by Daphne Maple
Dedication
For Chloe Grace
Contents
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Excerpt from Roxbury Park Dog Club #6: A Bone to Pick
Back Ad
About the Author
Books by Daphne Maple
Credits
Copyright
About the Publisher
1
“Hey, Bri,” Taylor said to me somewhat breathlessly as she came into our locker alcove. Elbowing through the crowd at the end of the day at Roxbury Park Middle School could leave a girl winded like that.
“Hey,” I replied, happy to see her. Which was a big change: Not so long ago Taylor had been my number one enemy. I’d been jealous of how easy it was for her to be the new girl at the start of the year, becoming best friends with Kim and Sasha, two of the nicest girls in seventh grade, and helping them start their Dog Club. I’d been new the year before and still felt like an outsider, so seeing Taylor fit in that smoothly made me mad. Some people keep their angry and jealous feelings to themselves, but not me. I spoke up, especially when I was upset, and sometimes I didn’t think before I started talking. That wasn’t a good idea because some pretty mean things came out. Taylor saw through all that, though, which is just one example of how awesome she is. And ever since, I’ve really been working on thinking before opening my mouth. I don’t want to be the mean girl ever again.
“You ready?” Taylor asked. She was stuffing books into her backpack.
“Yeah,” I said, brushing back a stray wisp of my long black hair. I liked playing around with creative hairstyles and today I had a sock bun that I’d rolled up carefully this morning. It sat like a shiny fat doughnut on top of my head, making me look tall.
“Let’s go,” Taylor said with an easy grin, leading the way out of the alcove. She had to maneuver around kids hanging out talking as they packed up for the day. Before, I’d linger too, but now I had a place to go, and I was eager to get there. Taylor was too. Who wouldn’t be excited about two and a half hours of play with the cutest dogs in all of Roxbury Park?
We just had one more stop to go before we’d be on our way.
“I hope Kim did well on that math test,” Taylor said. The beads in her braids swung around her face as she spoke. The day before she’d gotten new ones, a mix of lavender and turquoise that looked great with her dark brown skin and big brown eyes.
“Yeah, me too,” I said. Our friend Kim was a genius when it came to dogs—the Dog Club was her idea and everyone called her the dog whisperer because of the way she understood and trained pups of all shapes and sizes. But math and English tripped her up, and we’d had a scare when it looked like her parents wanted her to change schools to improve her grades. However, with the help of Taylor and Sasha, Kim had set up tutoring sessions with Taylor’s sister Anna, and all of us quizzed her before exams. So far it was working great and when we rounded the corner, I could see her grinning as she chatted with Sasha in front of her locker.
“Kim aced the test,” Sasha told us gleefully as we came up to them.
“Awesome,” Taylor said, raising her hand to high-five Kim.
“Yeah, that’s great,” I echoed, not sure if I should high-five too. I knew that Kim and Sasha accepted me as part of their group; after all, they asked me to join the Dog Club and that showed how much they trusted me, which was great. But I had to admit there were still moments when I felt a little like a fourth wheel when the four of us were together. You’d think a fourth wheel would even everything out, but the three of them had inside jokes and memories all their own. And there was an easiness between them that sometimes felt like an invisible barrier, with them on the inside and me on the outside. Still, I was thrilled to be part of the gang and excited for our afternoon at the club. And I hoped that at some point that barrier would come down and I’d be fully on the inside too.
“Thanks, guys,” Kim said, her brown eyes bright as she smiled. “I couldn’t have done it without your help. And of course Anna’s.”
Anna was one of Taylor’s three older sisters and a math genius. She and Taylor hadn’t always gotten along, but lately they were close as could be and Anna had really come through to help Kim.
“Anna’s the best,” Taylor said proudly. “Are you guys ready to go? The dogs are waiting.”
“Then let’s get moving,” Sasha said cheerfully. Her brown curls were pulled back in a braid and she moved gracefully, probably because she was a star dancer at the school where she studied ballet, tap, and jazz. “Bri, is it your day to get Mr. S? Because I need to give you the key to our house. I had to use the spare yesterday and I forgot to put it back in the hiding place under the plant box.”
