose. He looked down at her in annoyance as the dog kept getting in his way, preventing him from taking another step toward the stairs.
"Marion!" Earl repeated as Liz prancing around him furth
