NINE

Stacy and Jason chattered while they scrubbed the mystery mutt.

“Thanks for letting Muffie use your tub,” Jason said.

She’d have to clean the bathroom when they were finished. When Muffie was all done with his doggie bath, that is. And . . . before Mom arrived home.

She enjoyed helping Jason. And he seemed to accept her love and kindness.

“Did you hear? We’re having another Cul-de-sac Kids club meeting,” she said.

“When?” Jason asked. Soapsuds were all over his glasses and shirt.

“New Year’s Eve,” Stacy said. She tried not to look at sudsy Jason. But she couldn’t help it. He looked so silly.

“What’re we gonna do at the meeting?” Jason asked.

She felt the giggles coming. It was impossible to hold them in. “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha . . .”

“Oh, Stacy, what’s so funny?” he said.

“You’re all soapy.” She pointed to his hair and face.

“I am?” He stood up and looked in the mirror. “Hey, you’re right. I do look funny. Not only funny, I look like a fruit.”

Stacy stopped laughing. “What . . . what did you say?”

“I’m a prune!” He held up his hands. “Look at me.”

Jason was right. He did look like a fruit.

She stared down at her hands. “Wow, I’m wrinkled, too. Just like a girl prune.”

Jason went back to washing Muffie.

Stacy helped him dry the dog.

“I guess what’s in the heart shows up on the outside,” said Jason. “Sooner or later.”

Stacy was thrilled. But she didn’t dare say a word.

“Count me in—on the fruity loop,” said Jason. He was laughing hard. Not giggling, but close.

“What’s a fruity loop?” she asked.

“You know what a loop is, right?” said Jason.

“I . . . I guess so.” Stacy wasn’t really sure.

“A cul-de-sac is sorta like a loop, isn’t it?”

Stacy laughed. “Oh, I get it.” She said “fruity loop” over and over. “You’re one crazy kid,” Stacy said.

“Thanks to the mystery mutt, I’m fruity, too!” replied Jason.

“Now we have to convince your parents about Muffie,” said Stacy.

“Won’t be easy,” Jason said. “Even with Muffie smelling nice and fresh, my mom’s not much for dogs.”

“Maybe my mom’ll let me keep him,” she said.

Just then she heard someone’s keys jangle. Stacy looked up. Her mother was standing in the bathroom doorway!

“Oh, hi, Mom,” she said. “We needed to give a dog a bath. Hope you don’t mind.”

“What’s going on?” Mom asked, frowning.

“It’s a long story,” Stacy spoke up quickly.

“Yes, I suppose it is,” Mom said. She came into the room and helped dry Muffie.

“Don’t worry, I’ll clean things up,” Stacy promised.

Mom knelt down and petted the puppy. “Whose dog?”

Stacy looked at Jason.

And Jason looked at Stacy.

They both shrugged at the same time.

“We really don’t know,” Stacy said, at last.

“What do you mean?” Mom asked.

Jason explained everything. “He’s a stray.”

“How very sad,” Mom said about the homeless dog. “But please don’t get any ideas, Stacy.”

“I didn’t think you’d want two dogs,” Stacy replied.

Jason pushed up his glasses. “Then it’s up to me.”

Stacy thought he looked awfully happy. Jason really wanted Muffie. She was positively sure!

Stacy helped finish drying the dog—with a hair dryer. When he was completely dry, Muffie seemed to smile.

“Look!” Jason said. “Muffie’s trying to say ‘thank you.’ ”

“Hey, I think you’re right,” Stacy said. She stroked Muffie’s white and brown coat.

Sunday Funnies was beginning to whine. He sounded like he was feeling left out.

“Oh, baby,” Stacy said, reaching down for her cockapoo. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

Jason was the one laughing now. “That’s right. You’re still top dog around here,” he teased.

Stacy followed Jason to the front door. “I’ll cross my fingers for you,” she said.

“Thanks. And say a prayer, too,” Jason added.

“I will. I promise,” she said.

Stacy could hardly wait to tell Abby!