A New Life Up In The Air Part 3

“Remy! About time you returned from your break! Oh! And who are these two love bugs?”

“Alfredo, meet Poppin and Lyla! They’re new to town and I thought I would give them the grand tour, and possibly some work. Guido’s always looking for more workers.”

“Hahaha! You’re always looking for new workers to keep your vacation schedule Remy! Anyways, it’s nice to meet ya two! I hope you like Italian!”

Lyla and Poppin chuckled and waved to Alfredo as Remy continued guiding them throughout the kitchen, waving to other mice and rats working alongside one another. It smelled of aged cheddar and well paired spices everywhere they went.

Remy had led them through a broom closet and before they knew it they were before a hollowed out hole in the wall of the restaurant. Dim lights illuminating the entrance. Lyla squeezed Poppin’s hand who looked over at her with a reassuring smile. “Alright you two, now there’s one thing before we go inside to meet Guido the owner.” Lyla and Poppin perked their ears, wanting to make sure they heard what Remy was going to say. “Guido is a bit of an old soul, and well…I hope he takes a likin’ to ya two…otherwise the hopes of working here with me and Alfredo, well…let’s just hope he like ya. What am I saying? Of course he'll like ya!" He said with a chuckle as he sauntered into the office, motioning for us to follow.

Lyla and Poppin follow Remy inside the dimly lit office that Guido sat in. The walls were lined with cheeses, from swiss to cheddar, gouda and bleu cheese! Lyla and Poppin couldn’t help but embrace the aromatic air as their noses lifted up. Guido, was a massive black rat, laying on a white linen cloth napkin, that looked so soft and warm. “Ah Guido, look what I’ve brought ya! Two newly found friends, they’re new to town…” “Remy…” Remy instantly stops talking on command, a growing frown on his face and saddened eyes, as if he’s been shot down. “You two…” Guido’s commanding tone made Lyla and Poppin nervous but together they stepped forward, into the light of Guido’s office. “Who are you?” Poppin squeezes Lyla’s paw and speaks up, “My name is Poppin and this is my Lyla, we are new to town. We met Remy, and we became fast friends, and well, we plan to start a new life. Wherever that is.” Lyla nodded and smiled towards Guido in agreement with Poppin.

Guido closes his eyes, folding his paws over his large stomach as if thinking to himself. “Poppin, Lyla…you two remind me of myself…and because of that…if you want cheese, you work for me.” After what felt like an awkward pause and discomfort, it broke when Guido started laughing so hard he was rolling around on the napkin, “OH! I’m sorry you two!” He said through his laughter, “I was just trying to pull Remy’s tail!” And then we were all laughing together. Remy was particularly relieved and gave Guido a big hug! “Now…you two, Lyla, Poppin, friends of Remy’s are friends of mine! Welcome to the family!” Remy instantly started jumping for joy, excited for Guido’s approval. Lyla and Poppin both shared a smile and nuzzle.

After a suffocating hug from Guido, Remy led Poppin and Lyla back into the broom closet, “Wow! I I just knew it! Guido really took a likin’ to y’all! Although I didn’t know he was such a jokester!” Remy said, still laughing from the eventful welcome. “Like I said before, I can show you the whole world out here and it sounds like the boss is cool for ya to work here, so what do ya say? Huh?” Lyla looked at Poppin, and they shared a knowing glance. With a small comforting squeeze from Lyla, Poppin looked at Remy who was eager to hear their answer. “Remy, we really appreciate all of your help and we’re pleased to have met you and Alfredo and Guido, but Lyla and I…” Poppin paused, glancing back at Lyla who was giving Poppin reassurance from her eyes and nodding as if it was the confirmation he needed for his next sentence. By now, Remy is sensing some dread awaiting to hear something he wasn’t expecting. “Well Remy, you see Lyla and I, we are on an adventure and well…although we’re really grateful we want to go exploring! We just left the white building to be free and roam and be together. We don’t want that adventure to end.” Remy smiled knowingly and brought his new friends in for a hug. “Well, I can't say I blame ya! But that took an unexpected turn, I am sure going to miss ya two love birds!” Remy whispered to them, “Well Remy, that’s the part we haven’t mentioned yet…” Lyla spoke up with sudden excitement. “What ya mean?” “Well Poppin and I, well, to be honest we are new here, and well you know this area and we want you to join us, at least for a bit until we get our bearings! Join us in our adventure, Remy!” Remy folded his hands as if in thought, and tugged at something he’d never considered. “I don’t know ya guys…I mean…Guido, he took me in when I was alone and lost in this big world… and Alfredo and the others, they need me, I am the chef and have all the recipes, I can't just leave them now. I owe it to them, and Guido, well, he’s like a father to me.” Poppin and Lyla both understood, and gave Remy a hug before leaving the restaurant. Remy escorted them out to the sidewalk, “We won’t be leaving indefinitely, we’ll come back to see you and Alfredo and Guido. Consider us your quality control!” Poppin said with a laugh, Lyla gave a chuckle and sigh and they all hugged. But, before they turned in for the night, Remy brought them a parting gift. “This is the best aged cheddar in the restaurant, I hope you two will enjoy it.” Poppin and Lyla, hungry from the smell of spices all day, were grateful! With a big departing hug, Poppin and Lyla carried their cheese into their new nest and shared some well deserved bites of the gift from Remy.

That night, Poppin and Lyla had left their nest to go sightseeing. They could see a rather large fountain with only a few humans nearby, Poppin looked over to Lyla, “You thinking what I’m thinking?” Lyla chuckled, “You’re on!” And they raced to the fountain down the road, no longer surrounded by humans and they climbed up to the ledge where they watched the water spill over its tiered top and into the basin below. Together they sat and nuzzled up to the chilly night breeze, dreaming as they watched a starry night unfold, like in the mind of Van Gogh. Questions of their future unfurled and they sat and dreamed it together.

Oh the places they will go.