Roxbury Park Dog Club #6

by Daphne Maple

  “Can we all just take a deep breath and discuss this quietly?” Taylor asked, obviously trying to sound diplomatic.

  Bri glared. “Okay, let’s talk,” she said. “What do you think, Taylor? Does Kim boss us around too much or not? And are you as tired of Sasha complaining as the rest of us?”

  Taylor gulped. “Um, I really don’t want to take sides,” she said.

  Bri threw up her hands. “Great,” she said.

  “No, it’s just, I think it would be more useful if you guys settled down and tried to listen to each other,” Taylor said. Maybe she was trying to be nice, but it came out like she was being condescending.

  Kim rolled her eyes. “That’s not going to help anything. I already hear Bri loud and clear.”

  “And we’ve all heard Sasha complain endlessly and that’s just making things worse,” Bri snapped. “Maybe if she stopped whining we could—”

  “Who are you to tell me what to do?” I interrupted, so angry my hands had balled into fists, Mr. S’s leash cutting into my palm.

  “Right, I forgot, telling everyone what to do is Kim’s job, not mine,” Bri said. “Because I don’t have a real club job.”

  “I don’t have to listen to this,” Kim fumed. She glanced at me, as if waiting to see if I’d defend her. But after her backstabbing comment earlier, there was no way I was speaking up for her. Or Taylor. And certainly not Bri. I was done with all of them.

  So I whirled around, tugged Mr. S’s leash, and stalked toward home. A small part of me hoped that my friends would call me back, would finally say that they’d realized I was right.

  But all I heard behind me was each of my friends stomping off alone.

  9

  When I got home all I could do was fume. How dare Bri attack me like that! And Kim was such a backstabber. Even Taylor was making me crazy with her refusal to take sides. The whole situation was utterly maddening and I was fed up with all of them.

  After a dinner with my mom where I could barely choke down my food, and an hour of trying to focus on my report, it was time to take Mr. S for his walk. I leashed him up and we headed out. The night was cool and there was a gloomy heaviness in the air, like it was going to rain soon. Which matched my mood perfectly.

  I let Mr. S lead me down the block, stopping when he wanted to sniff but not really caring where we went or how fast we walked. My head was too full of thoughts about the fight. I was still enraged by Bri and Kim, but I had started to simmer down about Taylor. Yes, it had been annoying to have her act like some kind of adult, telling us to be calm, but maybe if I talked to her one-on-one, without interruptions, she’d see what I was saying. I was the one who was right, after all.

  So when Mr. S and I got back, I called her.

  “Hey,” she said eagerly, after picking up right away. “That was crazy after club today.”

  “I know,” I agreed. I was about to say more when she went on.

  “Everyone got so worked up, and when you think about it, none of it is that big a deal,” she said.

  “I’m not so sure,” I said slowly. “I mean, I really do have more work than anyone else in the club and it’s not fair.”

  There was a silence that felt heavier than the night air had been.

  “I mean, it’s obvious, right?” I asked, a pleading note creeping into my voice.

  Taylor cleared her throat and when she spoke her words were stiff. “I really don’t think I should take sides,” she said.

  “It’s not taking sides, it’s just agreeing with something that’s true,” I said.

  “Maybe we should talk tomorrow when everyone’s cooled off,” Taylor said.

  I was feeling anything but cool. “You have to have an opinion about something,” I said sharply.

  “I don’t think it will fix anything to have me get involved,” Taylor said, and now she was the one sounding sharp.

  “Fine,” I snapped, then ended the call before she could say another word. If she was too scared to weigh in, we didn’t have anything else to talk about.

  I was furious with all three of them for the rest of the night.

  The rain beat down on my umbrella and the tops of my rain boots as I walked to school the next day. I glanced at our usual meeting place, just to see if one of my friends might be waiting for me, finally come to her senses and ready to say sorry.

  But the only thing on the corner was a big puddle.

  As I headed into the building a few minutes later I suddenly wondered if maybe the three of them had made up. What if they had talked without me last night or this morning, the way they’d talked without me about waiting to bring new dogs into the club? The thought brought the tornado rushing back into my stomach.

