Lost and Found

“There! Now I just need to finish the prince’s face and the puzzle will be...” Eiyla stopped and looked around. “I’m out pieces. Dazzle!”

At the sound of her name, Eiyla’s pet poked her head out from beneath the couch. “Did you take me pieces?” Eiyla asked. Dazzle responded by licking Eiyla’s ankle and scurrying out of sight. Eiyla sighed. Her gextro was lovely company, but she had been in the habit of stealing lately. Eiyla’s favorite hair scrunchie, one of her shoes, a box of pasta, many pencils, and two different television remotes had disappeared in the last week alone.

“What a waste.” Eiyla didn’t feel like ruing the image by dumping it back into the box, so she left it on the table for the time being. Then she went into the kitchen to begin prepping dinner for the both of them. When she smelled food, Dazzle slipped back in hopes that Eiyla might drop something. Eiyla made sautéed vegetables and served them with sparkling water and bread for herself and tap water in a dish for Dazzle. They ate in front of the TV. Dazzle slurped up her dinner, then scrambled onto the couch to beg for more.

”What am I gonna do with you?” Eiyla asked as she fed her pet a bite of carrot. Dazzle didn’t respond. When her show and her dinner were finished, Eiyla left Dazzle to play with her toys while she finished cleaning up the kitchen. She could hear the squeaking of the chew toys over the sound of the water.

”You wanna go on a walk, Dazz?” Eiyla asked. Dazzle danced in a circle, then went to fetch her own leash. “What the-“ There was a small stack of puzzle pieces on the corner of the table. Eiyla flipped them over and pushed them into place. The image was now complete. She ran a hand over the top. “I’m sorry I blamed you for stealing these, Dazzle.”

Dazzle licked Eiyla’s hand. She didn’t seem to mind the false accusations. Eiyla hooked on the leash and led her pet outside.

~~~~~~~Later~~~~~~~

Eiyla pat the sleeping gextro’s head, then settled down in bed to read her book. She was excited to see if the protagonist would choose the dashing, rich bachelor or the sexy, but humble farmer. Eiyla was rooting for the farmer. She opened up her bedside drawer and felt around for the novel. “Come on.” Eiyla kicked off the sheets and got down on the floor. She searched under the bed, the side table, and in the bed sheets. Her book was gone. Just when she thought Dazzle was getting over her thieving stage.

Eiyla went into the living room to check around Dazzle’s pet bed. There was nothing there either, not even her favorite squeaky toy. Eiyla searched the room from top to bottom. Her apartment was so small, she didn’t understand how she kept losing things. Eventually, Eiyla gave up and went to bed. She snuggled beneath the warm blankets. Something brushed against her foot. Eiyla flipped the light on and threw the covers aside. “Oh.” She laughed as she picked up the hair tie. “At least I’ve found you.”

Eiyla sat the scrunchie on the table, then drifted off to sleep.