He pranced down the hall the best he could with his burned paw and plastic cone, and he burst into Plant Parenthood to reclaim his kingdom. But then he paused, moved his head around, and peered out the cone at Anna’s shop. He looked up at her with a puzzled expression. What the devil has happened here? “The fire, Sweetie. Remember?” Earnest aimed his charcoal-lump nose toward the floor and tried to sniff his way to what had been Anna’s houseplant jungle. Now only Edgar and Constance greeted him, with sagging leaves and withered fronds. Earnest circled the half-filled garbage bags, the empty flower buckets, and the chests and tables, now denuded of their merchandise. He bumped his cone against the base of Anna’s sink, where sooty metal Buddhas were soaking in soapy water. Anna held up Earnest’s gray lily pad so he could see. “Smoke got your bed. I’m going to throw it out, but don’t worry. Last night I ordered you a new one online.” For now, Anna set her sleeping bag on the floor and patted it to encourage Earnest to nestle in for a nap.
