“So, did you think more about my idea?” Roxie asked as they picked up the pace.

“The UFO thing? You got to admit, I’ve not had much time for that.” Visions of the yarn still on the floor made her shake her head. “How do you propose getting out info about this rather strange idea of yours?”

“Well, I thought of flyers at the senior center, the Knitting Room, possibly churches, maybe the library on the community board, Mona’s Quilting, you know, all the regular places.”

“If it gets too big, we won’t be able to meet in homes.”

“True. I’m dreaming of maybe eight to ten regulars and perhaps some that come and go.”

MJ jerked to a stop and looked behind. Sure enough, Looper had found something he could not ignore, unlike the slight jerks on his leash. Sir Charles sniffed around and sat down on the sidewalk. He had learned how to wait for his walking buddy. “Looper, drop it.” She twitched the leash. “Drop it.” Looper glanced at her and opened his mouth to drop a child’s lime green shoe.

Roxie picked it up. “Oh my. A small child’s Croc.”

MJ wagged her head. “I’ll bet some little girl in a car seat is learning how to throw things out of a moving car.”

“Or else her mother put it on the roof of the car to unlock it and forgot.” Roxie carefully set it on the curb in an open spot, where it was easily seen.

MJ snickered. “You and your shoes; that must really stab your heart.”

“At least it’s not a dead mouse. That’s happened.”

“True.”

They continued, Looper leading the way.

* * *

They paused at one yard where the daffodils were nearly done but the tulips were about to bloom. “Their yard is always so lovely.” Roxie heaved a sigh. “You never see a mole or gopher.”

“Or a weed.” The two sighed together. A perfect yard like that would be nice but their husbands were not into gardening like Barb’s husband, who could teach Yard and Garden 101. As could Barb. On top of that, she never had UFOs. Everything that was started got finished within a reasonable time frame.

“You two want to come in for tea?” Barb called from the front porch.

“Thanks for the invite,” Roxie called back, “but our four-footers need their walk. If we stop now, we’ll never get it done.”

“Maybe tomorrow?”

“Let’s plan on it.” With Looper tugging on his leash and Sir Charles pulling in the other direction with his nose to the ground, the two ordered their buddies onward.

“Thank you,” MJ muttered. Going in Barb’s immaculate house always made her little gremlins of jealousy peek out.

“Welcome.”

“How come I got left behind the door when God was handing out doses of perfectionism? I don’t want it to the degree of Barb there, but a ticket to pull up when I need it would sure be helpful.” MJ deliberately dropped her shoulders from her earlobes. Somehow talking with Mrs. Perfection always did that to her. They picked up the pace after the next cross street in spite of their four-footed companions, who tried to insist on sniffing every smell that came their way