On Monday morning, Mr. Garrity told Jack Planter that he had one week. “One week.” Mr. Garrity wore custom-tailored suits and a gold pocket watch, and looked like he should constantly be chewing on a cigar. “You have one week to prove you deserve a job here.” Jack, who’d started his day drinking coffee and…

The notice appeared on Tuesday morning. It was there when Penny carried her cup of coffee out to check on her vegetable garden. She kept the garden in the front yard. The plants got more sun there, and it kept the seedlings safe from Stella, who would eat the ones that smelled delicious and just…