Dog Walker by Karen Spafford-Fitz

Author:Karen Spafford-Fitz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2006-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

After school I check in with the guys at Leo’s locker.

“Everyone’s still okay with the schedule for the week?”

“No, there’s a problem. Justin went home sick this morning,” Leo says. “Isn’t he supposed to walk Axel tonight?”

“Yeah. At seven-thirty. Who can cover him?”

“I can take Axel, but not until eight o’clock.”

“Sounds good,” I say. “I’ll phone Axel’s owner and change his time to eight o’clock.”

I check the schedule once more. “Justin’s on for Friday night too. He’ll probably be better by then. If not, who’s free?”

No one speaks up.

“You might be on, boss,” Kyle says.

I remember that I’m walking Buddy on Friday night. As if I’d forget that!

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” Brad asks.

“I’m walking another dog Friday night.”

“Is it Rowdy?” Leo asks.

“No. I only walk Rowdy on Thursday and Sunday this week.”

“Quit holding out, Turk. Who’s the dog?” Kyle asks.

“Probably some knockout girl-magnet dog that Turk’s been keeping to himself,” Jonathan laughs.

“Yeah, like a golden retriever puppy,” Brad says.

“Or a cute little dalmatian that the girls will fall all over.”

“You’re all wrong,” I say. “It’s a German shepherd, crossed with black lab, crossed with husky. We think.”

“Oh.” They look at me blankly.

Kyle speaks up first. “Doesn’t sound like a top-scorer. Why are you walking that dog?”

I glare at him before I answer. “He belongs to Carly.”

No one says anything at first. But then it starts.

“I get it now,” Leo says.

“I thought you had your eye on her,” Jonathan says.

“Good going, Turk!”

“So it’s Carly, eh?” Kyle elbows me.

“Hey,” Leo interrupts, “I’ve got some other news you’re all gonna want to hear. We’re invited to a party Saturday night.”

“Whose party?” Jonathan asks. “Meghan’s.” Leo smiles broadly. “Did you say Meghan? As in your beautiful popular cousin?”

“That’s the one. My aunt and uncle are throwing Meghan a huge party for her birthday. They told me to invite my friends.”

Talk about excitement! The comments fly as the guys jostle each other down the hallway.

As Leo closes his locker, he says, “What’s up, Turk? Aren’t you excited about the party?”

“I guess. But this business is getting to me. It’s not as much fun as it used to be.”

“Hmm. It must be tough being the boss. Everyone fighting over the same dogs—the ones that draw the most girls.”

“It’s not just that,” I say. “It’s how they talk about some of the dogs—like they’re total rejects.”

“You mean like we used to be? Before we started meeting girls and getting invited to parties—like on Saturday night?”

I can tell Leo is really pumped about Meghan’s party. He couldn’t wait to swing the conversation back around to it. And really, it’s not like we get invited to parties every day.

“You’re right, Leo. It’ll be great!”

Leo nods. “Yeah. Why don’t you invite Carly?”

A big grin takes over my face. “You know, Leo? I just might do that!”

Things are definitely looking up.

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