gone

Buurb came home from a hard day of peddling his wares. Something was different. The alley leading to his home was gone!

Sealed up by brick, it appeared. Why hadn’t Mabel phoned him?? But she was probably out doing stuff on her own. The consulting, yes. Maybe down at the mission dispensing free gravy to the poor, removing unwanted lumps when needed. It’s all about Montana lately for her.

Stunned, Buurb walks around the block starting left. The Queen’s Arms still here, yes. He hadn’t totally lost his sense of direction — this *was* the correct block, the correct road. But no alley on its north side now.

But then, just beyond: the alley!

Turned at a right angle (to the block)? He cautiously starts down it.

More complicated than before… more doors.

But no sign of Mabel’s and his apartment. None of the number of doors he tries seem to lead anywhere atall, in fact.

Nervously tapping his good foot on the stone blocks, he phones his wife. “Com’on Mabel. Pick up. Pick up…”