The Case of the Missing Family (8 page)

“Well,” I say. “It’s kind of a long story ... ”

Kayla spots the book I dropped on the grass. “And you even brought my book!” She runs to grab it. “That means you looked for me at Grandma’s house first, then you came here.”

“I sure did!” I wag my tail. Kayla is such a good detective!

“C’mon.” She hugs me some more. Then she says, “Let’s go back to Grandma’s house.”

“Okay,” I say, trotting after her. I would follow her anywhere.

“I heard Uncle Marty said he took you to the pound,” Kayla says as we turn the corner. “I was really mad when I found out. He was supposed to find you a new home, not take you to the pound.”

“It’s okay,” I say. “I found a new home—”
Right behind yours.

“There was a tornado here,” Kayla interrupts. “That’s why Dad and I never came back. And now Dad wants to stay here and help rebuild the town. He even talked to Mom about us building a new house here so we can be closer to Grandma.”

So that’s why there was a sign that said For Rent in front of their house in Four Lakes.

“But I don’t think we’re going to get a new house anytime soon,” Kayla says glumly. “Dad got hurt working on Grandma’s house. He’s in the hospital.”

Oh no!
“Is he okay?” I ask.

“He’ll be okay,” Kayla says. “But I miss him and Mom and you so much!”

I lick her leg. “I’ve missed you, too,” I tell her.

“Dad said it would be too hard to have you here when we’re all working so hard,” Kayla goes on. “That’s why he told Uncle Marty to find you a new home. But now that you’re here, he and Grandma won’t send you back to Four Lakes. I know they won’t! Now that you’re here, you can stay forever!”

Forever? But ... what about Connor and Mom?

We are back at Grandma’s camper now. Kayla and I sit down together on the grass out front, and I rest my head on her knee. She runs her hand down my whole body, from my head to my tail. Just the way I like it.

“Some new people are moving into our house in Four Lakes today,” Kayla says.

That’s why Uncle Marty and Raina came and moved Kayla, Dad, and Mom’s stuff out of the house last night. Dad couldn’t do it, he’s in the hospital.

And since Kayla and Dad don’t have a new house yet, Uncle Marty and Raina had to put Kayla, Dad, and Mom’s stuff in a big garage.

I’ve solved the Case of the Missing Family and answered all my questions except this one:

Will I stay here with Kayla or will I go back to Connor and Mom?

I know Kayla wants me to stay here. But Connor and Mom would want me to come home.

I don’t think a dog can have two families especially if those families don’t live in the same town.

“Kayla!” says a sharp voice behind us. It’s Grandma. She’s standing at the door of the camper.

“What are you doing with that dirty dog?” Grandma asks.

Dirty dog?
I just had a bath twelve or seven days ago.

Kayla brushes some dirt and cornstalk stuff off my coat. “This isn’t just any old dog,” she tells Grandma. “It’s
King!
I don’t know how he found me, but he did! Isn’t it wonderful?”

Grandma shakes her head. “That’s not your dog, honey,” she says. “Your dog is with another family in Four Lakes. This dog just looks like your dog.”

“No, this is King,” Kayla says. “I know it is.”

“Well, even if he was your dog,” Grandma says, “you wouldn’t be able to keep him. There’s no room for a dog in this tiny camper.”

Water pools inside Kayla’s eyes, then dribbles down her cheeks.

Grandma steps outside and walks over to us. “I know you miss your dog, honey,” she says in a soothing voice. “But you’ll get a new dog when you move into your new house. That’s what your dad said.”

“I don’t want a new dog,” Kayla cries. “I want King.” She hugs me.

The door to Grandma’s trailer opens again. This time Uncle Marty steps outside. “What’s going on?” he asks.

“Kayla thinks this stray dog is her dog,” Grandma says.

Stray dog? “I’m not a stray. I
am
her dog,” I tell Grandma. I can’t believe Grandma doesn’t recognize me.

“That’s not your dog, Kayla,” Uncle Marty says. “Your dog has a nice new family. I called the pound and checked on him myself.”

“He is
too
my dog,” Kayla insists. “Do you think I don’t know my own dog?”

Grandma and Uncle Marty talk to each other with their eyes. But I can understand what they’re saying. They’re saying they’re tired. They’re worried. And no matter what Kayla says, they don’t believe I’m really her dog.

Finally, Grandma says out loud, “Why don’t we call the hospital and talk to your dad, Kayla. We’ll see what he has to say about all of this.”

“Okay,” Kayla says with a sniff. She runs to the camper and goes inside with Grandma and Uncle Marty.

I hurry after them, but the door closes before I get there.

“You stay outside.” Grandma points her finger at me.

