The holidays were over; school would start again tomorrow. It was Pop’s first night back to work, and in the living room, Mimi was crocheting a rug. Already it covered her lap and cascaded to the floor. If she kept it up, it might cover the whole apartment house.
Siria climbed into bed and Major stretched out on her feet.
Major had loved Mike, the fire starter. Siria wasn’t sorry. Izzy had said once it was good to love as many people as you could.
Siria heard sirens and sat up, but Major didn’t move. She sank back down, sliding her feet underneath the dog, and pulled the quilt up higher around her. Pop would text as soon as they’d put out the fire.
Pop and the firefighters really didn’t need her. They looked out for each other.
She closed her eyes, her hand on her iPhone.
How great it was to lie here, cozy. Not to sneak out in the dark, into the cold, the snow.
It was a whole new year.