I position the silk scarf around my mouth and nose, and slightly cough into my hand. My long blue dust jacket nearly trails the ground tread under my kid boots.

A beggar calls out as I walk past an alleyway. My companion holds tight to her wicker basket. We pass by a row of freshly assembled coffins and I pause, forcing my companion to look back. I trace a rough bit of wood, then flinch back when it pricks my finger. I stick the tip of my finger in my mouth.  

“Dare I ask, girl?” my companion nudges. 

“Ah. You know,” I say. “Just a study for my art.”

Emily gives me ‘the look’. Emily is a successful nanny. Her ability of nonaction in the face of foolishness is profound and unsettling. Misbehaving children who should know better soon learn that proper behavior is the only behavior that she acknowledges. I believe I shocked her into this state when one afternoon I was caught biting the head off a finch. I mean, what else was a hungry carnivore supposed to do. 

“Come then. We're getting looks.”

“Hmmm.” My eyes land on an officer. “Oh.” 

I smile, almost wickedly. He smiles. 

*

My companion is filling her basket at the general store. Full of human necessities. Such a variety of foodstuff. I pick out a large can of tomato juice. 

"Evalyn. Normally I choose not to ask, but are you planning to put that over your food?"

“It’s for art,” I insist. 

“I do hope…you remembered your money.”

“Of course I- I-” I slip my hand into my coat. “Oh.”

I mean. I didn’t usually need to buy things. They were usually dropped off by my doting humans. And I didn’t exactly have a need for food.

“And you call yourself a grown lady.” Emily holds out her basket. I place the large can. 

Soon the items are being tallied up at the counter.

"What about your new friend Rita, then?" Emily finally asks. 

"Still friends.”

“And her husband?”

“Charles. A boring man. I do believe he has fallen for my charms.”

“You intend to entertain him?”

“I already am.”

I pause at a fruit stand of apples and select one. The red skin almost gleams. 

“Then when should I expect the breakup?”

“Emily, please. It’s not that serious.”

"I would hope not. I just know your games won't work out one day and I'll sort of miss you," Emily said. 

"You will only miss the money."

Emily passed a coin to the vendor and looked at me disappointedly. "Well, since you think that way. Devon's child is having his second birthday. You may want to humor them."

"I will find an appropriate human gift. Perhaps, I can knit a scarf.” 

“Well. It’s not the worst of your ideas.”

“Oh please.”