Returning home from work, exhausted on a Friday evening.

You eat your microwave meal on the porch, sharing little bites of your leftovers with

your beloved pet, Houdini. You named him this because of his endearing habit of appearing and

disappearing at odd times. Your work weeks lately seem as though they're lasting a solid month.

And this one has been no different. If anything, you're more tired than ever. It's the grind of it all,

you tell yourself.

The same people in the same atmosphere, with the same issues to solve over and over.

There is an after-work birthday party tonight for some manager,

but you'd rather eat reheated pizza with Houdini, who is now somewhere else in the house.

You adjust your chair back,

breathe in the warm spring air,

and decompress.

I could sleep for a week, you think, as you fall blissfully asleep.

Houdini leaps up beside you bearing his favorite toy, a stuffed ghost that lets out a quirky wailing sound when it's squeezed or dropped.

Feeling groggy but amazingly refreshed from your short nap.

You smile and toss the ghost for him to chase.

Wow, you think.

Maybe I could still show up for cake at what's his face's birthday thing.

You check your phone that shines the time 1133.

Too late for cake.

For some reason, you recall Miranda saying how much she appreciates prompt guests,

and you dash inside to grab your new black hooded cardigan you've been dying to wear and head for the library.

...