Sasha was kind of scatterbrained, but she was so good natured about it that it didn’t matter. And her cheeks glowed a healthy pink every time she talked about her dog, Mr. S. Not so long ago he’d lived at the Roxbury Park Dog Shelter, where Kim, Sasha, and Taylor had started the Dog Club, both to help owners who worked all day get exercise and attention for their pets, and to raise money for the shelter. But Sasha had fallen in love with him and managed to talk her neat-freak mom into adopting him. Now he had a home with Sasha and came with us to the club to see all his old pals a few times a week.
“Yes, I’m getting Mr. S, Humphrey, and Popsicle,” I confirmed. One of the perks we offered Dog Club customers was pickup service. For owners with full-time jobs, the club was the perfect way for their dogs to get a good workout and lots of love and doggy company while they were at work. And for a small additional fee we’d get their dogs on our way to the shelter.
Sasha handed me her key and I put it in my pocket. We wove through the crowd and finally made it out into the brisk fall afternoon. There was a chilly wind, but the sun was warm on my face as we headed into town, our feet crunching on recently fallen leaves. Autumn had definitely come to Roxbury Park.
“I’m getting Coco and Waffles,” Taylor said, “since I got Gus and Hattie the last time.” Waffles was a shelter dog recently adopted by the Datta family, who had immediately signed him up for the club. Waffles clearly loved his new home but was always happy to see his old friends at the shelter.
“Sounds good,” Sasha agreed. We tried to rotate pickups with the exception of one dog.
“How’s Missy doing with the walk to the shelter?” I asked Kim. Missy was a new club dog and she actually belonged to our English teacher, Mrs. Benson, who was the strictest teacher any of us had ever had. We were shocked when she showed up at the shelter in jeans and a T-shirt like a regular person, needing help with her new dog. Missy had been rescued from a puppy mill where she had been badly mistreated. She had been like a shadow, scared of everything and cringing whenever anyone got too close. But Kim the dog whisperer had worked her magic, while Mrs. Benson had patiently showered Missy with love, and the little Yorkie was finally coming out of her shell.
“She’s doing great,” Kim said with a grin. “She loves all the smells on Main Street.”
“Like Sugar and Spice?” Taylor asked. Sugar and Spice was the candy store in town and it smelled like chocolate, cinnamon, and strawberries every time we passed. It made my mouth water just to think about it.
“Actually Missy really likes the garbage can on the corner in front of the bank,” Kim said, laughing. “She’s into two-
day-old sandwiches and crusty bits of doughnut.”
“Gross,” Taylor said, making a sour face that cracked all of us up.
“You should see Mr. S dig into his Buddy’s Beef Stew,” Sasha said, wrinkling her nose. “Just opening the can kills my appetite for hours, but he acts like it’s the tastiest meal ever.”
“What does your mom feed the dogs at the Pampered Puppy?” Taylor asked me. “Do they get gourmet dog food?”
Her tone was light, but I felt my stomach tighten at her words. “Um, yeah,” I said. “But it still smells pretty gross.” The organic fresh minced meat used at the Pampered Puppy actually smelled fine, but I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. My mom ran a dog spa that was pretty much a fancy version of our Dog Club. But where our dogs just played and had fun, the dogs who came to the Pampered Puppy got training and each one had an individualized exercise program, as well as regular grooming sessions and carefully planned diets. It was great for people who wanted their dogs obedient and spotless at the end of the day. But I was a lot more comfortable at our Dog Club, where owners just laughed if their dogs were revved up and a bit on the muddy side at pickup.
“Is the new dog coming to Dog Club today?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.
“Yes,” Sasha confirmed. She handled all the clients who came to the club, while Kim wrote entries in our blog, the Dog Club Diaries. Taylor took photos for the blog, and recently for a newspaper story that had gotten us more clients than we could handle. We now had a waiting list and one lucky dog had just gotten off it. “Her name is Jinx and she’s coming in for her visit today. Her owners say she’s mischievous—hopefully she’s not another Sierra.”
