Switched by Bruce Hale

Author:Bruce Hale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Ruby led the way, squeezing under a thick hedge that ran the width of the Johnsons’ backyard. “They have no idea this is how I get out,” said the older dog. “Suckers.”

“Right,” said Parker. He couldn’t help noticing that she was leaving scraps of white fur on the twisted branches, a dead giveaway.

“Don’t—unh—get me wrong.” Ruby flattened herself, wriggling through a particularly dense patch. “I love my people. But sometimes, a dog’s gotta get out on her own, see the world. Know what I mean?”

“Not exactly,” said Parker.

“Ya will.” Popping up from under the hedge, Ruby led the way along the alley that ran behind the houses. “Let’s see what trouble we can stir up.”

“Trouble?” For a moment, Parker’s doggish side sparked to the sound of this. Then he thought twice. “Uh, that’s not fun.”

One side of Ruby’s mouth quirked up. “Then you’re doing it wrong.”

With mixed feelings, Parker trailed the bigger dog. Just down the alley, they passed a couple of stinky trash cans waiting for the next day’s pickup.

“Ah!” Ruby took a deep whiff. “Smell that?”

“A zombie with a head cold could smell that,” said Parker.

Ramming her shoulder into the first can, Ruby knocked it over, spilling bags of trash onto the pavement. She clawed them open with powerful strokes of her forelegs. “Yeah! That’s the real deal.”

“Eewww, gross,” said Parker. He found his doggie mouth was starting to drool over the spoiled food, which made matters even more disgusting.

“You’re missing out.” Rooting through the mess, the larger dog unearthed a T-bone with a smidgen of steak still on it. She made short work of the treat, then went down on her shoulder in the garbage.

“Fancy a roll?” she said.

“That’s sick,” said Parker. “That steak probably had maggots on it, and who knows what kind of germs you’re covering your body with? To say nothing of the stink.”

“That’s kinda the point.” Ruby climbed to her feet and gave a vigorous shake. “Kid, ya gotta loosen up.”

Parker’s mouth twisted. “That’s what everyone says.” He’d always been happy with how he was, keeping the world nice and orderly. But he was beginning to wonder if there was another way of being. A way that was more … fun?

Ruby grinned a doggie grin. “I got just the ticket.” Lumbering along to the next intersection, she looked both ways.

“What are you doing?” asked Parker.

“Watching for the Bad Man.”

Parker’s mouth went dry and he scanned the street. “What Bad Man?”

“He drives around in a truck capturing dogs and cats,” said Ruby.

“You mean the Animal Control guy?”

The older dog just growled in reply. “Coast is clear,” she said. “Now, check this out.” Stalking as stealthily as a hundred-pound dog can stalk, she crept two houses down and peered around a bush.

Parker joined her. “What are we looking at?” All he saw was a scruffy lawn, an abandoned blue tricycle, and a fat yellowish cat asleep on the steps.

“Good times.” Ruby sank into a crouch. “Follow my lead.”

In a sudden burst, she exploded, heading straight for the feline.

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