It’s okay. I don’t mind staying outside. I can still hear Kayla’s part of the conversation.

I listen as she tells Dad about how she came out of the bookmobile and there I was! “Can you believe it?” she cries. “We can keep him, can’t we? He came all this way! And he doesn’t take up much room. He can sleep with me!”

I can’t hear what Dad is telling her, but I can tell Kayla doesn’t like it.

“Please, Daddy,” she says in a small voice. Sad sounds come out of her nose and her mouth.

All of a sudden I hear the phone clatter to the floor. The camper door bursts open, and Kayla runs outside. She flings her arms around me and hugs me so tight she’s squeezing the air right out of me. Water pours out of her eyes and soaks into my coat.

Dad must have told Kayla I couldn’t stay.

Grandma comes outside then. She walks over to us. “We just can’t take care of a dog right now,” she tells Kayla, rubbing her back. “I wish we could, but we can’t.”

I’m not sure Grandma
really
wishes they could take care of me. But that makes me stop and think for a minute. I know what it means for a dog to take care of a human. But I never thought about what it means for a
human
to take care of a
dog
.

Dogs don’t need a lot from humans, but we do need humans to feed us, give us water, and drive us to the vet when we need to go there. We also need humans to let us outside, and take us for walks, and throw the ball so we can go get it.

Wow. Taking care of a dog can be a lot of work. Especially for humans who have so many other things to worry about.

No dog ever wants to be a burden on humans.

Hmm. Maybe I should go back to Four Lakes.

I have another family there. A family that is probably very worried about me right now.

While I’m thinking about that, Uncle Marty comes back outside. “I told your dad you’d call him later,” he says to Kayla. “He wants you to know how sorry he is the dog can’t stay.”

Kayla sniffs.

I lick her hand. “Tell him it’s okay,” I say. “Tell him I understand. Tell him you understand. You
do
understand, don’t you? It’s better for everyone if I go back to Four Lakes.”

Does she believe me?

Kayla looks up at Uncle Marty. “Did you really call the pound? Do you know for sure that King has a new family?”

“Yes,” Uncle Marty says. “He’s with a nice family that has a boy around your age.”

Kayla’s eyes grow watery again. “Then they’re probably pretty worried about him since they don’t know where he is.”

Uncle Marty presses his lips together. He
still
doesn’t believe I’m King. But he pretends that he does. “Maybe we should call Animal Control so they can get him back where he belongs,” he says.

“We don’t have to call Animal Control,” Kayla says. “If he’s got a new family, he should have a tag with their name and address on it.”

Well, I did have a new tag ... but I lost it when I went through the secret tunnel.

Kayla feels around my collar. “Here it is,” she says, turning around my other tag. “Wait. This tag doesn’t have any name or address on it.”

Uncle Marty squints at the tag. “It looks like it’s a microchip tag. This dog has a microchip to identify him. There’s a phone number to call.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone.

I have a feeling I’m going home.

The person Uncle Marty talked to on the phone told him to bring me to a vet. They said any vet can scan my microchip and find out who I am. Then they can call my family and tell them to come and get me.

Kayla gave me some water to drink and four or nine pieces of bread to eat. I LOVE bread. It’s my favorite food!

Now I am back in Uncle Marty’s van and we are on our way to a vet’s office. This time I’ve got the whole back of the van to myself. There are no boxes or furniture back here. Kayla is sitting in the front with Uncle Marty. No one is talking.

When we get to the vet’s office, the vet scans my microchip. “This dog’s name is Buddy,” he tells Uncle Marty and Kayla. “His owner’s name is Sarah Keene. I have her phone number right here. I’ll call her and let her know we have her dog.”

I don’t know if I’m happy or sad. I’m happy I’m going home. But I’m sad to leave Kayla.

Kayla’s eyes grow watery again, and she wipes the water on her arm. “Can I say goodbye to him before we go?” she asks Uncle Marty.

“Of course,” Uncle Marty replies.

The vet smiles. “Why don’t you say goodbye while I make the phone call.” Then he goes into a back room.

Kayla gets down on her knees and rubs my ears. She leans in and whispers to me, “I’m going to miss you
so
much. But I’m glad you have a new family. I hope they’re nice.”

“They are,” I tell her. My throat and chest feel choky. It’s hard to say goodbye.

“Maybe I can visit you when I go back to Four Lakes to visit my friends,” Kayla says.

I kiss her cheek. “I’d like that,” I say. “And then I can show you where I hid your detective’s notebook.” But I’m not sure she understands.

“Buddy’s owner is on her way,” the vet says when he comes back. “She sure was happy to hear someone found him. It sounds like he was supposed to take a test today so he can be a school therapy dog.”