  But when I walked into homeroom I saw that Kim had turned in her seat so that her back was to Taylor. Bri, who sat up in front, was staring at the whiteboard at the front of the room as though it was the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen. So I breathed a sigh of relief as I slid into my own seat, careful not to glance at either Kim or Taylor. I certainly didn’t want anyone to think I took back anything I’d said. I mean, I did kind of regret hanging up on Taylor. A little. And not backing Kim when Bri attacked her. But what they’d done to me was worse, so I was not going to be the one to apologize first. That was on them.

  As the morning went on I discovered that it was kind of lonely walking through the halls by myself. I’d never thought about it, but I was always with one of my friends, if not all of them, joking and talking as we went from one class to the next. Being alone made my chest feel hollowed out.

  But that still didn’t mean I was going to say sorry. At lunch I went to the cafeteria and grabbed an energy bar and a yogurt smoothie, which I wolfed down right after I paid for them. I didn’t want to sit in the cafeteria because who would I sit with? When I glanced at our table, I saw that it was empty. Bri was sitting with the girls she’d done our last social studies project with and Taylor was at a table with a group of kids who were into art. They were probably talking about photography. I bit my lip at the sight of her laughing with them but then headed out. It was better that I wasn’t going to waste time talking in the cafeteria, anyway, because I had better things to do: it was time to get some serious research done on Mongolia.

  “Hi, Sasha,” Ms. Cho said, smiling from her perch at the circulation desk when I walked into the library, my steps quiet on the thick carpet. “Your partner in crime is waiting for you. Let me know if I can help either of you out with anything.” She gestured cheerfully toward the back of the library, where Kim was sitting at our usual table, a stack of books about Tanzania next to her.

  “Thanks,” I said to Ms. Cho, not sure what to do. I walked slowly toward the back of the library—that was where the research books on different countries were, after all. But I didn’t want Kim to think I planned to sit with her. Or did I? I had no idea how to be mad at one of my favorite people in the world, and as I looked at her absently pulling on a lock of hair as she took notes, a wave of remorse washed over me.

  But just then Kim looked up, saw me, and scowled. She pushed her pile of Tanzania books into the spot where I usually sat, gave me a defiant look, and went back to work, her mouth a thin line.

  My face was on fire as I stalked over to the bookshelf. How could I have felt bad about yesterday for even one second? I certainly hoped she knew I hadn’t been planning to sit with her. I’d have told her that much, but I wasn’t speaking to her, not ever. Or at least not until she apologized.

  I took three books from the shelf and flounced over to the table across from Kim. I made a big show of sitting with my back to her as I opened my notebook and began copying random facts about Mongolia. It was too hard to concentrate when I was this busy snubbing Kim.

  It turned out it took a lot of energy to ignore my best friend, even if she did completely deserve it.

  “Nice job on your solo today,” Dana said as we stood in line for the drinking fountain at the end of rehearsal.

 
; “Thanks,” I said, grinning. After an exhausting day of pretending my closest friends were invisible, it had been wonderful to throw myself into dancing. I’d been worried that it would be hard to concentrate again, but it turned out that complicated steps and jazz music were just what I needed. My solo had gone so well that Madame Florence said I didn’t need to stay late to practice. “I think we’re all looking good.”

  “Agreed,” Dana said. “Madame Florence pushes us so hard some days I just want to quit. But when it all comes together like this, it’s worth it.”

  “Totally,” Asha said as she came up to stand behind me. She was still breathing hard from our last dance, which had a lot of spins at the end. “Our show is going to be amazing.”

  “Kim and Taylor and Bri will be there, right?” Dana asked. The hair that had fallen out of her bun was damp with sweat.

  “Um, yeah,” I said, reaching down to adjust my jazz shoe. The heaviness of the fight, which had lifted off me during practice, settled back down on my shoulders.

  “They’re going to be so impressed,” Dana said.

  “Yeah, you nailed that solo,” Asha agreed. “Even your best friends are going to be wanting your autograph.”

