Authors: Nicholas Edwards
Dog Whisperer (8 page)
She must have been more tired than she realized, because
she slept through lunch and then most of the afternoon. Her mother had obviously decided that she needed the extra rest, because she didn't wake her up until right before supper. But she must have come in at some point earlier, because Emily was surprised to find herself covered with an old quilt her great-aunt had made out of leftover pieces of colorful material.
she slept through lunch and then most of the afternoon. Her mother had obviously decided that she needed the extra rest, because she didn't wake her up until right before supper. But she must have come in at some point earlier, because Emily was surprised to find herself covered with an old quilt her great-aunt had made out of leftover pieces of colorful material.
“You all seemed so peaceful that I didn't have the heart to wake you up,” her mother said. “But it looked so
uncomfortable
.”
uncomfortable
.”
A little, maybe. Next time, she would have to see if Zack maybe felt strong enough to get up on the couch or something. “Kind of, yeah,” Emily said, and yawned as she sat up. “What time is it?”
“Almost five-thirty,” her mother said. “We didn't feel like cooking, so your father went to get some
take-out. He should be back any minute now. It's so nice out that we're going to eat on the deck.”
take-out. He should be back any minute now. It's so nice out that we're going to eat on the deck.”
Emily nodded, patting Zack and Josephineâwho were also yawning, and then ran upstairs to get washed up. Zack waited patiently for her at the bottom of the steps, looking very relieved when she returned.
Her father came home with Mexican food, which was generally a good choice, because there were so many different vegetarian options, even if the food itself wasn't necessarily all that authentic. Thai and Indian food also worked out pretty well, most of the time. They almost never ordered Chinese food, because her father always said there was
no such thing
as decent Chinese food in Maine. Emily was pretty sure that her mother felt the exact same way about all Mexican restaurants that weren't in Californiaâor Mexico itself, but other than an occasional muttered “The plate is very
hot
” comment, she wasn't inclined to go on and on about it, the way Emily's father did. Although Emily had noticed that waiters actually
did
always say that, right before serving the food at really bad Mexican restaurants. Lobster houses and fish restaurants were usually a problem, because they might have
one
chicken dish, or a hamburger, on the menu, and so the only thing Emily could order would be salad and bread.
no such thing
as decent Chinese food in Maine. Emily was pretty sure that her mother felt the exact same way about all Mexican restaurants that weren't in Californiaâor Mexico itself, but other than an occasional muttered “The plate is very
hot
” comment, she wasn't inclined to go on and on about it, the way Emily's father did. Although Emily had noticed that waiters actually
did
always say that, right before serving the food at really bad Mexican restaurants. Lobster houses and fish restaurants were usually a problem, because they might have
one
chicken dish, or a hamburger, on the menu, and so the only thing Emily could order would be salad and bread.
As they sat out on the deck, they could see sailboats gliding home for the night, and bulkier motor boats and lobster boats puttering along. Seagulls, as always, swarmed around the lobster boats, looking for food. A few kayaks went by, tooâone of the men waving at them, since he was in her mother's racing club, and they even saw a canoe with two people paddling efficiently in the bow and the stern.
“Did you go out today?” Emily asked her mother.
Her mother nodded, helping herself to some guacamole and adding both chipotle chile powder and Tabasco sauce to it. “For about an hour. I felt a little rusty.”
With all of the time they had spent at the animal hospital for the past week, her mother had skipped quite a few of her regular training sessions.
“Tomorrow, I'm going to go out early,” her mother said, and made a “those awful tourists!” gesture towards the water. “When it's nice and quiet.”
“It won't be quiet until after Labor Day,” her father said, in a grumpy “when will the tourists ever
leave
?” voice.
leave
?” voice.
Emily grinned, since her parents said some version of those remarks every single day during the summerâjust the way everyone else in Maine did. Zack was lying next to her feet, and she cut off a piece of cheese enchilada, to see if he would like it.
“Hold it right there,” her father said instantly. “Are you going to make a habit of sneaking him food under the table?”
Emily paused, her hand in mid-air, Zack's ears going up as the scent of cheese caught his attention. “I'm not sneaking anything, Dad,” she said. “I'm doing it right in front of you.”
