Half-Full

Veronica ran straight to Paws and Claws after school. She wanted to see Cadbury and she desperately needed to discuss her outfit for the big party with Esme. She was seriously worried that wearing a uniform for several days had weakened her sense of style. This party was very important.

Inside Paws and Claws, Ray was reading a copy of the New York Post at the counter, not doing anything resembling work. Typical. But instead of ignoring her as usual, he put his paper down and looked at her funny. Esme was behind him checking inventory.

“Hey, Veronica,” he said.

Veronica scanned the cages looking for Cadbury. She didn’t see him. Esme turned around. “Veronica,” she said, “I came in after my shift at Dr. Harskirey’s and he was gone. You know if I had been here I wouldn’t have let anyone take him.”

Veronica’s heart dropped like an elevator whose cables had been cut. It landed hard, shaking every bone in her body. Esme came around from behind the counter and held her. Esme’s arms were warm but Veronica was cold. It was like cement had been poured inside of her and had set.

She had no recollection of walking home, but eventually she found herself standing outside her apartment building, confused. Charlie gave her a particularly enthusiastic greeting and for the first time in her life she didn’t smile back. She stared at the rows of buttons in the elevator, unable to make sense of them. She had no idea how long she stood helpless before her arm eventually took charge and her finger pushed four.

Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were waiting at the front door. Why were they home so early?

“Honey, you have to call us if you’re going to be late! That is a rule. You know that.”

Mary should have been yelling at her, but Mary didn’t seem to be anywhere.

“Mary had an appointment with the surgeon, they’re figuring out whether or not she needs surgery, remember?” her mother said.

“What’s wrong? You look terrible. Did something happen?” her father asked.

“Mommy,” was all Veronica could manage to say. She fell into her mother’s arms and buried her head in the lovely smell of her mother’s perfume expecting to be held, as Esme had held her. But her mother shook her instead.

“What is it? Speak to me. Did something happen? You are frightening me. We didn’t know what happened to you. Are you hurt?”

Yes, my heart is breaking! Veronica tried to say.

“Someone named Sarah-Lisa called you. You’ve been invited to a sleepover party tonight. She said you have to call her back. We had no idea where you were.”

“I went to visit Cadbury.” At the mention of Cadbury’s name her throat got tight. She needed Kleenex. The sound of clicking disoriented her. Was Fitzy here? Oh no, was she late to walk Fitzy? If Fitzy had peed on the Persian carpet upstairs, Mrs. Ferguson would be so mad. It was Friday. No, she didn’t walk Fitzy till after dinner on Fridays.

“Honey, are you okay?” Mrs. Morgan said.

Veronica couldn’t focus and she rubbed her eyes hard because what she saw was impossible. Bounding over, his tail sticking straight up and swinging back and forth like a metronome, was Cadbury.

“Cadbury!” she screamed. Cadbury jumped up and put his front paws on her legs. Her parents had bought him! For her. Cadbury was her dog! It was unbelievable but true. Veronica got down on the floor so she could put her head in his cone. He licked her everywhere that he could reach. He licked her mouth. He licked her hands. He put his tongue all the way inside her nose. The little lemon beagle crawled into her lap as if that was the place he most belonged. She traced the path of white between the pale caramel spots with her finger like a boat on furry river. She planned to memorize each one. His velvety ears were so soft. He panted in his plastic cone, his warm body pressed against her.

Mary liked saying that things are not necessarily as they appear. And the truth was Veronica had never been happier in her life. She had everything she could ever want. And yet her nose was dripping, her chest was heaving, and she was sobbing all over the place.