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LEWIS

T wo months later…

It started with the Wii controllers. I set them at the end of the bed before we went to sleep. In the morning Todd moved them back to the living room, but I set them at the end of the bed again when I got home from work that night because that’s where they belong. When I told Todd, he opened his mouth like he was going to say something, then closed it again.

He didn’t move them again.

The XBox controllers were next. I set them by the Wii controllers. They look nice next to each other. When Todd saw them he pressed his lips together, but he didn’t ask me about it. Which is good, because they have to stay there. It’s really important.

Throughout the week I find things that belong next to our bed. Todd’s Pebble Gifting Portfolio. The Luigi pajamas he got me for Christmas. I even called Ansel to get the reindeer costume I wore at his half-birthday party, because I needed to put it next to my puffball hat. I place the red foam nose on Todd’s side of the bed and he accidentally kicks it underneath.

My belly is big, but I still crawl under the bed to get it.

On Saturday night Todd stands in the doorway of the bedroom, looking longingly at the XBox controllers. I know he’s had a long week and he wants to play. But I can’t let him take them. They have to stay there.

I sink the knife I brought from the kitchen into my pillow.

“Whoa! That’s a perfectly good pillow.”

I saw at the fabric, until I have a hole big enough to get the stuffing out, then push the blankets and other pillow off the bed. I’ll arrange them on the top of the stuffing later.

“Should I get you stuffing from the store or something?”

There isn’t enough fluff in my pillow to line my nest. I’ll need another pillow. I grab the knife, and bend down to get Todd’s.

“Wait. Let’s talk about this.”

I stab into his pillow.

“Okay, cool. So, we’re not going to talk about it. I’m assuming this means that you’re nesting.”

That should be obvious. I can’t lay eggs without a nest. We need someplace safe to keep them warm.

“More pillows,” I say, tossing the shell of the pillow off the bed after I’ve pulled all the stuffing out.

“Right. Are you going to tear them open, because?—”

I glare at him.

“Okay. I’ll go get you more pillows. Do you want the decorative pillows in the front room too? Because those are expensive?—”

I continue to glare at him.

“Of course. Coming right up.”

He dashes out the door. It takes him a very long time to find me pillows. I hear him talking to someone. Maybe he’s called a pillow man to bring us dozens and dozens of pillows so I can harvest their insides for my nest. That’s it, my mate is talking to the pillow man. I will have more pillows soon.

For now, I need to take my clothes off. They mustn’t get in the way.

Todd appears at the door with four more pillows just as I sit back down on the bed.

“You’re naked now. Wow. Things are developing fast.”

I hold my hand out. “The pillows. Have you secured more from the pillow man?”

He narrows his eyes. “The pillow man?”

“Well, I assume that’s why you made a phone call. Obviously, I need more pillows. Tell the pillow man that a dozen should be fine.”

Todd covers his mouth, but I can tell he’s smiling. Why is he smiling at a time like this? He needs to get back on the phone with the pillow man.

“Well, hurry. Call him,” I say.

Todd slides his phone out of his back pocket, and presses a few buttons. I underestimated my mate. He has the pillow man on speed dial.

“Hey, Ansel. Lewis is nesting. There isn’t any chance you could bring over twelve pillows, is there? They’d have to be pillows you’re not going to miss, because he’s going to tear them open for the stuffing.”

Ansel is a pillow man? How convenient.

“Thanks, man. See you in a few.”

I tear open the first pillow, and stick my hand deep within its belly, pulling out its insides. After going through the next four pillows, I’m not sure I’ll need a full dozen. Perhaps six more would be fine.

Oh well. It never hurts to be prepared.

I lie down at the center of my nest. While I wait for the pillow man, I will rest. I’m so tired, and my stomach hurts. If I can just take a nap, I’ll feel better.