The Pet War by Allan Woodrow

Author:Allan Woodrow [Woodrow, Allan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2013-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

Back home, Lexi still tutored. I don’t know how anyone could stand being around schoolwork for so many hours in the day. If it was me, my brain would have exploded. As I passed Lexi’s room, her door opened and her friend Sophie walked out. They didn’t notice me. I stopped in the hallway, my hand on my doorknob. I kept silent.

“Thanks, Lexi,” said Sophie. “Sorry I can’t pay you or anything.”

“That’s okay,” said Lexi. “That’s what friends are for.”

“It’s just that I’m saving my money to buy those shoes I was telling you about.”

“Don’t worry about it. Hannah isn’t paying, either. Same time tomorrow?”

“You bet!”

As I turned my doorknob to go into my room, it squeaked just loudly enough for Lexi to notice. “What are you looking at, baby brother?” she snapped.

“I’m not a baby.”

“Are you spying?” she snarled.

“I’m just standing here. It’s a free country. And a free hallway. And apparently, free tutoring.”

“It’s none of your business what I’m doing,” she barked.

“It’s a shame people can’t actually pay you.” I removed a wad of cash from my pocket. “I wonder how much money I made today,” I slowly counted out the bills. “Five dollars … ten dollars …”

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know we’re getting a dog.”

“We’re getting a cat.”

“A dog!”

Just then the doorbell rang. Lexi shook her head. “Whatever,” she mumbled. She headed downstairs to answer the door.

“Another free lesson?” I called behind her. “Have fun! I’ll be throwing all my money on my bed and rolling in it!”

“Baby brother!” yelled Lexi.

“I’m not a baby!”

Sticks and stones break bones, but names don’t. I bet half of her customers weren’t paying her. I couldn’t help but smile. Her great tutoring plan wasn’t so great after all. She should know nothing in life is free, especially pets.

She should create a glittery chart: how long it takes to earn five hundred dollars when you don’t charge anyone money. The answer was forever. Even me, the non-math genius, knew that.

I went to my room, which was now my business office. All mega-companies need offices. I had my shoe box to keep my money in. I had my notebook to write down my appointments. I had three pencils to write with, and only two of them needed to be sharpened. I had a box of sandwich bags and brown paper bags to keep dog poop in. After all, You Oughta Call Otto’s Dog Walking Service was about cleanliness. I had a calendar, although it was last year’s. Still, a Tuesday is a Tuesday, right? It’s not like the days change names every year.

I wrote down in my notebook:

“Pay Mom back for three pencils, sandwich bags, and paper bags: $8.00.”

I threw the money I had collected that day on my bed. I greedily counted it. $22.52.

I thought I should have had more money, though. I had absolutely no idea where the fifty-two cents came from. I had been given a one-dollar tip by Mr. Roofus, but I must have given the wrong change back to Mrs.

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