The large white rat — easily the size of a child — toddled into the café, looking delighted with herself.
There were a few gasps, and the old dog sitting under the table raised its head curiously, but otherwise the building was frozen by the sight of her.
She walked up to the counter. ‘Feesh puh-lease?’ she asked in a scratchy voice, nose aquiver.
‘Tuna sandwich,’ a human followed her in and translated.
The rat clapped her paws in excitement. ‘Sand-wheech!’
The barista looked helplessly to the human.
‘Genie said she got one wish,’ he explained.
‘Sand-wheech!’ The rat said again, reaching out with eager paws.
—