The three of them laughed and I tried to join in. Sierra was a dog who’d been too wild for the club and caused all kinds of problems. I wasn’t part of the club then, though, so it was one of those fourth-wheel moments. At least I knew about the visits. Now when a dog wanted to join the club they had an initial visit, to see how they got along with the other dogs and if they were a good fit for the loose, easygoing culture of our Dog Club.
We’d reached the corner where we separated to get our dogs.
“See you guys in a little bit,” Sasha called as she and Kim headed straight, while Taylor turned left and I turned right down Spring Street. Sasha and Kim lived a block and a half down, and the Cronins, who had been the first Dog Club members, were right next to Kim’s house. I headed to their house and as soon as I slipped the key into the lock of the front door and opened it, I heard a dog let out a happy bark.
“Hi, Popsicle,” I said warmly, bending down to pet the black and white puppy with floppy ears. The Cronins had adopted Popsicle from the shelter and like all the dogs she loved her time in Dog Club with her pals.
“And hello to you too, Humphrey,” I said to the basset hound making his way slowly into the front hall. Humphrey was a typical basset and didn’t rush for anything except food. When he reached us he fell over onto one side, breathing heavily, as though the walk from the living room had exhausted him.
“You are one lazy pup,” I told him affectionately, not meaning a word of it. I stroked his silky ears and he let out a contented sigh.
After a little more snuggling, I grabbed their leashes and buckled them on, and we headed over to get Mr. S. When I first met Mr. S I was confused by the way he sometimes ran into things. I was actually a little rude about it after he banged into my elbow, but Sasha, protective doggy mom, set me straight fast. Mr. S, a fluffy white Cavachon, was nearly blind. And considering that, it was amazing how well he got by. Now I loved him almost as much as Sasha did, and seeing him race about in happy circles when the dogs and I arrived to get him made me smile. I bent down and hugged him. Mr. S rewarded me with a kiss and then rushed to romp with his friends.
“Okay, guys, let’s get this show on the road,” I told my pack of three. Sasha was supposed to leave Mr. S’s leash on a hook by the door, but as usual it wasn’t there. It took me a minute, but I soon found it thrown over the hall chair, where Sasha had probably tossed it after walking Mr. S this morning. Mr. S stood still while I snapped the leash onto his collar and a minute later we were on our way.
2
It was fun walking down Main Street with three happy dogs that half the town seemed to know. Before Roxbury Park my family had lived in Washington, DC. I still missed the Chinatown there and all the great restaurants. My family was Chinese American, and we could be picky about the best cooked dishes. But aside from that, I was very happy to be in Roxbury Park.
“Hi, Brianna,” Kim’s dad said. He was just walking into the Rox, the diner Kim’s family owned. “On your way to Dog Club?”
“Yeah,” I said, a little shyly. Mr. Feeney was super nice, but it was always weird to see your friend’s parents when your friend wasn’t there.
“Have fun,” he said with a wave.
I stopped to admire the new window display at Sugar and Spice, the candy store. The older couple who had originally owned it had recently retired and moved to New Mexico. None of us had met the new owners yet, but their window displays were awesome. This one was a candy version of Roxbury Park, with chocolate buildings, lollipop trees, marzipan people, and little cars made out of gumdrops. It looked good enough to eat, which of course was the idea.
“Have a good Dog Club meeting, Bri,” said Anya Skakov, who worked at the Ice Creamery. She was heading into Sugar and Spice, probably to pick up candy toppings for the sundaes and mix-ins that made the Ice Creamery so delicious.
“Thanks,” I said, loving that she knew me and knew exactly where I was going. This was one of the many things that made Roxbury Park such a wonderful place to live.
The second I walked into the shelter, a medium-size tan dog with shaggy fur and a big doggy smile ran up as though she’d been waiting for me.
“Hi, Lily!” I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around her as soon as I’d freed my mini dog pack from their leashes. I loved all the dogs in the shelter, as well as all our club members, but Lily was special. She was sweet and playful and sensitive too. She knew just when you needed a few extra doggy kisses. And lately it seemed like she was always near me, keeping an eye on what I was doing and coming up to me more often than anyone else. I loved nothing more than snuggling her. At home, when my dad was away on business and it was just me and my mom, I sometimes thought how great it would be to have Lily in my room, cuddled up next to me while I did homework and texted my friends.
