The bell rang as the front door opened. Becky and Meredith, two girls from school, walked in.
“Hey, Kamala, I didn’t know you still worked here,” Becky said.
“She paints the window now too,” I said.
Kamala rolled her eyes in my direction as she walked to the counter and both the girls studied the window painting like a hidden message was there.
Meredith was the first to look away and begin her drink order. After, she turned to me. “I almost didn’t see you over there.”
“Yes, that’s why I like this corner,” I said, pointing to the bookcases and oversized counter plant.
“I saw you online,” she said.
Kamala laughed, probably thinking Meredith’s comment was karma for my painting comment.
“Oh yes,” I said. “It was messy but fun.”
“Yes, it seemed like it. It’s getting lots of views.”
“We’re doing another event tomorrow at the pool,” I said. “You should come. Bring friends.”
“Another video?” Becky asked, after paying.
“Yes.”
“So are they staged?”
“I mean, we set them up and then whatever happens, happens.”
Becky nodded. “Nice.”
“Yeah…,” I said, not sure what else to say.
Kamala was fast with their drinks and they waved goodbye as they left.
“The rec center is going to let you use their pool for the Bean Games, then?” Kamala asked.
“Yes, I talked to them this morning.”
“It’s crazy how many people have seen that video. That’s good for Bean.”
“I know,” I said with a smile. “Asher’s brilliant with social media. Seriously, the shelter should hire him just for that.”
“Why would they hire him when they’re getting him for free?”
“I know, I feel bad.”
“He’s a big boy,” Kamala assured me. “If he didn’t want to, he wouldn’t.”
“True.”
“Speaking of, have you found any of his social media yet?” she asked. “He obviously has it.”
“No, I keep waiting for him to like a post on the shelter’s page, but he hasn’t. At least I don’t think he has.”
My phone buzzed with a text. A picture of the kittens came on my screen.Guess where I am?Asher wrote.
Lucky,I texted back.Are they doing okay?