Chapter Two

 

“Your dad got you a dog!”

“Yeah. He said my mom and him were busy with my two baby sisters so I needed a companion.”

Philip thought a moment. “How about me?”

“You want my dad to get you a dog, too?”
“No. I thought I was your companion.”

“You are, but my dad said I needed a four-legged companion.”

Philip looked down.

“Maybe if you were twins . . .” Emery grinned.

“What did you name it?”

“It’s a he, not an it, and his name is Hansel.”

“Hansel. Well, what does he do? Does he do tricks? Make him do something.”

“The only thing he knows how to do now is eat and poop, but he already finished.” Emery held up a small white plastic bag.

“What’s in there?”

“When he goes, somebody has to clean it up.”

“That’s what’s in there?”

Emery nodded.

Philip stepped more toward Emery’s other side away from the bag.

“Where’d your dad get him?” Philip watched Hansel run in all directions to the limit of his leash and smell everything he could get his nose on.

“The shelter. Somebody didn’t want him. But he’s still a puppy. Six months, the man at the shelter said.”

“Let’s go to your house to play with him. We can teach him some real tricks.” Philip kept a suspicious eye on the plastic bag in Emery’s hand.

“Can’t. I’m walking him ’cause we’re going to my aunt’s house. He’s coming with us.”

Philip squatted and petted Hansel. Hansel licked his hand.

“I think he likes me.”

“There’s my dad, waving. I gotta go. Come over tomorrow.”

Philip watched as Emery walked away. He turned and began his slow way back to his house. A dog. A pet. He’d never had a pet. His mother said they were too messy and needed too much attention, but if Emery could take care of a dog, why couldn’t he? He thought a moment of the white plastic bag again, but said to himself with determination that he could do anything Emery could do. But how could he get his mother to agree? She’d never let him have a pet.

“Hi.”

Philip turned his head. Angel again.

“Hi,” said Philip.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Angel had her forehead against the screen in her living room window again. “Come on over here so I don’t have to talk so loud.”

Philip walked up her front path and across the grass to the window.

“Want me to tell you what you’re thinking?”

“You can’t. Nobody can.”

Angel smiled. “You’re wishing you had a dog, but probably your parents won’t let you.”

Philip’s eyes stretched wide.

Angel laughed. “I’m right, eh?”

“Yes, but how . . .?”

“Am I starting to scare you?” Angel made a scary face and turned her hands into claws and scratched them against the screen.

“How’d you know?”

“I watch stuff from my window. It’s about all I ever get to do. I saw you with your friend. What’s his name . . . I think I heard you call him Emery.”

“Right, Emery. His father got him the dog from the shelter because he’s got two little baby sisters, and his mother and father don’t have much time for him.”

“And you’re jealous.”

“It’s not jealous. I like dogs, too.” He told Angel about his mother’s opinion of pets.

“You’ve got a problem,” said Angel. She smiled. “But just like I know what you’re thinking, I can solve the most impossible problems.” Again she made a face and scratched at the screen with her make-believe claws.

“Stop it.” Weird girl, Philip thought. “You can solve my problem and get me a dog? You are starting to scare me if you think you can do that.”

Angel beckoned him closer. Philip moved right up next to the screen, and Angel whispered, “Your mom and dad won’t buy you a dog, right?”

“Won’t buy me any kind of pet.”

“So, the only way for you to get a pet is to take one home with you.”

“I can’t just buy some animal and walk in the door with it. They’d take it right back. Besides, I only have seventy-five cents.”

“Listen.” Angel made her voice very low. “A small, tan stray dog comes around in the afternoons. I see it all the time from my bedroom window.” She pointed toward the rear of the house and upward. “If you go back there this afternoon, go every afternoon until it shows up, you’ll see it. Take some food with you.”

“Food?”

“Meat. From the refrigerator. Leftovers.”

Philip nodded. “Okay.”

“Make the dog follow you home. Put on a sad face and tell your mom this poor stray dog followed you home, and you’d like to take care of it. Promise to keep the dog in the garage. Get your mother used to the idea, and little-by-little get the dog into the house, and little-by-little it becomes your pet. Ta-da!”

“I don’t know,” Philip said uncertainly. “You sure this dog comes around all the time?”

“I see it a lot.”

“Did you just think up that plan?” Impressive, Philip thought.

Angel shrugged. “I’d like a pet, too, but my parents think I’m too sick to have one. They think a pet will make me sicker. They have a long list of reasons. It’s a plan I thought up for myself, but I can’t use it. I’m stuck in the house all the time. So I give it to you. No charge.”

“I’ll try it. I’m going to try it. Thanks, Angel.” Philip turned and started away.

“Good luck,” Angel called after him. More quietly she said, “You’re going to need it.”

Philip ran toward home. He had plans to make.