Gardner jogs toward the front door as he hears a soft knock, arching an eyebrow as he thinks it’s just one more person who ignored the bell he put up just for that very reason, informing him someone is coming. Maybe they just didn’t see it, or they didn’t know they were supposed to press on one of the kitty’s eyes by the door.
Gardner strokes the parrot perching on his shoulder and it lets out small happy noises as it nuzzles into the back of Gardner’s ear.
“I’m coming,” he calls out when the caller raps against the door again. He turns the polished knob open and almost lets it go as he lays eyes upon the man standing there. This is the one who’s in need of his service? So hard to believe.
“Mr. Fray?” the man stammers and Gardner breaks into an obscenely wide grin.
“Never been called t