“Oh.” He frowned. “Well, okay, that's true, but it wasn't really my point.”
She couldn't
not
give it to Zack, after he'd already zeroed in on the piece of food. “I'm not going to make him all rude and begging. But he's had a hard time. He should get
treats
.” Lots of them, in fact.
not
give it to Zack, after he'd already zeroed in on the piece of food. “I'm not going to make him all rude and begging. But he's had a hard time. He should get
treats
.” Lots of them, in fact.
Her mother frowned, too. “All right. But, if he starts behaving badly at meals, we're going to say, âI told you so.'”
Coming from her mother, that was pretty fierce, even though it was kind of harmless, as threats went. Emily wanted to pretend to shudder, and say “
Oooh
,”
but that was the sort of sarcastic response that might actually make her parents madâand she usually tried to avoid that, if possible. “Okay,” she said instead. “That sounds scary.”
Oooh
,”
but that was the sort of sarcastic response that might actually make her parents madâand she usually tried to avoid that, if possible. “Okay,” she said instead. “That sounds scary.”
“As it was meant to,” her mother said, and nodded once for emphasis.
They caught her giving Zack food two more times during the meal, but they couldn't really criticize her for it, because her mother had also absentmindedly handed him a corn chip at one point.
After dinner, Emily took Zack for a careful walk around the yard, watching to make sure that his breathing was smooth and easy. Then, her mother supervised as she gave him his evening antibiotics and other medications, including the special vitamins Dr. Kasanofsky prescribed. She had thought it might be hard to give him his medicine, but Zack would wag his tail the whole time, especially if she put the pills in a little piece of cheese or something first.
Then, she went up to get her laptop and bring it down to the denâwhile Zack waited at the bottom of the stairs, so that she could check her email and maybe even call a couple of her friends. She had been so tired all week whenever they got home from the vet's that she felt like she hadn't spoken to any of
them in
months
, and it was strange to be so out of touch.
them in
months
, and it was strange to be so out of touch.
She had three different main groups of friends, who didn't really overlap. First, there were all of her friends from her elementary school. Bobby was her best friend from school, since she had known him for so long, and they hung out constantly, but her other closest school friends were Harriet and Florence. Harriet was really smart and was totally into science and math, and Florence was tiny, but played just about every single sport in the
world
âand played them incredibly aggressively, too. She was especially good at hockey and downhill skiing.
world
âand played them incredibly aggressively, too. She was especially good at hockey and downhill skiing.
Her second group of friends were all of the kids she knew whose parents taught at the college. Most of them lived in Brunswick or Bath, and went to different schools, but there was so much social stuff through the college that Emily had gotten to know them at her swimming lessons, and museum events, and department parties, and stuff like that. Her very
best
friend was Karen, whose father was a music professor, while her mother was a painter. Karen loved music, too, and could play the piano, the cello, the saxophone,
and
the flute.
best
friend was Karen, whose father was a music professor, while her mother was a painter. Karen loved music, too, and could play the piano, the cello, the saxophone,
and
the flute.
Sometimes, Emily kind of wished that she and
her parents had a house right in town, near the college, because there was always so much more going on there. It wasn't that they lived that far away, but sometimes, it
felt
far, because they had to drive to get anywhere.
her parents had a house right in town, near the college, because there was always so much more going on there. It wasn't that they lived that far away, but sometimes, it
felt
far, because they had to drive to get anywhere.
Then again, it was pretty hard to complain about living right on the water. It just happened that her neighborhood was almost all retired people or summer houses. If it weren't for Bobby and his sister and brother, she would have been the only person under
forty
on their section of the peninsula.
forty
on their section of the peninsula.
Her third group of friends wasâwellâeveryone else. Her father was Jewish, but he really didn't practice anymore, so they went to an Episcopal church, because her mother liked it. Because of that, she had friends from Sunday school. She also had friends from some of the day camps she had gone to over the yearsâart camp, sailing camp, nature camp,
and
computer camp. She didn't get to see them as much as she saw her other friends, but they spent a lot of time online, and emailed and IM'd each other and all. Her cousinsâshe had fiveâlived in New York and California, and
they
all stayed in touch online, too.
and
computer camp. She didn't get to see them as much as she saw her other friends, but they spent a lot of time online, and emailed and IM'd each other and all. Her cousinsâshe had fiveâlived in New York and California, and
they
all stayed in touch online, too.
