The Misty Mystery

Rex walked quietly on the way home, but Kyle knew it was mostly because he was tired after his game of keep-away with Lucky.

“I can’t believe Drew’s parents would make him get rid of Lucky,” Mia said.

Kyle nodded. His mom might be annoyed with Rex, but she’d never get rid of him. “Maybe Drew’s parents just don’t understand dogs,” he suggested.

“At least Drew wants to learn,” Mia said. “Hopefully you can help him since you’re training Rex anyway.”

“I hope so,” Kyle said. “Lucky’s bad habits can be fixed. It’ll just take time.”

“I wish Misty’s bad habits could be fixed,” Mia said with a sigh. “She’s been worse than ever lately.”

“Worse?” Kyle said. That was hard to believe. Mia’s cat, Misty, never listened. She was so mean she could chase dogs out of the yard and take down skateboarders. Once she’d even dropped a live beetle in Mia’s cereal bowl.

“It’s too bad cats can’t be trained like dogs,” Mia added.

Some can, but not Misty, Kyle thought. Misty did what she wanted when she wanted, and nobody argued.

“What’s she doing now?” Kyle asked.

“Last night at dinner she crouched under my chair and clawed at my feet,” Mia said. “She wouldn’t stop, so we had to lock her outside until we finished.”

Misty clawed Kyle’s feet all the time. But going after Mia was new.

“And yesterday afternoon she shredded the mail,” Mia said. “All my mom’s catalogs have holes in them. She was not happy.”

“Has Misty ever done that before?” Kyle asked.

Mia shook her head. “No. I don’t know why she’s doing it now.”

“Maybe she’s just bored and trying to get more attention,” Kyle suggested.

“Maybe,” Mia said. “Let’s go to Mr. J’s and get her a new catnip mouse. She loves those.”

Mr. J’s Pet Haven had been in business for thirty years. Kyle and Mia didn’t shop anywhere else for dog and cat supplies. Some things were cheaper at the big chain pet store, but Mr. J knew all his customers by name. And no one knew more about pets.

A bell chimed as Kyle and Mia pushed open the door to Mr. J’s Pet Haven. “Don’t want any!” Jethro, Mr. J’s parrot, squawked as soon as they walked inside.

“Hi, Jethro!” Mia said. “What’s up?”

The bird let out a whistle and bobbed his head. “I’m hungry!” he said.

Mia picked up a cracker from the bowl on the counter and held it out to the bird. “Here you go,” she said.

Jethro took the cracker with his beak and swallowed it in one bite. As soon as it was gone, he squawked, “Get lost!”

Kyle smiled. The parrot used to live at Mr. J’s house. He’d learned to talk by listening to Mr. J’s kids.

“That bird is such a brat sometimes!” Mr. J said with a laugh. “What brings you two in today? Anything I can help with?”

“I need a new catnip toy for Misty,” Mia said. “And some treats. She’s been acting a little weird lately.”

“Weird how?” Mr. J asked.

“Clawing at my feet and ripping up the mail,” Mia said.

“Some animals get cranky when they get older,” Mr. J suggested. “Could that be it?”

Mia shook her head. “Misty isn’t old,” she said. “She’s only four.”

“Besides, she was born cranky,” Kyle added. “We think she might just be bored.”

“That could be it,” Mr. J said. “It’s hard to tell sometimes since our pets can’t tell us what’s bothering them. We have to figure it out.”

Kyle and Mia followed Mr. J to the back of the store where the cat supplies were kept. He quickly gathered up Misty’s new toy and treats.

“Why do some dogs chew stuff and play with trash?” Kyle asked.

“All puppies chew,” Mr. J said. “Owners have to teach them that dog toys are okay and everything else is not. And training takes time. Some people don’t want to be bothered.”

Maybe that’s why Lucky’s first owner took him to the shelter, Kyle thought.

“And dogs can get into the trash for a lot of reasons,” Mr. J continued as they walked back to the front of the store. “Sometimes dogs get nervous when they’re left alone. Trash keeps them busy and calms them down.”

“Rex used to get into our trash,” Kyle said. “But I don’t think it calmed him down.”

Mr. J laughed. “Sometimes dogs do it just because ripping up smelly stuff is fun,” he said.

Lucky is definitely the smelly fun type, Kyle decided.

Mr. J rang up Mia’s purchases. “I hope these help with Misty,” he said.

“Me, too,” Mia said. “I have to wear three pairs of socks to protect my toes when I’m sleeping!”