“Sure,” I said. I figured he wanted me to handle his “customer” while he grabbed his lunch tray. I’d brought a brown bag, knowing it would be crazy in the cafeteria, but he hadn’t thought ahead.
“Will you meet me in the park after school?”
“I—” What was this about? I wanted to know more, but we had a small rush of buyers and JJ really did need to go get lunch before they ran out of tater tots, so I said, “Sure,” and watched him walk away.
I was intrigued. It would have to be a fast meeting, though. I couldn’t stay in the park too long because I had a date with a surly dog.
Marley walked me to the park. She was massaging her wrists.
“I’ve never played so hard in my whole life,” she said, smiling so wide her lips practically touched her ears. She made some motions with her hands as if playing again. “Ohhh, that hurts …” she said, smiling even wider. “It’s a good hurt.”
“You were fantastic!” I said. “What an amazing first gig! And we sold too many cards to count.”
It was time to work on delivery. Olivia said she’d come over on Saturday to organize what we’d sold, sort them into boxes for the fourth period classes, and assign students to deliver them to teachers.
Some kids from the student council had agreed to join us, too.
JJ swore he’d be there, though he said he would be late because of something with his mom. He said he had an idea on how to sell even more cards on Valentine’s Day.
Marley said she’d come over to help total up the money we’d earned, which I thought was a lot.
“I saw that hug JJ gave you,” Marley said as we turned the corner toward the park.
“I don’t remember that,” I said, totally lying. I hadn’t stopped thinking about it all day. Maybe it was an accident and that’s what he wanted to talk about? Maybe he was going to apologize? Maybe he wanted to hug again? What would I do then? I’d need to react better. In or out, not halfway.
Confusing.
“He’s going to admit he likes you, finally,” Marley said, sure of herself. “He sent that mysterious Buddy Blob and now he’ll ask if you want to hang out.”
“Hang out?” I laughed. “Is that what you and Rotem are doing?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “We’re hanging.”
I chuckled. Then I had to consider, would I want to “hang out” with JJ if he asked?
“I still hate him,” I said to Marley, but my tone was unconvincing.
“Sure,” she snorted. “And I’m a royal princess.”
“Oh fine,” I admitted. “I don’t hate him, but it’s frustrating that he still has never apologized for the whole science fair thing.” I knew it was a long time ago, but it still bothered me.
“True,” Marley agreed, pointing across the park. “So when he asks you to be his valentine, you can ask him to explain what happened that day.”
“You make it sound so easy …” I said. Then I realized that I’d forgotten to tell her something. “Hey,” I said, “the other day, Olivia said that she thought I’ve had a crush on JJ since fourth grade and that I was mad when they started ‘going out.’ Isn’t that crazy? She’s got it all wrong.”
“Does she?” Marley said.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Well, yes, Olivia took sides with JJ,” Marley said, “but it wasn’t her fault that JJ threw you out of the science project.”
There was a tension growing between us, and I wished I hadn’t started it.
Marley continued. “Think back, Suki. We were all besties. When did that change?”
I wasn’t sure. “When JJ ditched me?”
“You’re ridiculous.” She shook her head. “You really are a baby sometimes. Don’t you remember? You were mad at Olivia before that. In fact, she had been talking about working with JJ for science fair, until you went to school early and signed up to be his partner.”
I, for sure, did not remember that. “Why did I do that?”
“Maybe you should ask yourself,” Marley said. “Why did you do that?”
“You think I wanted to get between Olivia and JJ because I had a crush on him?” I spluttered. “No way.”
She shrugged.
“No way!” I told Marley, my voice rising. “How can you even think that I had a crush on him? You are the worst friend for even thinking that. Haven’t I hated him all this time?” She shrugged again and I could practically hear her saying, “There’s a thin line between love and hate.” She’d been saying that about me and JJ since … well, since fourth grade!