It had been kind of funny, about six months earlier, when her parents had asked her if she would
ever go anywhere near a social-networking site, apparently assuming that the answer would be “no, of course not,
never
in a million years.” They had been pretty horrified when she told them she had profiles on two different sites.
ever go anywhere near a social-networking site, apparently assuming that the answer would be “no, of course not,
never
in a million years.” They had been pretty horrified when she told them she had profiles on two different sites.
She wasn't
stupid
about being online, so her profiles were set to private, and only her actual friends could see them. And if a stranger wanted to friend her, she always just declined the invitation. Her parents had insisted upon checking this for themselves, and they had all ended up having a pretty big argument, because Emily thought that was a
total
invasion of privacy. It wasn't like she and her friends were doing anything
bad
, but she still didn't particularly want to have her parents reading over her shoulder.
stupid
about being online, so her profiles were set to private, and only her actual friends could see them. And if a stranger wanted to friend her, she always just declined the invitation. Her parents had insisted upon checking this for themselves, and they had all ended up having a pretty big argument, because Emily thought that was a
total
invasion of privacy. It wasn't like she and her friends were doing anything
bad
, but she still didn't particularly want to have her parents reading over her shoulder.
And, predictably, when she saw some of the postings on her wall, her mother
did
comment on their grammar, punctuation, and abbreviations, not seeming to realize that one of the reasons that she and her friends used stuff like “BRB” and “OMG” and “LOL” was
just to annoy adults
.
did
comment on their grammar, punctuation, and abbreviations, not seeming to realize that one of the reasons that she and her friends used stuff like “BRB” and “OMG” and “LOL” was
just to annoy adults
.
Her father had set up some complicated parental control software on her computer, but then he had gotten confused about how to make it work, and Emily had had to show him how to configure it and
all. Which, they had both agreed, kind of defeated the purpose of the software entirely, so they uninstalled it.
all. Which, they had both agreed, kind of defeated the purpose of the software entirely, so they uninstalled it.
Their final compromise was that she hadâreluctantlyâfriended one of her aunts, who was now, she assumed, keeping an eye on her, although mostly they just sent each other funny videos and stuff. Her parents were always saying that
nothing
online was really private, even if it seemed that way, and that she had to be very, very careful. To make them happy, Emily had promised never to post or email anything that might keep her from getting into college or running for any important political officesâeven though she wasn't completely sure exactly what would fall into that category.
nothing
online was really private, even if it seemed that way, and that she had to be very, very careful. To make them happy, Emily had promised never to post or email anything that might keep her from getting into college or running for any important political officesâeven though she wasn't completely sure exactly what would fall into that category.
So, anyway, she sprawled out on the floor in the den and answered emails and chatted with her friends for a while, until her father came in to see if she wanted to watch a movie. Her mother made popcorn and lemonade, and they all sat together on the couch while Zack slept in the cardboard bed.
“Pretty nice day,” her father remarked, as the movie started.
Emily nodded.
It had been a
great
day.
great
day.
Her mother had said that she absolutely couldn't sleep on
the floor all night, and made up the couch for her. But it was too high for Zack to climb up, so they rolled out a sleeping bag, instead. The floor was kind of hard, but Emily was tired, and had no trouble at all falling asleep.
the floor all night, and made up the couch for her. But it was too high for Zack to climb up, so they rolled out a sleeping bag, instead. The floor was kind of hard, but Emily was tired, and had no trouble at all falling asleep.
After lunch the next day, Bobby rode his bike over so that he could meet Zack. Her mother agreed that they could take him for a real walk, and not just around the yard, as long as they promised not to go too far.
“Let's walk up to Mrs. Griswold's house,” Bobby suggested.
Bobby
always
wanted to walk by Mrs. Griswold's house, because he thought it was funny when she came out and yelled at them.
always
wanted to walk by Mrs. Griswold's house, because he thought it was funny when she came out and yelled at them.
