Night of the Howling Hound #3
Page 4
“Stop that!” yelled Joe, shouting to be heard over Dexter howling. “I wish I could make another wish on the amulet. If I could, I would wish that I’d never seen it—and then maybe I wouldn’t be stuck in the forest with a stinky zombie dog that no one else can see!”
Just then the tent flap flipped open.
“What was that about a zombie dog that no one else can see?”
Joe gulped. It was Matt.
“Who are you talking to, Joe?”
For a second he considered telling Matt the truth—the whole truth—about the amulet, the wish, and all the weird undead pets that were haunting him. But there was no way Matt would believe him. No one would! Joe sighed. “I was just … um … making up a ghost story.”
But Matt didn’t look like he believed him. “You’ve been acting really weird lately. And not just here … A few weeks ago you were obsessed with hamsters, then there was that freaky business with the alley cat. And now it’s all about dogs! What’s going on, Joe?”
“Um … well …”
Matt folded his arms. “Did you really get lost tonight, or did you do it on purpose?”
Joe felt his face turn red. “What! Of course I got lost.”
Matt’s eyes bored into him. “And what is the amulet?”
Joe froze. He wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t want to lie to his best friend. But how could he tell him the truth?
Before he got a chance to say anything, Dexter farted and an invisible cloud of toxic zombie stink filled the tent.
“Gross!” Matt grimaced.
Joe pushed open the tent flap and pretended to waft the smell outside, but at the same time he gestured to Dexter to go.
“I’ll be back!” growled the dog, as he darted out into the night.
Even with Dexter gone, the stink lingered.
“Ugh! What’s that smell?” said Ben, as he and Spiker appeared moments later.
“That’s foul!” Spiker clutched his throat as if he was about to throw up. “Was that you, Joe?”
“Yep, it was,” Joe replied. “And if you don’t shut up, I’ll do another one in your face, Spiker!”
Matt snickered. Ben grinned. And for once Spiker was speechless.
When Joe opened his eyes the next morning, the others were already heading for the bathrooms.
“Want me to wait?” asked Matt.
“Nah, go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute,” Joe said. He was eager to avoid any more awkward questions!
Joe sighed. It was their last morning in camp, and he still hadn’t solved Dexter’s problems—which meant the dog would be coming home with him. He could almost hear his mom sneezing already! He pulled the sleeping bag up over his head and wished he’d never seen the amulet.
But just then there was a scratching noise, and Dexter dived into the tent.
“Wake up, Joe!” he barked. “Something amazing has happened!”
As Joe poked his head out of his sleeping bag, a stringy dribble of green drool dropped out of the dog’s mouth.
“Ugh!” said Joe, closing his eyes.
“Get up!” said Dexter, pawing at the sleeping bag.
“Why, what’s happened?”
“Last night I went into Brian’s tent. But he didn’t sleep much …”
Your zombie–dog breath probably kept him awake! thought Joe.
“Brian got up really early this morning, and went for a walk in the woods. So I followed him. Guess where he went?”
Joe shrugged.
“The cottage!”
“To see the puppies?”
“Yep!” barked Dexter. “And he’s headed back to camp now with a puppy!”
“What?” Joe sat up. “Are you sure?”
“Come and see!”
Joe forgot he was still in his pj’s, and followed Dexter outside, just in time to see Mr. Hill walk into camp. And at his feet was Titch—the smallest of the puppies.
“Wow!” breathed Joe.
“Morning, Joe,” called the principal as he passed Joe’s tent. “As you can see, I’ve decided to get a new dog after all.”
“That’s great!”
“I suppose I’ve got you to thank, haven’t I?” said Mr. Hill. “If you hadn’t wandered off by yourself last night, then I’d never have met Mr. Frost.” Mr. Hill beamed at Joe.
“Does that mean I don’t have to do the dishes?” Joe blurted out.
“Don’t push your luck!” Mr. Hill said, his usual expression returning.
Joe was in the camp kitchen, washing the last of the greasy plates, when Dexter came to find him.
“I think it’s time I went now,” he said.
Joe wiped his soapy hands on his jeans. “Are you sure?”
“Yep, I feel ready now. This puppy is much better for Brian than I ever was. She’s not a free spirit like me, so they’ll be happy together.”
Joe looked at his feet. He never knew what to say when the undead pets passed over. Then he had a thought. “Um, Dexter, before you go, I was wondering … You know you told me about the nicknames Mr. Hill has for some of the kids at school. Well, I was wondering what he calls me.”
“Yogi!”
“What?”
“Yogi Bear!”
Joe frowned. “I look nothing like a bear!”
“Yogi Bear steals picnic baskets, and Brian said you stole his lunch.”
Joe’s face turned pink. “It was an undead hamster that stole it!” he said. “I just got the blame!” Still, there were worse nicknames.
“Good-bye, Joe,” said Dexter. “Thanks for everything.”
Just as he started to fade, Dexter spotted something in the distance that Joe couldn’t see, and with a shout of “SQUIRREL!” he vanished completely.
Joe turned back to the sink and pulled out the plug. He stood watching the soapy water drain slowly away, letting the relief wash over him—he’d managed to get rid of another undead pet. Though he still had to face the bus ride home—where he knew Matt would have more questions for him! Joe sighed. He still wasn’t sure whether or not to tell Matt the truth.
He was just about to leave the kitchen when he heard a low rumbling from down the drainpipe. Followed by a horrible gurgling noise …
Joe raised his eyebrows. Bad plumbing? Blocked pipes?
“JOOOOOOOE? ARE YOU THERE, JOOOOE?” called a bubbly voice from deep down the drain. “I NEEED YOOUR HELLP!”
Joe was just an ordinary boy-until he made a wish on a spooky Egyptian amulet.
Now he’s the Protector of UNDEAD PETS … and there’s a ravenous rodent on the rampage!
Dumpling the hamster got sucked up a vacuum cleaner. Can Joe help him sort out his unfinished business, so he can finally bite the dust?
Joe was just an ordinary boy-until he made a wish on a spooky Egyptian amulet.
Now he’s the Protector of UNDEAD PETS … and there’s a crazy cat on his tail!
Poor Pickle met her end under the wheels of a car.
Can Joe help Pickle protect her sister before there’s another catastrophe?
Joe was just an ordinary boy-until he made a wish on a spooky Egyptian amulet.
Now he’s the Protector of UNDEAD PETS … and there’s a ghoulish goldfish making a splash!
Fizz the goldfish got flushed.
Can Joe help him take revenge so he can go belly-up forever?