Ever walked the familiar path to work. Ever since the pigeon incident, he couldn’t help but notice the birds everywhere. Were they watching him? Were they following him? Was that white, speckled pigeon a leader amongst them who held him responsible if Clementine wasn’t well?

  A group of three were pecking at some dropped food in the middle of the path. Ever stopped and watched them. Should he go around them, or just go through them? He chose the latter option, walking straight. The pigeons flapped and leaped out of the way, cooing in alarm. Ever listened closely, but there were no words. Had he imagined the whole thing last week?

  Moments later, he slid the key into the lock of the door. He went in and started going through the routine of starting the day.

  Ring! Ring!

  Ever looked at the phone in the corner. It was probably one of the suppliers, calling to confirm that an order was coming today.

  “Hello Pagoto’s, this is Ever speaking.” He took the wireless phone in one hand, ducking down to grab the ice cream tubs with the other.

  “Ever, it’s me.”

  “Taylor?” Ever stood up, letting the freezer door close shut. Her voice sounded small and distant. “Hey, how are you?”

  “I’m good,” she replied. “Listen, I’m busy again with university. Exam period is starting, so I’m not going to come in today. It’ll be you and Chaos running the shop.”

  “Sure, no worries,” Ever said. There was silence between them for a few seconds. “Is everything OK?”

  “No Ever, I’m dying.”

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  “What?” Ever said, alarmed.

  “Dude chill, everything’s fine. I just need today off. Don’t call. I’ll see you tomorrow, bye.” The call ended.

  Ding!

  Ever was staring at his phone when Chaos came in.

  “Hello, Death’s apprentice,” the prima primordial said.

  “Hi.”

  He came straight in through to the serving area, slipped past Ever into the back room.

  “Is something wrong with the telephone?” Chaos asked.

  “No - it’s Taylor. She’s not coming in today.”

  “Oh?”

  “She says she has exams so she has to study.”

  “OK. It’s just you and me.”

  “Yes.”

  Chaos came back out, apron over his head. He ran his hands through his trimmed beard. “Is there a problem with that?”

  “No, none.”

  “Hm.”

  Ever put the phone back in its dock and crouched back down to resume bringing the tubs of ice cream up. Taylor had already said that she just needed time to study. So what was this feeling that there was something else awry?

  “Chaos?”

  “Speak.”

  “Why are you here?”

  The old man raised an eyebrow. “I thought we ascertained that I was above having reasons for doing things.”

  “Right, but are you ever going to just... disappear?”

  Chaos gave Ever a look, slipped behind him and started taking the seats off the tables.

  “Did I tell you when I appeared?”

  “No.”

  He opened the door, propped it open and started taking tables and chairs out.

  “Do you think I’ll tell you when I disappear?”