The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City by Jodi Kendall

Author:Jodi Kendall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-08-02T04:00:00+00:00

After gymnastics, Mom made turkey sandwiches and Lucy and I walked over to Dr. Stern’s clinic with Amelia. Even though the sky is already dark by 6:00 p.m. in the wintertime, there are so many streetlights that Mom told us Hamlet could only come if we carried her so the neighbors didn’t see.

We hid Hamlet inside my gymnastics bag, zipping it closed just enough so her head could poke out for fresh air. “Awww, poor Hammie wants to walk!” protested Amelia, pointing to the way the pig lifted her snout into the air, catching a scent.

Amelia held up the leash triumphantly. “Brought this!” she said, and I shook my head. I wasn’t risking Hamlet getting loose in our neighborhood or getting in trouble with my parents. Hamlet met my eyes and squealed in protest, trying to wiggle out of the bag.

It felt like my heart twisted inside just thinking about poor Hamlet not being able to run around. “She’s not allowed to walk through the neighborhood,” I reminded them with a sigh. “Mom’s orders.”

“But your mom doesn’t have to carry her! She’s. So. HEAVY!” huffed Lucy, adjusting her grip on the bag. My palms felt like they were on fire, and finally we had to set Hamlet down for a second to take a break in front of the library. “We should make the team carry Hamlet and run sprints,” said Lucy, giggling. “It’d make conditioning more fun at least.”

“Oh no, my bag’s getting wet!” I pointed at the snow. Hamlet tried to wriggle out of the bag, but I petted her head and commanded, “STAY, Hamlet,” and she nestled down into her yellow towel.

Ugh. I’d have to scrub my gym bag now.

It was only a few blocks to the veterinary clinic, but when you’re carrying a heavy piglet it feels like a marathon. We walked up to the first-floor unit of Lou’s townhouse, where Dr. Stern’s business was. Lou was waiting for us, wiping down the big entryway mirrors.

“Hey, guys!” he said, and Amelia ran up next to him and started going through his box of cleaning supplies. Lucy and I set my gym bag down in the lobby, making sure the front door was closed behind us, and I lifted Hamlet out of the bag.

The pig immediately pressed her snout to the floor tiles, sniffing everything from the magazine rack to the bags of dog food for sale to the stack of this morning’s issue of City Centennial. Finally, she looped back around and slobbered Lucy’s hand.

“Hammie!” Lucy squealed. Hamlet oinked and wiggled in response. “You are one big pig.”

“She knocked me over the other day,” Amelia said. The mirror squeaked as she rubbed it down with a white rag.

“Not really a piglet anymore, are you, Hamlet,” I said, giving her a big pat on the back.

“Josie!” Dr. Stern appeared from down the long hall. “Perfect timing. And hiya, Lucy. And look what we have here!” She bent down to pet Hamlet. The pig jumped up on her lap, and the vet laughed, gently pushing her hooves back down to the tiles.

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