I got mad. Madder at my best friend than I’d ever been before. “I can’t believe you are taking Olivia’s side after all this time! I can’t believe you think I wanted to be partners with JJ because I liked him. I can guarantee that if Olivia had done the project with him, then I’d have that ribbon and she’d have been the one with the three-year grudge!” I was on a roll. “If you think I had a crush, then you aren’t the friend I thought you were.”
That came out a little harsher than I intended. But she just didn’t get it. Just because she liked Rotem and he liked her back didn’t mean that she knew everything about everyone’s crushes. Just like I always thought—boys make everything a mess!
Marley stared at me for a beat. Then, without a word, she rotated on her heel and left the park.
I saw JJ waiting for me in the middle of the park with Sandy. “Hey!” he called, as I approached.
“Hey,” I said, still feeling bad about how things had just gone with Marley. I tried to shake it off and pretend I hadn’t just started a fight with my best friend. “What did you want to tell me?”
“I have a question,” he said.
I tilted my head. This was it. Marley was right—he was going to ask me out. My heart started pounding. I bent down to pet Sandy so I wouldn’t have to look at him, and said, “This sounds interesting. Go on.” Since working at the shelter, I always had treats in my pocket now. I let her sniff my coat until she found them, then I told her to sit, and gave her one when she did it.
“You’re so good with her,” JJ said.
I smiled.
“So, can you babysit?” JJ asked me.
“Huh?” I stood to face him. “I thought you were an only child, like me.”
He let out a small laugh. “I meant for Sandy.”
“Huh?” I was super confused.
“My question was, can you watch Sandy while I’m gone?”
Oh. That was not what I expected. I hated to admit it, but I was a little disappointed.
JJ went on. “I was going to ask if you could dog-sit her just tonight, but then Mom texted me at school to say our plans changed—her weekend thing is now two days, not just one, and I can’t take Sandy. So we need to find someone for the whole weekend.” There was a desperate tone to his voice. “Olivia’s parents are super busy this weekend, so she can’t take her, either.”
“That stinks,” I said.
“There’s more: Since it’s two nights instead of one, I also have to miss meeting up with the council at your house.” He frowned. “I tried to get out of going, but my mom said no. It’s like that sometimes. She tells me what to do, and I don’t have a choice. So I do it.”
I grunted. I mean, I understood when parents laid down the law, but this seemed a little crazy.
“So can you watch Sandy for me?” he finished. “I’ll come get her Sunday.”
I looked down at the puppy. She was so cute, lying in the grass at our feet. It was a little cold out, but she didn’t care. Her orange fur blew in the breeze as she nibbled on a stick. I bent down and took it away. “It’s not good to eat sticks,” I said. If Sandy could talk, I’m sure she’d have argued with me.
Sandy rose, ready to fetch the stick if I threw it, and that made me wonder if I could train her a little more, maybe get her to fetch and come when called. I’d have the whole weekend to try out what I learned in the training class at the shelter on Sandy. That would be fun!
“I’ll ask my parents,” I said, head full of happy thoughts and ambitious plans. Fingers crossed they’d say yes, since it was an emergency.
“Great,” JJ said. “If they agree, I can bring her over right away. You’re a lifesaver, Suki.” He checked his phone. “Ack. Mom’s called four times. I think she wants to leave, like, now.”
I said, “Hang on. I’ll call my parents and maybe I can take her from here.”
While he called his mom, I called mine. No answer. I tried Dad, but no answer there, either.
I really wanted to take care of Sandy! I didn’t want JJ to find someone else to do it.
“What did they say?” JJ asked me, when he got off the phone.
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Really?”
Did he sense something was up? I bit my bottom lip and said, “They totally think I am responsible, since I’ve been working at the shelter, and they think it’s good for me to practice with a dog this weekend.” Oh what a hole I was digging! I couldn’t back out now. “I’ll come get her stuff from your place now.”
“Thanks, Suki.” And in a blink he was leading Sandy around the bushes that divided his apartment complex and the park.
