Becca called as she entered the apartment. She leaned against the wall and tried to catch her breath. It had taken her five minutes to walk up the stairs, having to pause every few steps to catch her breath. She wiped the perspiration off her forehead and took a deep shuddering breath. Clarissa came running from the kitchen with a wide smile on her face. “I have a special dinner for us,” she said. “Meat pies! And they smell delicious.” Becca shook her head. “Meat pies? Mrs. Gunderson shouldn’t have done that,” she said. “I barely pay her enough to take care of you. She doesn’t need to make us food.” Clarissa’s stomach nearly turned at the thought of any food from Mrs. Gunderson’s house, but she didn’t want to talk about Mrs. Gunderson, so she just smiled. “Just smell them, mommy,” she said. “Don’t they smell the bestest? I got them yesterday, but you were too tired when you got home from work. So I saved them for today.” Lifting the flaky pie to her nose, Becca inhaled and had to agree that the scent was heavenly.
