“We need a good cup of coffee,” said Clara moving ahead with Irma obediently at her heel. Katherine followed, trying to keep Noodle from straining at the leash to catch up. They passed the first two stalls of the outdoor farmer’s market and stopped at a fragrant tent with large black canisters and trays of big round cookies. “Two large, please,” Clara was saying. Katherine accepted a cup with frothy milk on top. As she reached into her shoulder bag for her wallet, Clara waved dismissively. “Already paid for. Come, let’s see what looks good.” She headed to the next tent-covered stall. “Chocolate-covered pretzels. That’s a winning combination. Good location, too, right next to the coffee tent. You plan this?” She chatted with the young woman behind the table, while Katherine sipped her hot coffee and gazed around.
      The market had a good number of visitors without being crowded. Families with kids and babies in strollers walked along enjoying the sunshine when it peeked out from between some dark clouds. Some people were glancing up and asking if it looked like rain. Others shook their heads. Katherine didn’t care if it rained. She didn’t even really want to be here, with Noodle lunging forward from time to time, jerking her arm. She was in a daze of concern over her job and home and uncertain about her love life. If it was over with Rick, was it beginning with Lawrence?
     Clara was now talking to a woman loaded down with shopping bags full of greens. Noodle edged over to Irma and sniffed her nose. Katherine sighed and took a drink of coffee. She wondered if she should open a tea shop or something, as a new career.
     “I’ll see you Wednesday, then,” said the woman to Clara while moving away.
     “Let’s see what Bennett’s selling,” said Clara, offering Katherine a chocolate pretzel. As they were passing a lush, colourful plant stall, someone called out “Hi Clara!” A woman with severe dark-framed glasses paused while adjusting potted plants on a shelf unit.
     “How’s it going, Vanessa?” asked Clara.
     “Great! The cuttings you gave me are really doing well.”
     “Good. Don’t you find they take a lot of water?”
     “Constantly! They’re very thirsty.”
     “Keep them wet,” Clara advised, walking on toward the next tent. To Katherine, she said, “Vanessa owns the antiques and plant store.”
     “You seem to know everyone,” marvelled Katherine. “You’re a real part of the community.” Just then a little boy darted in front of her and stood looking up at her. “Can I pet your dog?” he asked.
     “Sure.” Katherine crouched down beside Noodle. “Hold out your hand first, so he can smell you.” The boy did, and Noodle gave barely a sniff before turning to look at a big German shepherd across the street. The boy cautiously reached to touch the back of Noodle’s neck. Noodle turned to the boy’s face and gave a swift lick on his cheek. With that, the boy flung his arms around Noodle and buried his face in the dog’s neck.
     “Randle, be careful,” said a young woman, pulling the boy away. “The dog doesn’t know you.”
     “He’s all right,” said Katherine. “He’s gentle with kids.”
     “It’s a beautiful dog. Say thank you, Randle.”
     “Thanks,” said the boy as he was led away.
     Clara entered the tent of what appeared to be a green grocer’s. Fresh produce lay in tempting heaps on the table. “You’ve got a good selection this week,” she was saying to a man with a ponytail. “You know Katherine, don’t you? She’s in the group opposing the development.”
     “I don’t think we’ve met yet,” the man said. “I’m Bennett Clark.”
     Barely noticing him, Katherine automatically held out her hand as she said her full name.
     “Katherine Glee? The host of Health and Healing?” Bennett asked while shaking hands.
     Katherine snapped to full attention and looked the man in the face. An unattractive, almost ugly face, because of a very large nose. Where had she seen him before? “That’s right. You listen to the show?”
     “As much as I can. I really enjoy it. It’s very nice to meet you.”
     Then she remembered him as one of the speakers at the council meeting about the development. He had been in front of her at the microphone. Suddenly, there was a clap of thunder and someone screamed. The sky opened and it began to pour. People scurried for cover under tents and in the doorways of stores. Rain hit the pavement and bounced up like water drops on a hot skillet. Lightning flashes were followed by loud booms of thunder. Noodle huddled near Katherine’s legs.
     “Where did this come from?” a young woman asked. “It didn’t look like it was going to rain.”
     “I thought it might,” said an older woman wearing glasses. “I brought an umbrella, but I didn’t expect a thunder storm.”
     “It’s really coming down hard now,” observed Clara. “We’ll have to wait it out.”
     “Have the stool,” said Bennett to Clara, swinging it in front of the produce table. She sat down and drained her cup of coffee.
     Katherine felt Noodle trembling with each crack of thunder. “It’s okay, boy. You’re okay.”
     Bennett knelt on one knee next to Noodle. “Hi there, fella. How’re you doing? What’s your name?” Katherine told him and he continued murmuring to him. “Noodle. That’s a good dog.” Katherine looked down on Bennett’s head, noticing how thin his hair was on top. It looks awful in a ponytail, she thought. Wonder why he bothers keeping it long.
     “Doesn’t the rain smell good?” he said to Noodle.
     Katherine then noticed the particular green cleanness of a thunderstorm. A faint smell of dust was laid over with a damp freshness that was soothing.
     Bennett was tickling Noodle’s chest. “The rain is good for the farms. Do you have a garden?” Noodle’s ears shifted from the anxiety position to a happier, relaxed angle.
     Katherine knelt at Noodle’s other side. “We have a garden that Clara’s helping us with. You’re good with dogs, aren’t you?”
     “I like them,” Bennett said simply. He smiled and gently ruffled Noodle’s ears. Katherine thought what a shame it was that he was so ugly. He was nice, but difficult to look at.
     “Is this pup related to Irma?” he asked.
     “Her son! How could you tell?”
     “There’s a bit of a resemblance. Although their colour is different, there’s a similarity in the shape of the head, don’t you think?”
     “Maybe,” said Katherine tilting her head. “I never noticed it before.”
     “Bennett, someone wants to pay for some lettuce,” said Clara.
     Bennett rose instantly and went behind the table to serve his customer. Katherine stood up and sighed again. It was good that Noodle and Irma had each other for company sometimes. She hoped that this would continue, and that she wouldn’t have to move away. If she didn’t get other work, it was a possibility. Maybe Lawrence would have ideas for her.

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