A few minutes later, I was holding a bag of dog things and a leash with a dog at the end of it.
As I put Sandy in an empty cage at the shelter for the afternoon, I realized that I was still disappointed that JJ’s question for me had just been about Sandy. But I shook it away, reminding myself that I didn’t like him. And didn’t want a boyfriend.
I mean, who needed a valentine when I had Sandy to hang out with?
I kept an eye on her while she settled into some old towels I’d put down for a bed. She spun around twice, then dug a spot in the middle of the pile and snuggled up. To make sure no one mistook her for a stray, I put a sign on the cage that said NOT FOR ADOPTION, then started my work of filling dog bowls.
I couldn’t wait to tell my parents that I was taking care of …
Oh, hang on.
Telling them probably wasn’t a great idea anymore.
I looked over at Sandy, who looked back up at me with those adorable golden eyes.
After a long breath, I muttered out loud, “This could be a problem.”
The right thing to do in this situation would be to call Mom and Dad again immediately and explain what happened.
But it was too late. I already had Sandy with me. What would I say?
Second choice: I wouldn’t tell them. Sandy could live in my room. We’d sneak out for walks.
Yeah. That was not the smartest idea, but it felt like the right one. It would be okay. I could hide her for two nights.
“Good girl, Sandy,” I called over to her as I slowly entered Bowzer’s cage. “Tonight, I’ll teach you to fetch.”
Chapter Sixteen
IN THE DOG HOUSE
Friday night
My mom reads minds. My dad has supersonic hearing.
I hadn’t even been home an hour when they barged into my room. There was no time to hide the evidence.
Dog toys were all over the floor. Treats were on my bedside table. And even though I threw a blanket over Sandy, she became a wiggly lump that made a high-pitched squeaking sound. Kinda obvious.
“Care to explain?” my father asked. He seemed somehow paler than usual. I swear, if the guy didn’t get outside soon, he’d become a vampire. I told him that.
“Suki!” His pale face got a little pink. “Do not distract me. The mayor just called to check in on Sandy.”
Oh. They didn’t have superpowers after all.
“Imagine my surprise when I told her I didn’t know what she was talking about!” Dad pinned me with a “You are in so much trouble” gaze. I’d only seen that look once before. It was scary.
“I told her to come get the dog,” Dad said.
I gasped and jumped off my bed, knocking my pillow down.
Sandy crept out from the covers to see what was going on. She looked at me with pathetic eyes, as if she knew she was leaving.
“No. Dad!” I turned to face my mom. “Mom, please. I promised JJ. I can handle it. I really can. I’ll show you!”
“You should have asked us,” Mom said, in a low voice. She never raised her voice or got mad anymore. It was almost worse that she spoke without obvious emotion.
“I know.” I put a hand out to steady Sandy and keep her from jumping off the bed. “And I did call, you just didn’t answer. But he needed someone right away, and it all just happened so fast. Please, don’t send her home.” I was full-on crying now. Sandy, sensing something was terribly wrong, licked my hand. I scooped her into my arms. “Please …”
“The mayor can’t come back until Sunday,” my dad said.
I felt a catch in my throat and swallowed a breath. My tears were flowing and I wiped them on my sleeve.
Mom stepped forward. “Suki, you must do exactly as you promised. You’ll take care of Sandy until Sunday afternoon.”
“And after that,” Dad said, “you’re grounded.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, relieved that I was keeping Sandy.
“You’ll go to school. Come home. Do homework. No TV. No phone. No hanging out at Marley’s. You’ll be grounded for three weeks.” Dad was firm.
Mom nodded. “One week for each day you thought you’d try to trick us.”
When my parents made a decision together, they never backed down. It was probably some parenting strategy they’d read about. So being grounded for three rotten weeks was not going to change. I knew it was stupid to argue, but still, there was one big detail to consider, so I said, “I have a job at the shelter. I have to go tomorrow.”
