But Lou needn’t have worried. Moments before the ball hit him, the dog jumped up, caught the ball on his head, and sent it rocketing back toward Lou. It came so fast, Lou couldn’t catch it.
“A perfect header!” Lou shouted as he ran to retrieve it. The dog chased him. “Oh, no you don’t!” Lou said, picking up speed. “I’m going to get it first!”
Lou did get to the ball first, but the dog was close behind. Lou fell on the ball, and the dog fell on Lou. They tussled for a moment. Then the dog started licking Lou’s face. Lou collapsed in giggles and finally let go of the ball.
“You won’t hurt my ball, will you?” he cried as the dog pawed it, growling. “It’s lucky!”
The dog looked up suddenly and gave a bark.
“What is it, boy?” Lou asked. “Is it something I said? Was it the word ‘lucky’?” The dog barked again. Lou slapped his hand to his head. “It was lucky! I bet your name is Lucky, isn’t it?!”
“Who are you talking to?” a voice behind him asked.
Lou turned to see his mother standing in the doorway.
Lou moved so his mother could see the dog. “This mutt.” He was about to tell her how the dog had saved his life. But at the last second, he changed his mind. Sometimes his mother worried about him, because of his arm. Lou didn’t want her to think there was anything to worry about.
“Er, this mutt followed me home,” he said instead. “I think his name is Lucky.” The dog looked up at Mrs. Barnes, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth.
Mrs. Barnes laughed. “He’s adorable,” she said. “And I bet he’s thirsty, too. I’ll get him some water.”
Lou was surprised. They didn’t have a pet. Lou had asked for a dog once, when he was five, but his parents had said it wasn’t a good time for them to get a pet. Lou hadn’t brought it up again, and his parents had never offered to get him one. He’d just figured they didn’t like animals that much. But maybe he was wrong.
His mother returned a moment later, carrying a pan of water. Lucky drank, sloshing some onto the grass. Mrs. Barnes sat down next to Lou.
“No collar, huh?” she observed. Lou shook his head. She put an arm around his shoulders. “You know we can’t keep him, don’t you?”
Lou looked at his shoes. “Yeah, I know. Because you and Dad don’t want to have pets, right?”
Mrs. Barnes’s eyes widened. “Whatever gave you that idea?” she said. “We can’t keep him because he obviously belongs to someone else. That person is probably worried sick.” She reached out and patted Lucky’s back. “Wouldn’t you be?”
Lou knew she was right. Still, it made his throat tighten up knowing he might never see Lucky again. He’d only known him a short while, but already he knew he loved him.
Lou stroked Lucky’s back. Lucky looked up at him, his muzzle dripping with water. Lou laughed and hugged him.
“I wish you were my dog,” he whispered into Lucky’s fur. Lucky rumbled deep in his chest.
