“Great idea,” Anna said from her pile of books.

“I don’t sew, darling,” Pandora said, wiping dust from a small bookcase.

“But you can cut patterns,” Linnea teased.

Suddenly Cooper jumped back, dropping the old carton in his hands. He stood spread-eagled. “Holy shit! A rat!”

A flurry followed as most everyone jumped back.

Cooper bolted out of the garage. “It jumped straight out at me, like a bullet. Holy crap.”

“What’s the matter, haven’t you seen a rat before?” asked Anna. She rose to her feet and walked over to inspect the corner the rat had come from.

“Not up close and personal,” Cooper said. “I have this rule. I keep to my side and they stay on theirs.”

Linnea kept her distance. “Is there another one there?”

“You know what they say, where there’s one…” Anna replied.

“Okay, game over,” Pandora said, raising her hands and heading out.

“Wait a minute, hold on,” John called out, waving her back. “It’s just a rat. It’s not surprising one would be in here. Mice too. But hey, they’re not dangerous animals.”

“Until you get bit,” said Linnea.

“Gordon, you work with wildlife,” John said. “Help me out.”

“There are always rats around. But you know, I read this article,” Gordon said with seriousness. “It was about how now that the restaurants are shut down during the pandemic, rats are looking for new places to forage.”

“Thanks for sharing, Einstein,” John said with a nod to the ladies.

“What a bunch of babies,” Anna said, picking up a broom and heading to the corner. She began vigorously sweeping out the area while the others watched. “Yeah, there’s poop here all right. It’s a right big ol’ nest.” She paused and looked over her shoulder. “What are you all waiting for? Grab a broom.”

“Oh, no,” Pandora demurred. “I didn’t sign up for hunting.”

“Why not?” Linnea asked. “Isn’t that what you do when you go on fox hunts? Chase down animals?”

“We don’t…”

“Save the debate.” John went to the corner of the barn and grabbed two more brooms. “Linnea, Pandora, why don’t you start sorting out what’s good and what’s trash? Gentlemen”—he held out the brooms to Gordon and Cooper—“choose your weapons.”

The sun was lowering by the time the barn was cleared out. Several trash bags were lined up at the curb. Linnea put her hands on her hips and took a sweeping look at the group. Her pod. They all looked like ragamuffins, covered in dirt and grime, but they were smiling, joking, drinking beers, acting more like a group of friends.

“John, what are you going to do with all this stuff?” Anna asked.

John was carrying one of the last boxes out of the barn. “You can help me with a garage sale later.”

“Sell it?” Anna exclaimed. “This is good stuff. I’m going to be first in line.”

“I want this,” Pandora called, pulling a fox stole from the wardrobe. It was the vintage kind with the fox biting its tail. “It’s in remarkable shape.” She winked at Linnea. “For my next fox hunt.”