  If they were even talking to me then. It was my turn at the fountain and as I bent over and took a long sip of water, I couldn’t help thinking about all my plans for a fabulous sleepover after my performance. Sure, there were other things I could do to celebrate. But honestly, I knew there was nothing I wanted more than to be with my best friends. I hated to admit it, but I missed all of them, even Bri.

  But I wasn’t sure that meant I was ready to do something about it.

  As I ran around getting ready for school the next morning, my phone beeped with a text. My heart was racing and I was smiling as I dug through my bag and finally found it. Clearly one of my friends had come to her senses and made the first move!

  The text was from Bri. “U r getting Missy and Hattie 2day. Don’t forget.”

  The smile slid off my face as I glared at my phone. I didn’t need her acting like my mom, nagging me about something that I could remember just fine without her. “I know,” I texted back. “Don’t need a reminder.”

  I stomped to school, waiting for a snippy reply, and sure enough it came as I reached the sidewalk in front of the building. “You forgot the last time it was your turn to get them.”

  The familiar coal of anger burned hot as I texted back. “It was one time,” I replied, my fingers flying over my screen as the warning bell rang. I had more to say but I couldn’t be late. I turned my phone off—the last thing I needed was it ringing in school and getting confiscated—and flew up the stairs, angrier than ever.

  How could I have ever, for one second, thought I missed someone as maddening as Bri?

  10

  “Sasha, would you get that ball, please?” Kim asked me, looking toward me but not actually at me. I wasn’t sure what was weirdest: the way she said “Sasha” instead of “Sash,” the fact that she said “please,” or how cold her voice was. But I knew I hated all three.

  “Yes,” I replied, my voice just as chilly as I grabbed the tennis ball that had landed near my feet.

  I saw Tim and Caley exchange a puzzled look. It wasn’t their first of the afternoon. I’d arrived at the shelter half an hour ago with Missy and Hattie and could easily say it was our worst club meeting ever. It was really hard to be part of a club where none of the members were speaking to each other unless they absolutely had to.

  Taylor’s back was to the rest of us as she snuggled with Missy and Humphrey. Bri was throwing a blue ball for Boxer, Hattie, Jinx, and Daisy, acting like Kim, Taylor, and I were invisible. Kim and Caley had Violet, Waffles, Lily, and Gus playing with tennis balls and I was on the floor with Mr. S, who had come over the second he saw me and not left my side since. He could tell how bad I felt and I loved that he came to snuggle with me. Still, this was his playtime and I wanted him to have fun with the other dogs, so after tossing the tennis ball back to Kim (a bad throw since I wasn’t looking at her either) I stood up. Big Al and Gracie were in the front corner with a rubber bone, so I headed toward them with Mr. S, snagging a green ball on my way.

  “Let’s play,” I told the three dogs, throwing the ball into the corner farthest away from any of my friends-who-weren’t-my-friends. Mr. S and Gracie flew after the ball but Big Al looked up at me, eyes wide, as if asking whether it was safe to chase it.

  “Go get it, big guy,” I encouraged, and after a moment the little dog took off after his friends. I couldn’t help grinning at that. The people in this club might be upset but at least the dogs were their usual adorable selves. And it was good to see Big Al coming more and more out of his shell.

  But an hour later even the dogs were no longer themselves. They’d probably picked up on the tension between the humans because by now even Tim and Caley were clearly on edge from our weird behavior. Boxer was short tempered, Big Al had gone to hide in his cage, and every time someone threw a ball, the dogs were pushy with each other as they ran for it.

  Violet was particularly snarly and Kim was staying close to her, which had earned her a few nasty looks from Bri. But Kim held her head high as she worked with the Dalmatian to keep her calm and out of trouble with the other dogs.

  But then Tim threw Boxer’s Frisbee a bit too close to Violet, who grabbed it and gave a low growl when Boxer trotted up. Lily was right behind him and the fur on her neck rose as Boxer’s tiny ears flattened. Bri headed over to Lily and began to soothe her. Kim was trying to coax Violet to release the Frisbee, which made Bri roll her eyes, but Violet was having none of it and Boxer was getting distressed. Tim went over to help but accidently stepped on Gus’s tail and had to stop to comfort him. So I headed over to Boxer instead—but Taylor had the same idea and we both got to the big dog at the same time. I glared at her and she glared right back and while neither of us was looking, Boxer snapped at Violet.