“Why make her mad, if we don't have to?” Emily asked.
Bobby shrugged. “She might not even see us.
Besides, we live here, too, so we can walk wherever we want.”
Besides, we live here, too, so we can walk wherever we want.”
Emily still didn't think it was such a hot idea, but they wandered up the dirt road in that direction. It was pretty hot out, and humid enough so that they walked slowly.
“Have you done any of the summer reading?” Emily asked.
Bobby shook his head.
“Are you going to?” Emily asked.
Bobby thought about that, and then shook his head. “Nope. Or, I don't know, maybe just one of them. Besides, they all look wicked boring.”
His parents were a lot less strict than hers, because she had already read six of the books on the list, and had promised to finish at least four more before the first day of school. Bobby always said that it didn't matter, because the only thing he wanted to do when he grew up was to work on his father's boat, but Emily had always suspected that he privately liked school a lot more than he wanted to admit.
They were a few hundred yards away from the house, when the dog suddenly seemed to be worn out. He was favoring his hip much more than he had been, and his tail was hanging instead of waving. He was also starting to pant.
“I don't think he was ready yet,” Emily said, feeling guilty. “We'd better take him home right away.”
Bobby nodded. “Do we carry him?”
Not likely. Even malnourished, he was a
big
dog. Emily shook her head. “I think he's too heavy, and we might hurt him by accident. Maybe if we just rest here for a while, and then go back?”
big
dog. Emily shook her head. “I think he's too heavy, and we might hurt him by accident. Maybe if we just rest here for a while, and then go back?”
Bobby nodded, and they sat down on the shoulder of the road. Naturally, they were almost exactly across from Mrs. Griswold's houseâwhich was a weathered cottage, with grey shingles and a big front porchâbut, until Zack felt better, they didn't have much choice.
Zack lay down next to Emily, resting his muzzle on her leg. And he must have been
really
tired, because he fell asleep immediately.
really
tired, because he fell asleep immediately.
Emily gestured towards the house with her chin. “What are we going to do if she comes out?” Since normally, they just ran away.
“Dunno,” Bobby said, and paused. “It's probably not true that she keeps a really big gun by the door.”
Probably?
Emily looked at him uneasily. “Who said that?”
Emily looked at him uneasily. “Who said that?”
Bobby shrugged. “Larry.” Larry was his big brother, who had just turned seventeen. “He said
she fired it at him one time, and there was all this buckshot everywhere, and he could have
died
.”
she fired it at him one time, and there was all this buckshot everywhere, and he could have
died
.”
With all of the scary things people said about Mrs. Griswold, she could believe itâexcept that Larry always told Bobby completely exaggerated stories, and Bobby was gullible enough to believe every word.
“I don't think she has a gun,” Emily said. Although lots of people in Maine did own gunsâmostly for hunting, so she might really have one. “And even if she does, she wouldn't
shoot
it at us.”
shoot
it at us.”
Or, anyway, she hoped not.
Bobby looked uneasily across the road at the house, which was surrounded by a three-foot-high white wooden fence. “I think she would. And she totally hates dogs, even more than she hates
kids
.”
kids
.”
That probably was true, because Emily had heard that she always called the police when the Nickersons' Jack Russell terrier, whose name was Wanda, barked too much.
“So, wait,” she said. “
Why
did we walk up this way again?”
Why
did we walk up this way again?”
“Because it seemed like it would be really funny,” Bobby said.
Emily nodded. “Oh, okay. Good idea.”
They sat there, looking at the quiet house.
“You
know
she killed her husband,” Bobby said.
know
she killed her husband,” Bobby said.
No, she knew that was the
rumor
around town. Emily shook her head. “My parents said it was a car accident.” And she was
pretty
sure that it was true.
rumor
around town. Emily shook her head. “My parents said it was a car accident.” And she was
pretty
sure that it was true.
“
Maybe
,” Bobby said ominously. Then, his expression brightened. “Hey, I know what to do! What about your wagon? Is it still in the garage?”
Maybe
,” Bobby said ominously. Then, his expression brightened. “Hey, I know what to do! What about your wagon? Is it still in the garage?”
