Pup Fiction

by Laurien Berenson

  “I’m sure she’s even less happy that some of her campers were put at risk,” I told him. “How did it happen?”

  “Dunno.” Davey shrugged. “When I got there, the truck was already on its way.”

  “What did Tom and Sarah have to say?”

  “Pretty much the same thing. Because they were down near the water, they’d both been keeping a close eye on the kids. Neither one of them was paying any attention to what was happening at the top of the hill.”

  “Do you think someone had gotten the truck out to use it?” I asked.

  Davey shrugged again.

  “There’s a man who does maintenance around the school,” I remembered. “What’s his name?”

  “Mr. Bobbit. But I don’t think he was there today.”

  “What about Ms. Grace?” I asked.

  “I know she didn’t get it out, because she was as shocked as the rest of us. Ms. Grace came running outside just before the truck hit the water. When that happened, she shrieked and covered her mouth with her hands. By that time, Sarah, Tom, and I had all the Goldfish campers in a group behind the building. And Courtney was bringing the Jellyfish kids around to join us. The rest of the campers were already inside the cafeteria.”

  “What did Ms. Grace do then?”

  “She looked like she was going to faint right on the spot.” Davey looked like he was biting back a smile.

  “But she didn’t,” I said firmly. Emily was made of sterner stuff than that.

  “Nope. Instead, she made us line up all the campers who were outside, and then she took attendance like six times. After that, she checked out each of the kids individually to make sure everyone was all right. Then she told the counselors to take everyone inside for lunch, and not to worry about the truck because she’d take care of it.”

  “That’s all she said?”

  “Yup.”

  “She didn’t offer any explanation of how something like that could have happened?”

  Davey gazed at me across the table. Suddenly, he looked older than his almost fifteen years. “I don’t think Ms. Grace had an explanation. If she did, she didn’t want to share it with us.”

  * * *

  The next morning, when I drove the boys to camp, I left Faith at home. Now that we were nearly a week into the session, morning drop-off proceeded like clockwork. Mia greeted the arrivals and turned them over to their respective counselors. Each group waited until all its campers were present, then everyone moved on to their first activity.

  Today, however, after the boys got out of the car, I didn’t head back down the driveway. Instead, I pulled out of line and parked the Volvo in front of the smaller building.

  Mia glanced in my direction as I walked toward the entrance. She hailed me before I could open the weathered wooden door.

  “Are you looking for Emily?”

  I nodded. “Is she here?”

  “Yes, but not in her office. Last I saw her, she was in the gym, unpacking the decorations.”

  Another car pulled up in front of Mia. I was quickly forgotten as she leaned down to open the door and help two small siblings disembark.

  I crossed the walkway to the main building. The gym was on the other side of the school. It was mostly put to use on stormy days or in the middle of winter. I wondered what kind of decorations Emily was putting up.

  I was almost to the gym when I heard yelling coming from inside the room. “Hey, cut that out! Right now! Do you hear me?”

  Quickly I strode to the door and shoved it open. I started to enter, then jumped back. Two black-spotted Dalmatian puppies went flying by. Each was holding one end of a red, white, and blue banner in her mouth. The bunting dragged on the floor between the pair as they raced around the corner. A third puppy was just behind them in hot pursuit.

  Emily was up on a ladder that she’d propped against a side wall. She gave me a small wave before climbing down and coming over. “They’re not supposed to have that,” she said unnecessarily.

  I laughed. “I could have guessed.”

  “Sorry about that. Sometimes those three act like little hoodlums. They’re not great at doing what they’re told.”

  “It’s hard to train three at once,” I said. “They’ll learn much better if each one gets some exclusive time with you.”

  Emily looked surprised. “You mean they’re like kids.”

  “Precisely.” I hunkered down close to the floor and clapped my hands. “Hey, puppies, over here! Come and say hello.”

  I’d never met a puppy that didn’t love a friendly stranger, and this trio was no exception. In seconds, the Dalmatians had abandoned their prize to come racing toward me. I opened my arms wide and braced myself for the onslaught.

  Aunt Peg would have immediately begun to catalog the Dals’ virtues and faults. All I knew was that the three puppies were adorable. All had pretty faces, muscular bodies, and long tails that were wagging an enthusiastic greeting. One puppy began to sniff my legs. Another jumped up to lick my nose.

  “That’s Posey who’s giving you kisses,” Emily said. “She loves to be the center of attention.”

  “They all look alike to me,” I said with a laugh.

  “Right,” she replied. “Because black Standard Poodles are easy to tell apart.”

  Oh. She had a point.

  I gazed around the gym. Aside from the banners, Emily had unpacked tri-color pompoms and pinwheels, along with several flags and wreaths. “Fourth of July was last week,” I mentioned. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking that stuff down rather than putting it up?”

  “Normally, yes. But you know how kids love holidays. And since this year Fourth of July fell on the Friday before camp started, we missed the whole thing. So we’re celebrating Bastille Day instead. The colors are all the same. Nobody will notice the difference, right?”

  I wouldn’t be too sure about that. But right now, it seemed to me that Emily had bigger things to worry about than a missed holiday.

