“I do.”
“That does happen sometimes,” she conceded with a sigh. “Given the nature of our products.”
“I understand, and I appreciate your help,” Piper said.
“You can return them, though,” Angel said helpfully. “Just drop them off at your nearest Pet Lovers’ Depot.”
“I’ll do that right now. Thanks for your help, Angel.”
She hung up the phone and rubbed her hands over her face.
This had to be Hawkeye Slaughter. Middle school boys didn’t have credit cards.
She heard a sound and looked over to find Bella standing in the corner, staring at her with big brown eyes.
“Mommy.”
“Yes, honey?”
“The worms are scary.”
“Well, they’re kind of yucky, but they can’t hurt you.”
“But Mommy, what if robbers sent them? Or that mean boy from Caitlin’s class?”
She pulled her daughter into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Robbers and mean boys steal things. They don’tgivepeople things, right?”
“Right,” Bella admitted. “But who wants a box of worms?”
“Lots of people. You know those neighbors a couple houses down, the ones with the little girls a few years younger than you?”
Bella nodded.
“Well. I’ve heard they have a chicken coop in their backyard. I’ll bet this delivery was meant for them.”
“You think so?” Bella asked.
“I do, because chickensloveto eat worms. Mealworms are like ... gummy bears for chickens. I’ll bet that’s what happened.”
“So they sent the worms so the chickens can eat gummy bears. Instead of being robbers?”
She nodded. It was a convoluted explanation, but it seemed to make her daughter feel better.
“And guess what little girls like to eat?”
“What?” she asked, sticking her fingers in her mouth, despite the ten million times she’d been asked not to do this.
“Ice cream. How about we drop these worms off at Pet Lovers’ Depot and then get some ice cream?”
“Guys, we’re getting ice cream!” Bella screamed as she ran down the stairs to deliver this glorious news to her sisters in the basement.
Piper taped up the box, mouth set in a grim line. Hawkeye Slaughter’s post from this morning glowed inside her mind like a neon sign.
First person up against the wall with a bullet in her head: Piper Mondello #FascistsMustDie
Chapter Thirty-Three
Piper
