“I’ve never seen him in this neighborhood before. He seems good with his hands. . . for some reason barely understands French and looks like the most innocent buffoon I’ve ever laid eyes on. -Madam Henrietta Guenier

Garelli DeMarciano’s Vignettes

May 19th

Garelli DeMarciano had a moment to escape with his four legged companion out in the city and away from Madam Guenier’s Apartments for the day. “I never thought we would escape Memere. . .” He stretched his arms over his head to feel the sunlight on the bright blue day. His brow furrowed to hear a stomach growl, only he was not certain as to which stomach it was.

Memere looked up with her dark eyes and whimpered softly. “I agree I could also eat a horse, though I’d settle for a rabbit now, maybe even a mouse…” Garelli spoke candidly.

“Memere gave an audible yawn and shook her coat, licking her snout in hunger.”

“To sleep or eat…” Garelli stated as he looked up to the sky in wonder. “The easiest of plights are often the most difficult. . .”

Memere barked and ran off tearing Garelli’s gaze away from the clouds. “Memere, did you find a bit of supper, a morsel perhaps?!” He quickly followed yelling. “Don’t start without me!”

Around the bend a small clearing was revealed where Memere sniffed away at a small sapling curiously.

“I did not think you would be hungry enough to eat a tree!” Garelli exclaimed but became puzzled the moment Memere sat down next to the sapling and barked.

Kneeling down next to the small tree Garelli inspected it closely. “Unfortunately, it looks like on its last leg…”

Memere barked once more startling her friend.

“Wow you’re right, it is a fig tree!” You don’t think we could take it with us, do you?!

Memere dug with her paws at the soil quickly and whimpered.

Garelli gave a smile tipping his hat back as he overlooked the tree once more.

“Well, Memere better some chance than none wouldn’t you agree?”

Memere barked in agreement.

———

Some time later several pedestrians gave peculiar stares towards the two. The man with his broad smile held a hat that was filled with soil with a ragged sapling sticking out. The dog quickly paced and panted at his heels.

Garellli DeMarciano sings a favorite song from the old country. A broad smile reaches his face as he peers out the window to the birds of spring. "A Beautiful day is it not Memere?" Memere his faithful companion, a little black terrier of unknown breed gives a bark of agreement from her perch on the patchwork couch.

His song could be heard down below on the streets of Paris among the cacophony of humanity. It had a way of defying the stalwart commuters of one mind, and one direction. For some the singing become a typical familiarity, associated with the time, place, and day. For fewer still a faint wonder of an others life in their subconscious resonated as they pushed forward with their morning as any good soldier of the work force. Scrubbing at the washboard Garelli wrung out his stocks and gave a slight frown at seeing a hole. "I think I need new socks Memere!" He declared, putting his finger through the hole. Memere gave a whimper covering her face with her paw.

"Such is life right? Perhaps I should go barefoot like you?"

Memere barked in response as Garelli laughed. Hanging up his socks to dry, he plucked the laundry line like a string that was suspended just below his ceiling.

The police had showed up at the apartment, they had been barring access to the entrance for some reason or another. Garelli DeMarciano was not one to be subdued. He had left his stove going and was concerned that his dinner would soon boil away.

"Memere this is not good!"

His four legged companion looked up at him and barked in agreement.

"We don't have wings, but we do have arms... It looks there is only one way to go friend..."

He sighed looking up the side of the building while Memere gave a whimper.

"Come now friend..." He said as he picked up Memere and placed her in his backpack. Walking around the building he found a place where the brick was conveniently broken away and worn down enough for a good grip.

"Upsy daisy!" He cried leaping to grab the first handhold and slowly pushed himself up, slowly scaling

the building.

While he made his way up, he could hear the chatter of various tenants, though he could not understand a word. Though they did sound concerned.

"I hope dinner did not born, it would be a tragedy, though I can't say it would be worth all of the commotion." He continued to hoist himself up further. "You don't think it would be a crime to waste good food do you Memere?"

Memere whimpered nervously looking down to the city street below.

"I mean I did not mean to ruin, that is if it is... Which I'm sure it's not.. . however, what if it is?"

Memere gave a couple of barks in response.

"That sounds like a solid plan, though I'm not sure Henrietta would appreciate something well done, she prefers her meat rare it seems."

At last, reach his window he popped himself on the edge, and tried to open a window that would not budge.

"I hate to tell you this Memere, but..."

Memere gave a soft whimper.