  One of the puppies grabbed the edge of a red-and-white-striped tablecloth that was hanging out of a nearby box. She tugged on it until it reached the floor. Then the puppy lay down and began to chew.

  Emily looked over and frowned. “I probably should have put these guys away before I started decorating. I guess I’m a little scattered this morning.”

  “I don’t blame you,” I said.

  Her gaze lifted. “So you heard about what happened.”

  I nodded. Emily didn’t look happy.

  “I’m taking a break,” she said abruptly. “Let’s take the puppies outside for a walk.”

  Chapter 5

  “I asked the counselors not to say anything about that,” Emily said unhappily as we left the building. “I guess they didn’t listen.”

  Campers were arriving in front of the school, but the area behind it was still mostly deserted. The three Dalmatians followed us outside; then they took off in three different directions. Emily didn’t appear to be paying any attention to them. I hoped the puppies wouldn’t go too far afield.

  “By ‘they’ you mean Davey,” I clarified.

  She nodded shortly. “Although I’d imagine he wasn’t the only one who blabbed about it.”

  “It wasn’t fair of you to make them complicit in your silence,” I said. “And by asking the teenagers to keep quiet, you made them think the accident was a bigger deal than they’d thought.”

  “Actually, it was a pretty big deal,” she admitted.

  “So I heard. Where’s the truck now?”

  “One of my neighbors has a tractor. He came and pulled it out of the pond for me. Then AAA took the truck down to the repair shop. It’s sitting there until it dries out. After that, the mechanics will be able to assess the damage.”

  “Will you get it fixed?”

  Emily shrugged. “I guess we’ll have to see.”

  “It’s an old truck,” I said. “It might not be worth the cost of the repair.”

  She turned to look at me. “I actually
have no idea what it’s worth. Though I doubt it’s much. The truck belongs to my ex-husband. He found it in a junkyard and restored it. The project was more a labor of love than something he planned to profit from.”

  “Ex-husband?” I had no idea Emily had been married.

  “Very ex-husband,” she said. “You’re not the only one who didn’t get it right the first time. Although in my case, I knew better than to try again.”

  I might have argued with her about that. All things considered, my second marriage was working out to be pretty damn great. But I didn’t want the conversation to get sidetracked. I had more important things to discuss.

  “How did the truck end up in the pond?” I asked.

  “Good question. I wish I knew.”

  I wasn’t as complacent about that lack of knowledge as Emily appeared to be. “Apparently, it narrowly missed hitting a group of campers.”

  Emily stiffened. “I hope you’re not accusing me of negligence.”

  “No,” I replied carefully. “But I am trying to figure out what went wrong.”

  “So am I,” she retorted. “The truck’s been sitting in that carport for years. Occasionally I get it out when I need to haul something, but other than that, it never moves. It’s certainly never decided to take itself for a joyride before.”

  “I’m guessing that wasn’t the truck’s idea.”

  She frowned. “You know what I mean.”

  I gazed around the open field behind the school. It was beautiful land. Once, all the properties in the area had been as large as this one. Now, with development encroaching on all sides, they’d become a rarity.

  “Have you ever had a problem with neighborhood kids playing pranks?” I asked.

  Emily paused to think about that. While she did that, I checked on the puppies. Thankfully, all three of them were still visible. Now they were busy chasing a squirrel. They followed it to the base of a tree, then jumped frantically against the trunk, daring the squirrel to come back down.

  “No, never,” Emily replied after a minute. “Graceland School is a kid-friendly place, and everyone around here knows it. Lots of the local kids started their educations here—so I know most of them by name. If someone started acting up, I’d probably nab them by the collar and put them to work.”

  I could imagine her doing exactly that. “So what’s your theory then?”

  Emily didn’t reply.

  That was okay. I had time. I waited her out.

  When she spoke again, however, Emily changed the subject. “I opened Graceland Nursery School here, on this property, nearly twenty years ago.”

  I nodded. I knew that.

  “It’s funny to think how young I was back then. And how sure of myself. To believe that I could open my own nursery school and actually make it work. Practically, logistically, and financially, I was like a babe in the woods.”

  “But one with a vision,” I pointed out. “And you did make it work.”

  “I did,” she agreed. “But I couldn’t have done it without help. Do you know who Malcolm Hancock was?”

  The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. I shook my head.

  “At one time, he was a major property owner in North Stamford. This land we’re on is his. Malcolm believed that the arts, music, and education are the pillars of civilization—and that it was important to make them available to as many people as possible. When he and I met, this property had been used as an artists’ retreat for a number of years. But applications had been dwindling, and Malcolm was looking for a new way to put it to good use.”

  “And you showed up with a plan for a nursery school that would offer good teachers, affordable fees, and strong art and music programs.”

  Emily smiled at the memory. “Malcolm liked my idea. Even better, he believed in it. He believed in me. You have no idea what a thrill that was for a girl in her mid-twenties with a degree in education who was barely scraping by in an entry-level job. When Malcolm offered me use of this property and told me to see what I could make of it, I felt as though he had handed me the keys to the world.”

