$FISHU
CASOON

Night shift. One fish.

Fishu

Fishu, a white cat holding a sardine crosswise in his mouth

Fish accounted for. Nerves pending.

LAST FISH ACCOUNTED FOR✚ALLEY SHIFT ACTIVE✚NO RECEIPT REQUIRED✚TAIL-FIRST FILING✚QUIETLY ON DUTY✚BREAK ENDS NEVER✚
Fishu standing beside stacked crates and a drainpipe under a hanging lamp, sardine in mouth

Closing Time

Every evening, Fishu patrols the shuttered market with one sardine held crosswise for safekeeping. He checks the crates, distrusts the drainpipe, and pauses whenever the ice machine coughs. Nothing has gone missing on his watch, except several identical sardines. Those were entered under routine expenses. At dawn, he leaves one paw print beside the locked door and clocks out without speaking. Nobody has challenged the count since the broom incident on Tuesday.

Two Instincts

Calm Professional

He inspects every crate before selecting the fish already in his mouth.

Nervous Custodian

A rolling bottle can suspend operations until the alley is quiet.

All fish present. Mostly.