Huck: the remarkable true story of how one lost puppy taught a family--and a whole town--about hope and happy endings by Janet Elder

Author:Janet Elder [Janet Elder]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: - Divers
ISBN: 9780767931342
Published: 2010-09-28T15:44:12+00:00

CHAPTER 8

RICH AND MICHAEL sat waiting in the car in front of our apartment building. I opened the car door and tossed the jackets and the flashlights onto the backseat next to Michael, who looked like he was asleep.

Outside, the New York City air was cold and damp. There was no hint of spring, just more of winter’s bite. It was the kind of March night that makes you want to draw the curtains and batten down, to crawl into bed early with a good book, a far cry from what we were setting out to do.

“The flashlights were a good idea,” Rich said.

“I was hoping we could spend some time tonight actually looking for Huck,” I said. “Maybe that is completely crazy, but I don’t think I can live with myself if we don’t drive around a bit and at least try.”

“Does that mean we don’t have to stop at the Clarks’ house?” Michael asked, with his eyes still closed. “Can we start looking for Huck as soon as we get there?”

“I think we have to stop at Auntie Babs’s house so Uncle Dave can show us exactly the area where he thinks Huck ran to,” I said.

“Can’t we just call Uncle Dave?” Michael asked earnestly.

“I think we have to go to the Clarks’ house and see what kind of progress they’ve made,” I said. “We won’t stay there for long, but let’s make their house our first stop.”

Although my instinct was to start walking up and down the dark streets calling to Huck the minute we got there, I knew it made no sense. Rich agreed and Michael did, too, reminding us of what he had said earlier. “We have to make sure the Clarks’ don’t feel badly about this.”

“We all agree on that score, angelpie,” I said. “None of this is anyone’s fault.”

I knew Rich wanted to jump in and blame himself again, but he didn’t. Instead, he met Michael’s eyes in the rearview mirror and said: “Michael, I promise you, we’re going to do everything we possibly can to find Huck. We’ll do whatever it takes.”

Michael did not respond. His eyes were now open. He sat perfectly still on the backseat.

We drove north on the FDR Drive and over the George Washington Bridge and into New Jersey. For most of the ride through the darkness, we didn’t say much to each other. It had been only a few days since we made the same trip to New Jersey to take Huck to the Clarks, our vacation stretching in front of us.

Now, with our vacation abruptly and sadly ended, instead of feeling restored, we were emotionally and physically depleted, about to begin a desperate search through the deep and barren backwoods, empty lots, ponds, streams, and mountainous terrain of northern New Jersey, a search that more than likely would prove futile. I looked at the blue neon numbers on the dashboard: 10:30. Huck had been missing for fifteen hours.

I called Barbara to tell her we were on our way.

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