...and being of sound mind and body, I hereby bequeath my entire fortune to The Hartsdale Canine Cemetery of Hartsdale, New York, under the condition that after my death, my ashes are to be scattered upon the gravesite of my beloved standard poodle, April.

"Are you sure this is what you want, Mrs. Carlson?"

"Yes, I'm sure. My husband is dead. And I have no children, nieces, nephews, or siblings to claim my fortune. You may think I'm crazy, but the only true love of my entire lonely life was my dog, April. Her recent demise nearly broke my heart."

Story and Cover Illustration Copyright © 2023 by Michael DeFrancesco