  “Yikes,” Tim said as Gus scurried off to the side. “Careful.”

  Taylor took a step back.

  “Should we get Boxer away from Violet?” Caley asked anxiously.

  “Yes, and let’s all stay calm,” Kim advised, earning another eye roll from Bri. “It doesn’t help anything if we get worked up.” Though I could tell by the tightness around her mouth that she was worried as she stepped away from the dogs and headed for the supply cabinet.

  Bri coaxed Lily away while I tried to get Boxer’s attention with a tennis ball. He was too focused on Violet to notice me. And I had to admit the way his little ears were flat and he growled ominously scared me a bit.

  “Boxer, come,” I called, trying to sound firm. But my voice wobbled and Boxer ignored me.

  Then he took a step toward Violet and barked loudly. Alice popped out of her office looking concerned. “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “Guys,” Caley called in a warning tone.

  But then Kim was between the dogs, a box of treats in hand. At the scent of their favorite snack, both dogs dropped their aggressive stances and became the sweet pups we knew, both eager for a biscuit.

  Kim handed one to me and I used it to lure Boxer to the other side of the room. Then she shook the box enticingly and led Violet to a quiet corner. Bri began playing tug-of-war with Lily, far from both Violet and Boxer. Taylor headed over to a group of dogs who were in the middle of the room looking confused by everything.

  “Are we okay now?” Alice asked. Her T-shirt of the day was one of her funny ones, three dogs sunbathing under the words “Hot Dogs,” but her expression was serious.

  “Yes, fine,” Taylor said quickly. Gracie brought a tennis ball over to her and Taylor threw it across the room with a bit too much force, causing it to bounce wildly.

  “Violet’s calmed down,” Kim reported from where she and Violet were snuggling on the floor, Violet still crunching her treat. Hattie had come over to join them.

  “Boxer too,” I said. The big dog had settled down, so I we
nt over to check on Big Al.

  “Kim saved the day,” Tim said in a jovial voice.

  Bri snorted from her corner of the room.

  Alice looked over at her and Bri’s cheeks turned pink, but her lips were pressed together in a thin line.

  “So we’re all good?” Alice asked, looking from Bri to Kim and then to me and Taylor.

  “Totally fine,” Bri said stiffly.

  “Let me know if you need anything then,” Alice said. She lingered a moment longer, clearly not convinced all was well.

  But then the shelter door opened and Mrs. Washington came in, followed by Mrs. Torres, Daisy’s owner. Pickup had started, so any more conversation would have to wait, thank goodness.

  “Sasha, I had something to ask you,” Mrs. Torres said, coming up to where I was petting Big Al, who glanced at her fearfully. Mrs. Torres, a retired teacher who did volunteer work while Daisy was at the club, smiled down at him and held out a hand for him to sniff. He hesitated, touched his nose to her palm delicately, and then allowed her to stroke his head. I had only spoken to Mrs. Torres in passing, since she dropped Daisy off at the club and rarely needed to reschedule, but seeing this exchange made it clear she was a devoted dog person.

  “Sure,” I said, standing up. “What can I do for you?”

  “My son is visiting from Portland next week,” she said. “So I was hoping I could arrange for pickup service for Daisy on Wednesday.”

  “Absolutely,” I said. “I’ll make a note of it and Alice will put the extra fee on your monthly bill for the club. You can give us a key or leave one at the house under a flowerpot or something. And please make sure we can find Daisy’s leash.”

  “I’ll just give you the key now if that’s all right,” she said, taking an envelope out of her purse and handing it to me. “And I keep the leash on a hook right by the door.”

  “Okay, then I think we’re set,” I said. “I’ll pick up Daisy myself.” That would be easier than asking Kim, Taylor, or Bri to do it. It was hard to ask them to do anything when we weren’t speaking. And it would be fun to walk Daisy to the meeting and spend a bit of time with her outside the shelter.