The sound of sharp nails clicked softly over the stained and cracked linoleum. Princess paced right along with Shri, hoping for tidbits to fall to the floor. She had long since given up trying to “influence” these chain of events. “Sit,” Might as well be gibberish for all Princess was concerned, but the sound in that order and pitch meant only one thing, food for actions. “Good girl.” Shri dribbled some of the soy gruel onto the floor where it was lapped up eagerly. “At least one of us can eat this crap.” She lifted a spoonful and let it slop back into the bowl. Shri paced back and forth, back and forth. Some sort of nervous energy tingled and crackled through her brain. She had to get out, or she'd crawl out of her own skin trying to escape this feeling. It seemed like every year this hap