Mom and Dad looked at each other, passing secret messages through their eyes. They’d clearly forgotten about the shelter.
“We’ll discuss it,” Mom said at last.
“Take that dog out to the yard,” Dad instructed before the two of them backed out of the room. “If she messes in the house, I’ll be furious.”
The door shut behind them.
My tears stopped. Three weeks grounding was way too much, but I’d take it. I still could work at the shelter … probably.
I grabbed a leash and took Sandy to go potty, then started the training I’d been planning.
I decided to follow the videos and start with “Sit” and “Stay,” just like the Dog-Talker suggested, even though by now I knew he was pretty much a fraud. He did still work with dogs, so even if they were further along than he let on when the cameras started rolling, he’d trained them, right?
Tomorrow, I would add “Come” and work on “Heel.” Maybe we’d cover “Fetch” on Sunday morning.
Standing outside in my tiny backyard, with a poop bag in one hand and a treat in the other, I realized I’d forgotten to tell my parents that the student council was coming over in the morning to get ready for delivering Valentine’s Day Cupid Cards. They couldn’t cancel that, right? Mom had already said that student council commitments were important. I could remind her of that, if I had to.
I’d messed up. I knew that, and I wished I’d asked my parents before I brought Sandy home. But I also had the most adorable, best dog ever living in my room for the weekend. So things weren’t all bad.
Well, I mean except for what happened with Marley. At least I had Cinnamon Bun to distract me.
Sunday morning, the doorbell rang, and my dad answered it. He was wearing a suit and had his suitcase packed for a conference.
When he looked outside, Olivia was standing on the porch, holding a bag of extra supplies. She clearly had not heard about my fight with Marley.
“I forgot to tell you,” I said, pushing past my dad to let her in. It had been a long night. Sandy had cried a lot. She was confused about where she was, and needed to go out in the middle of the night. I didn’t slee
p well. I wished I’d thought to have a crate. Crate training was key, and I was breaking every rule.
“Elizabeth!” Dad shouted over his shoulder. Clearly, this was not something he wanted to deal with on his own.
“Bruce?” My mom came to the door just as four other people from student council arrived.
My dad looked at her. Mom looked at me. Then, reluctantly, they stepped aside to let everyone in.
While kids scooted past and went up to my room, Dad whispered, “Still grounded.”
“I know,” I replied. Just because it was awkward already, I tossed out, “Can you order pizza?”
With a huge sigh, Dad said, “Yes, but only cheese,” as if that was the punishment.
I smiled. “Thanks.” Spontaneously, I hugged each of my parents and, with Sandy nipping at my heels, rushed upstairs to get to work.
Marley never showed up. It felt weird trying to do all the Cupid Cards stuff without her.
Still, the volunteers were getting a lot done and were ready for a break when JJ called on video chat, to explain his idea for increasing sales.
I had expected him to call, but I didn’t expect him to be mad.
“Let’s get to work.” That was the first thing he said. No “Hey” or “Hi” or “How’s it goin’?”
I could feel his anger through the computer screen. That’s how furious he was. I wanted to say, “Get in line,” since Marley was mad at me, too. I was feeling bitter and down, so I overcompensated by being cheery.
“I have Sandy right here,” I said, picking her up and sticking her little face into the camera. “She’s good.”
“You got me in trouble with my mom,” JJ announced, as if the rest of the room wasn’t listening. “She said I tricked her.”
“I—” It was sort of true. He’d asked and I said okay and he handed me everything right away. “Well, what would you have done if I’d said no?” I countered.
“I’d have found someone else—” It was his turn to stall. “Well, maybe. But that’s not the point,” JJ said at last. I couldn’t see what he was wearing, but at the top of his neck it looked like he had a collared shirt and maybe a suit on. Wherever he was with his mom must have been fancy. He said, “You should have told me that you couldn’t take her.”
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