A moment later, Boxer, who was a boxer, of course, bounded up with his favorite green Frisbee in his mouth. There was a time when I thought the chewed-up toy, which was always slimy with dog drool, was kind of gross. But that was before I realized how much Boxer loved it. And today I didn’t hesitate to take it when he dropped it at my feet and give it a hearty toss across the room. Boxer and Lily bounded after it and Popsicle and Mr. S dashed after them. Humphrey walked more slowly as he made his way over to the corner where Missy was standing. Lately Missy and Humphrey had been bonding, probably because Humphrey was so mellow. Missy would likely always have some issues from her time at the puppy mill, but watching her sniff Humphrey in greeting, and then trot after him when Kim threw a tennis ball, melted my heart.
“Those two are so cute,” I said, walking over to Kim.
“Tell me about it,” Kim said with a grin. Sasha had already arrived with Gus, a sweet brown lab, and Hattie, a shy sheepdog puppy and another former shelter dog who came back for Dog Club. The two of them were playing fetch with Sasha and Tuesday, a new shelter dog who had short black curly fur and a curlicue tail. Daisy, a feisty brown dachshund whose owner dropped her off for Dog Club, was last to arrive but immediately joined Tuesday and Sasha.
The main room of the shelter was big and open, with a new linoleum floor. There was a small bathroom off to one side, as well as the room where dog food was stored, though the dogs were usually fed after we left. Alice’s office was up front, while bins of toys were stored on the shelves along one side
wall. The other side wall was lined with cages that each had a soft doggy bed and blanket. That was where the dogs slept at night, but they were always open during the day, in case a dog wanted to take a nap or spend a little quiet time alone. Out back was a big fenced-in yard where we often took the dogs to play on warm days.
I was about to throw the Frisbee again when the front door opened and Coco, Waffles, and Taylor came in, followed by Tim and Caley, the two high school volunteers.
“Hey, gang,” Tim said, running a hand through his black hair and making it stick up all over the place. “Doggy basketball in five. Bri, this time you’re going down.”
I laughed at that. Doggy basketball was a game Tim invented that involved a big orange ball and a laundry basket. We’d divide the dogs into teams and coach them to get baskets and for some reason I was unbeaten. If doggy basketball were a real sport I could probably lead an Olympic team to gold. But as it was, Tim was endlessly trying to come up with ways to beat me.
“You’re on,” I said. “I’ll even give you first pick.”
Tim narrowed his eyes. “Nice try, but I can tell you’re using mind tricks to defeat me. You get first pick.”
Caley rolled her eyes. “Someone’s getting a little paranoid,” she said, grinning at me.
“It wasn’t a mind trick at all,” I said, opening my eyes wide to look innocent. “Or was it?” I added in an evil, hushed voice.
Caley burst out laughing as Tim pointed at me. “See? She’s like an evil Sith lord.”
“A what?” Caley asked.
Now it was Tim rolling his eyes. “Caley, you’re a cultural illiterate because you’ve never seen Star Wars. You have to do something about this.”
It was not the first time they’d had this squabble and the four of us exchanged amused glances. It was nice to be on the inside of the joke.
“Hey, everybody,” Alice said, walking out of her office and plucking some dog fur off her T-shirt that had different color dog prints running across it. Alice was the owner of the shelter and a pretty amazing dog whisperer in her own right. Her long hair was falling out of its usual ponytail and her face was free of makeup. Her job was the same as my mom’s: running a dog-care center. But they couldn’t have been more different. My mom never had a hair out of place, her makeup was always perfect, and she wore a pristine, fitted lab coat with the words “Pampered Puppy” embroidered on it. She was every inch the sleek, professional businesswoman, while Alice was more the comfortable, relaxed dog lover who just happened to run a business. But I shook my head to clear away the thought. I preferred not to think about my mom or the Pampered Puppy when I was at the shelter.