Chapter 11

Chapter eleven, When we got home, the first thing my dad did was put Cheerio in his crate. Then he took a shower to wash off the fountain water. After he put on some dry clothes, he came into the living room. "Dad," I said. I had been waiting for him. "You've got to give Cheerio another chance. Please." He didn't answer, just walked into the dining room. I followed right behind him. "I've only known him for one day, Dad, and he's already my best friend," I pleaded.

"Then you should have taken better care of him," my dad said. "Letting him off the leash was very dangerous for him." "But, Dad..." He picked up his phone and turned his back to me. "You're not calling the animal shelter, are you, Dad?" I asked nervously. "Not yet," he answered. "Good," I said. "Then are you calling for a pizza?" "Hank, I'm calling to invite Rick McKelty over," he said. "Your dog interrupted a very important business conversation that we have to finish. I'll call the animal shelter in the morning." I listened as he arranged for Mr. McKelty to come over. I hoped that after their conversation, I'd have another chance to change my dad's mind. I went into my room and threw myself onto my bed. When I thought about losing Cheerio, I couldn't hold in my tears any longer. I cried so

much that my pillow got soaking wet. I don't know how long I lay there crying. Finally, I got up and blew my nose about twenty times. Then I called Frankie to talk over the situation, but his mom said he was out at his karate lesson. I called Ashley. When I got a recording saying, "The Wongs aren't available to take your call," I hung up without even leaving a message. Then I tried calling Papa Pete. He wasn't home, either. Where was everyone when I needed them the most? I heard the intercom buzzer ringing in the living room. "Hank!" my father called. "That must be Rick McKelty. Please buzz him in. Tell him I'm

just printing out a few papers for us to go over." The buzzer rang again. "Hank!" my father called. "Do it now!" I went into the living room and spoke into the intercom. "Come on up," I said, my nose sounding all stuffy. "Tenth floor." When Rick McKelty stepped out of the elevator a few minutes later, he was not alone. By his side was his troublemaker son. "My dad's here to hire your dad," Nick the Tick said, a smirk plastered across his large face. Then he walked right past me and into our living room "Where's your stupid dog?" he asked me. "He's locked in his crate. And then he's going back to the shelter, thanks to you." Our dads had already sat down at the dining-room table to talk business.

"Your house is boring," McKelty said. "Don't you have anything fun to do here?" Just then, Emily came out of her room, wearing Katherine around her neck like a scarf again. McKelty's eyes grew wide at the sight. "Hey, why don't you introduce me to your lizard friend?" he said to Emily. "She's not a lizard," Emily told him. "She's a very sensitive iguana. So please keep your voice down." "Excuse me for breathing," Nick said. The three of us just stood there in silence. I could hear Cheerio whimpering behind the kitchen door. "Your dog is crying like a baby," McKelty said. "What's his problem?" "Cheerio is being punished," Emily said. "He wouldn't stay on his leash in the park." "That's because I unhooked it." McKelty snickered. "Why would you do that?" Emily asked. "Seemed like it would be fun," the big creep answered. "I wanted to see how much trouble

your brother's short-legged runt could cause." "This is what I've been trying to explain to Dad," I told Emily. "What happened in the park wasn't my fault. And it sure wasn't Cheerio's." Emily whirled around so fast that her braids whipped me in the face. Without a word, she stormed into the dining room. Poor Katherine nearly fell off her shoulders. Her little claws had to work overtime just to hang on. "Dad!" Emily said, putting herself right in front of his face. "Not now, Emily," Dad said. "I am having a business meeting."