After school, Piper sent me a text.
Piper: Sorry to ditch you. I reaaaaallly want to stay for yearbook club. Okay?
I typed back:
Me: Whatever.
Piper: Megan?
Me: It’s fine.
I stuffed my phone into my backpack and headed to the orientation meeting at the Humane Society alone. The dogs in the outdoor play zone barked and wagged their tails. I smiled and swung open the glass front door. Mavis greeted me from behind her desk. “Hi, honey. Good to see you again.”
“Thanks.” I beamed. “Who is this?” I bent down and scratched the head of the sweet dog next to her.
“This is Marble,” she said. “Wow. He doesn’t warm up to just anyone. He only likes a select few people. And cats. Everyone else he ignores.”
“Cats?”
“Don’t ask me. The last owner must’ve had them.”
Marble nuzzled me like we were old friends. “I’m guessing he’s a retriever-collie-spaniel mix?”
“Yes!” Mavis said. “At least that’s what the blood test showed. I adopted him from here.”
I scratched under his chin and then petted the soft fur on his head.
“Wow. That’s fantastic,” Mavis said. “The way you can make that purring sound like a cat.”
Huh?
“It’s so real.” She smiled.
Was I doing that?
“Now, Marble thanks you, but time for you to scoot. Orientation is through the blue doors on your left. There are a couple dozen new volunteers in there. Water bottles and cookies are set up on a table, so help yourself to a snack.”
I shook off Mavis’s odd comment and headed inside, practically skipping until my bounce turned into a thud.
What was Yoona doing here? As in Yoona who hung out with Rhena and Shelby. This was supposed to be my drama-free zone, yet there she stood, leaning against the cookie table.
“Heeeey, Yoona?” I said.
“Hi!” Her greeting came out enthusiastic, louder than I’d ever heard her speak at school. Had I heard her speak at school?
She grabbed me in a hug.
My arms hung at my side.
“It’s so awesome that you’re doing this, too,” she said. “Were you a volunteer in Colorado?”
“Uh-huh.” I grabbed a few sugar cookies. She grabbed a handful, too, and in no time I learned that Yoona had four sisters and one turtle (no dog, but she was working on her parents). We liked the same music, and we both loved our grandmothers—she said hers lived with her family and baked chapssal donuts and hotteok every Saturday.
“Hotteok are Korean sweet pancakes and best hot off the griddle, even if they do burn your fingers a little. My grandma fills them with brown sugar and cinnamon. Mmmm, they’re so good. You’ll have to come over one weekend.”
“Definitely.” I wanted to ask if she was going to Rhena’s for the study party, but then that would’ve brought school into the conversation, and I really didn’t want to talk about the Rhena-and-Ally drama or the election.
The director arrived and passed out our name badge lanyards and began the information session. She told us about the weekly Wednesday Night Walks, saying it was a volunteer opportunity to walk dogs late in the evening when the temperatures had cooled. Then she discussed special events, the foster program, walking paths, how we could help with the bath brigade, and safety and etiquette for introducing people to the animals. Afterward, she led the group of new volunteers on a tour. It ended near the front doors. “Everyone, find a volunteer partner. I’d like you to work in pairs.”
Yoona grabbed my hand, and I smiled.
“Please see Mavis for your first assignment. She’ll be your go-to person. Thank you all for caring.”
We lined up beside Mavis’s desk and waited our turn to sign up for a position, me hoping we’d get dog walking or bath brigade.
“I keep telling my dad these dogs need homes,” Yoona said. “And I’d be the best owner ever. I’d feed and water and love. And I’d never get tired of the newness and forget about my dog. It sucks when people adopt puppies and then return them when they realize they’re work. Or I hate when people want a dog, but then never play with them.”
“Yeah. And you know what’s worse?” I said as we inched forward. “Owners who leave their dog in the car, especially in the summer.”
“I know, right. I mean, five minutes isn’t bad, but people shouldn’t go off and do their grocery shopping.”
“Five minutes is bad. I’ve done the calculations,” I said. “The temperature in a shut car rises by seven degrees in five minutes. And thirteen degrees in ten minutes. Around here, a hundred and ten in a car can turn into a hundred and forty degrees in half an hour.”
“You did the calculations?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Geez. I guess you’re a genius.” Yoona smiled for a moment, and then concern took over her face. “Listen, genius. I wish you’d be smarter about Rhena.” She lowered her voice. “Seriously, Megan. You shouldn’t go against her. She’s freaking out about you helping Ally. And trust me. It’s not worth it to cross Rhena.” She paused before adding, “She’ll do anything to be in charge of Spirit Week.”
“Me?” I snort-laughed. “I’m not trying to go against her.”
Yoona was sincerely trying to help me, but what more could I say—that I wanted out of the middle of the Ally-Rhena spirit-storm? That I barely knew anyone and didn’t have the juice to help Ally win? I mean, sure I had magic, but I didn’t have votes.
“Please, Megan,” Yoona said. “If you keep challenging Rhena, she’s going to make sure you regret it.”
“Hello, girls,” Mavis said.
I snapped my attention Mavis’s way, wanting to hug her for saving me from this conversation.
Mavis shuffled a pile of papers. “Don’t be disappointed, but we need some volunteers on pooper-scooper duty, and then to spray down the outside play zone and refill water bowls.”
“Great,” I said, relieved to be headed off to our duties. Except Yoona had one more thing to say.
“Listen,” she said in a low voice, like Rhena had spies at the Humane Society. “She’s already salty about you. You don’t want to see what happens when she’s really ticked.”