They hadn't used the wagon for years, but since her parents tended to let things pile up in there, she was pretty sure it was somewhere among the clutter. “That's a good idea,” Emily said. “Then, we could just pull him home.”
“Okay.” Bobby got up, with dirt all over his jeansânone of which he brushed off. “I'll go get it.”
“Thanks,” Emily said, although it was a little creepy to think of sitting in front of Mrs. Griswold's house
all by herself
. Even though she wasn't a murderer.
all by herself
. Even though she wasn't a murderer.
Probably.
Bobby nodded, and started jogging down the road.
While she and Zack waited, Emily rested a soothing hand on his back.
“I'm sorry. I didn't know you would get so tired,” she said. “I'll be more careful next time.”
Zack wagged his tail, without opening his eyes,
and she hoped that he understood what she had said. He always seemed really smart, though, so she assumed that, at the very least, he knew that she was apologizing.
and she hoped that he understood what she had said. He always seemed really smart, though, so she assumed that, at the very least, he knew that she was apologizing.
But, the truth was, if she were being completely honest with herself, she would admit that whatever Zack was, it went beyond being
smart
. Too often, it felt as though he could read her mindâ
really
read her mindâand that she could read
his
. She wasn't doing it on purpose, and the whole idea was sort of unsettling, but it just seemed to happen.
smart
. Too often, it felt as though he could read her mindâ
really
read her mindâand that she could read
his
. She wasn't doing it on purpose, and the whole idea was sort of unsettling, but it just seemed to happen.
Over and over.
And now, it was maybe happening again, because he had opened his eyes and was looking at her intently.
Unless it was her imagination. Yeah, it had to be her imagination. Nothing else made sense.
“I mean, they say dogs know stuff,” she said to him. “Like, when their owners are coming home and everything, dogs just figure it out. So, I'm sure it's just normal intuition, right?”
Zack cocked his head to one side, looking directly at her.
She had seen a cartoon once, where the dog seemed to be listening, but just heard gibberish, except whenever the person said the dog's name. So,
maybe people just
thought
dogs knew more than they really did. Like, it was justâwell, she couldn't remember the word for it, but she knew there
was
a word.
maybe people just
thought
dogs knew more than they really did. Like, it was justâwell, she couldn't remember the word for it, but she knew there
was
a word.
Or maybe dogs
did
know almost everything, but because they couldn't speak, there was no way of proving it. She never really had the same feeling with Josephine, but cats were different, and probably cared more about keeping their privacy. Josephine did, anyway. As far as Emily could tell, her cat liked to be mysterious and slyâand go out of her way to startle people, just for the fun of it.
did
know almost everything, but because they couldn't speak, there was no way of proving it. She never really had the same feeling with Josephine, but cats were different, and probably cared more about keeping their privacy. Josephine did, anyway. As far as Emily could tell, her cat liked to be mysterious and slyâand go out of her way to startle people, just for the fun of it.
That very morning, her father had been making crabmeat omeletsâyuckâas well as a cheese, onion, and mushroom one for her, and when he'd offered a bit of crabmeat to Zack, Emily had heard herself saying, “No, he doesn't like fish.” Her father had shrugged and given him a piece of cheese, insteadâbut Emily just sat there and wondered why she had been so utterly sure that that was true. Her parents were distracted, and didn't notice, which was probably good, because she had no idea how she would explain it.
Bobby was still nowhere in sight, and she glanced down at Zack.
“
Do
you like fish?” she asked. “To eat, I mean?”
Do
you like fish?” she asked. “To eat, I mean?”
Zack didn't move, but she would have sworn that she caught a powerful whiff of raw, rotting fish. It smelled sort of the way a boat smelled, after the fishermen and women unloaded their catch, and before they hosed everything down. It was sort of like the time she had thought she was smelling strong floor cleaner, but it turned out to be what the medicine in the nebulizer in the back room at the animal hospital smelled like, instead.
Okay, there was unquestionably something going on here. The fact that she wasn't quite sure what it
was
didn't mean thatâ
was
didn't mean thatâ
Just then, she saw a curtain move in the front room window, and then, the door of the grey house flew open.
Mrs. Griswold was coming outside!
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