  Two Dalmatian puppies came circling back toward us. Poppy and Pansy? Posey and Poppy? I had no idea.

  Luckily, Emily did. “Oh, you guys,” she moaned. “What have you gotten into now? Where’s Posey?”

  “Over there.” I pointed.

  The third puppy was digging a hole at the base of a nearby bush. Dirt flew backward between her front legs as she tunneled energetically. Posey was going to be filthy by the time she finished. Plus, there’d be a big hole in the yard.

  “Stop that right now!” Emily called. She and I strode that way.

  The puppy lifted her head, glanced at us briefly, then resumed digging. These three could definitely use some obedience training.

  Emily grabbed Posey’s collar. I got Poppy and Pansy turned around, and we all headed back toward the school buildings. The three puppies were panting. I’d have to be sure to check their water supply when we got back.

  “Finish your story,” I said to Emily.

  “Oh, right. So Malcolm offered me a lease on the property at very affordable terms. Nowhere near what it would have cost on the open market. And I worked day and night to fulfill my dream. I created Graceland School and turned it into”—she waved her hand through the air—“all this.”

  “It’s an amazing place,” I said.

  Emily sighed. “It’s an amazing place that will probably have to shut down next year.”

  “Wait . . . what?” I turned and stared at her. “Why?”

  “Malcolm died last year. His grown children inherited this property along with everything else. Originally, Malcolm and I had signed a ten-year lease. When it ended, we renewed it. But it’s up for renewal again in about eighteen months.”

  “And the rate you’ve been offered this time isn’t nearly as affordable?” I guessed.

  “Not even close. It’s not like I can blame Malcolm’s heirs. This land was worth a lot more than I was paying when I opened the school—I was well aware that I was getting a great deal. And you know what property values are like in Fairfield County. Everything has only continued to appreciate. I know the heirs have had offers to sell the land as soon as they can get me off of it. Thankfully, they’ve resisted so far.”

  “That’s gracious of them,” I muttered.

  “Actually, it is,” she said. “They could have grabbed the money and run. At least they’ve offered me a chance to stay in business. Only it’s not much of a chance if I can’t afford the new rent they’re planning on charging.”

  “What about raising the school fees?” I asked. “Would that help?”

  “About as much as sticking my finger in a dike. Plus, it would go against everything Malcolm believed in. The whole point—one that he and I both agreed on—was that this nursery school should be accessible to kids who might not get the same kind of opportunities in other aspects of their lives.”

  “I’m really sorry to hear that,” I said. “This is a wonderful school. It would be a huge shame if it wasn’t able to continue operating.”

  “I agree. I’ve been trying to think of any way I can make some extra money. I’m applying for grants, looking for tax breaks, and wondering how much I can cut the staff and still maintain the quality of education. The whole thing has been keeping me up at night.” Emily sighed again. “So, believe me, I know I’m not at my best right now.”

  My thoughts immediately went back to the runaway truck. “You know that’s how accidents happen,” I said gently.

  “I’m well aware of that. But yesterday’s incident wasn’t an accident.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “The truck has been stored here forever. Nobody ever goes near it but me, and it almost never leaves the carport. I checked yesterday after it ended up in the water. The only set of keys was still in my office.”

  One of the puppies nudged her nose into my hand. I reached down and scratched behind her velvet
y ears. “So you’re saying that someone must have deliberately pushed the truck to the top of the incline?”

  “That’s the only thing I can think,” Emily replied grimly.

  “To what end? Why would someone want to terrorize the campers?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t understand any of this.” Emily’s expression was bleak. “Maybe it’s someone who wants to harm me.”

  That put an interesting spin on things.

  “It could be that Malcolm Hancock’s heirs aren’t as gracious as you think,” I said.

  * * *

  Saturday morning started early.

  Our whole family enjoyed going to dog shows, so it wasn’t surprising that Davey and Kevin were both up and dressed before I was even out of the shower. What was surprising was that the two boys had also let the dogs outside, fed them breakfast, and then set out breakfast for the human members of the family too.

  Okay, it was just juice, cereal, and bananas. But still.

  “Did you do that?” I asked Sam. He was already seated at the kitchen table when I got downstairs.

  “Not me.” He looked up from the newspaper that was sitting beside his plate. “Davey’s in charge this morning.”

  “I’m in charge too.” Kevin banged his fist on the table. A dribble of milk sloshed over the side of his bowl.

  “Of course you are.” I kissed the top of his head. Not only did Kevin’s shorts and T-shirt match, his sneakers were already on and tied. Davey had been busy.

  I shifted my gaze my older son’s way. “Well done.”

  Davey nodded. “Today’s going to be a good day.”

  “You know it,” Sam agreed.

  I liked their confidence. And I really hoped they were right.

  Aunt Peg had spent the previous several days meticulously clipping, bathing, and blow-drying Coral’s coat. We did our part by schlepping to the dog show all the supplies necessary for preparing Coral for the ring. Those included a wooden crate and a rubber-matted folding table, plus an assortment of combs, brushes, wraps, bands, hair spray, and a misting bottle, all neatly stowed inside a multi-level tack box.