Brian was at the grave of Mr. Biscuit, staring at its picture recalling his experience with the genius pet and how much he was going to miss it; within himself he had decided not to have a pet any more Mr. Biscuit was the second and would be the last. He grinned painfully before he squatted to lay the flower at its grave. As he did and rose to his feet a slight pat from a female hand came on his shoulder.

He flinched like a mouse from fire. “Oh God you startled me,” he said, ...