Cat Snips - a Short Story Collection by Cat Johnson Read Online Free PDF Page B

or
something?” Grace turned to Donna.
    Donna snorted out a laugh.
“Sorry, my cauldron is out being repaired by the wizard. Will a
fondue pot do?”
    That comment elicited more faces
from Grace, but they ended up all in a circle around the fondue pot
with burning pieces of paper from Donna’s computer printer in
their hands.
    “ I rid myself of my boss.”
    “ I rid myself of Max.”
    “ I rid myself of not having
enough money for a beach house.”
    They collectively threw the
papers into the fondue pot and watched them burn. And then watched
the fire alarm lights in the apartment begin to flash as the sound
deafened them.
    “ Uh, oh. What do I do?”
Donna’s eyes opened wide.
    “ Douse it, I guess.”
Belinda turned toward the kitchen to get some water just as Donna
flung her cider into the pot to douse the flames, but apparently rum
mixed with cider wasn’t good for fighting fires and the flames
shot higher.
    While Donna spun in circles
looking for something else to throw onto the flames and Grace stood
and watched, Belinda ran to the kitchen and soaked a dishtowel in
water. She ran back and threw it over the pot.
    By the time the firemen were
banging on the door, the fire was out, although the smoke remained.
    Donna went to open the door as
Belinda and Grace peeked under the towel to make sure the fire was
really out. But their attention was definitely no longer on the pot
when they heard Donna say, “Well, hello there.”
    Belinda looked up to find two of
the cutest firemen she had ever seen, suited up in full fire fighting
gear, pushing their way passed Donna and into the apartment. She held
up her hand to stop them. “It’s out. Everything is fine.”
    At that, one hunk used his radio
to call down to the truck to tell them the fire was out as Grace
pushed her way forward, her hand extended to the other hunk.
    “ Thank you so much for
coming. Let me introduce myself. I’m Grace. That’s Donna
and this is Belinda. And you are?”
    Belinda elbowed her. “This
isn’t a cocktail party.”
    He smiled at them. “I’m
Antonio and that’s Troy.”
    Then he looked down at the table
where candles, incense, herbs, a spell book, chocolate, mugs of cider
and a bottle of rum surrounded the still smoking and scorched fondue
pot. “What exactly happened in here?”
    Donna rushed forward. “We
were cleansing.”
    The one introduced as Troy, who
had O’Donnell written on his jacket, waved the smoke away and took a look into the
pot. “Looks like it didn’t work.”
    “ Yeah. Sorry we brought you
all the way here for nothing,” Belinda began.
    “ Yes, it would be a shame
to waste a trip,” Donna interrupted her. “Would you like
something to drink?”
    Troy looked at her like she had
offered to have his first born. With widened eyes, he blurted, “I’m
engaged.”
    The other one laughed at his
fellow firefighter’s reaction until he realized that the
attention had now turned to him. He held up both hands in defense.
“I’m practically engaged, but thanks anyway. We, uh,
gotta get going.”
    “ Maybe another time. Thanks
for coming.” Donna called out the door after their hastily
retreating figures, and then sighed. “We should have gone down
to the truck to thank the rest of them personally.”
    “ Good idea. Do you think we
can get down there before they leave?” Grace agreed, rummaging
through her purse and applying the lipstick she’d found.
    Belinda laughed. “You guys
are crazy. And it’s late. I think I’m going to get going.
It’s making me very nervous that Max hasn’t called in a
huff yet.”
    Donna hugged her at the door.
“You be careful and call us if you need anything.”
    “ Here, take my pepper spray
just in case.” Grace dug through her purse some more and handed
it to her.
    Belinda took it, doubting she
would need it against Max, but you never knew. Better safe than
sorry.
    When she arrived at her door
later, she realized she wouldn’t need the spray or anything
else