Star

by Jennifer Li Shotz

  Bryan unzipped his backpack and took out his phone. Now that they were close enough to town for it to pick up a signal, the phone was buzzing with message notifications from his parents and Ms. Khan. Bryan ignored all the messages and called his dad.

  Before Star got hurt, the boys would have walked the whole way home, putting off the moment when they’d have to face Ms. Khan and their parents. But Star couldn’t wait that long. They had to get her to the vet fast. They weren’t worried anymore about how much trouble they’d be in. They were just worried about saving Star.

  * * *

  Principal Walter sped to the emergency veterinary hospital. The questions would come later, but for now they rode in anxious silence. Julian sat in the back seat, with Star’s head in his lap. The only other time he’d been in this car was during detention when Mr. Walter had taken him to the shelter for the first time. He’d felt so frustrated and out of place that day.

  So much in Julian’s life was different then. He hadn’t even met Star yet. He’d never really talked to Bryan. And that was the last time he’d gotten detention. Now he finally felt like he knew who he was and where he belonged. But none of that would matter if he lost Star.

  When they got to the animal hospital, a vet tech met them at the curb and rushed Star inside. One second she was draped over Julian’s lap and the next she was gone. He sat in the back seat, feeling cold and alone.

  Principal Walter held open the back door. “Come on. Let’s go wait inside.”

  Julian and Bryan sat in chairs in the waiting room, staring at the door to the treatment rooms. They wanted to know the instant the vet came out with any news. The receptionist brought them Styrofoam cups filled with hot cocoa made from powdered mix in the break room. Principal Walter found a couple of oversize school sweatshirts in his trunk. Even with the warm clothes and hot cocoa, Julian couldn’t stop shivering. He took one sip and set the cocoa on a table that was covered with dog magazines. His stomach was too upset for him to drink.

  Julian didn’t like the quiet in the waiting room. He wanted it to be more like the hospital shows his parents sometimes watched, with a flurry of doctors and nurses shouting to one another and machines beeping in the background. He wanted the room to be as chaotic as he felt inside.

  Whatever they were doing to try to save Star was happening behind that closed door. No one came out to talk to them. No one would even tell them if Star was going to live or die. She’d lost a lot of blood and had been very weak by the time they’d gotten to the hospital.

  Julian didn’t know how long they sat there in silence before his parents arrived. They rushed into the waiting room in a swirl of cold air and anxious energy. Principal Walter intercepted them at the door and took them to the opposite side of the room. The adults talked in voices too low for the boys to hear. Julian kept his eyes locked on the door. He couldn’t bear to see the anger and disappointment on his parents’ faces.

  Slouching in his chair as his parents approached, he wished he could disappear. Or zoom back in time to earlier that day, before he and Bryan had decided to take Star from the shelter. Maybe even before they’d decided to go on their stupid treasure hunt. He’d done the most thoughtless, irresponsible thing ever. He deserved whatever punishment his parents gave him.

  Julian’s parents squatted in front of him so he had no choice but to meet their eyes. In the chair next to him, Bryan squirmed and looked away. He’d have to deal with his own punishment later.

  Julian’s mom squeezed his hand. “We’re glad you’re safe, Julian. That’s the most important thing.”

  “But Star’s not safe,” he said.

  “She’s getting the best care possible.” His mom spoke quietly, trying to comfort him. Julian didn’t want to be comforted.

  “It’s all my fault,” Julian said. “She’s hurt because of me.”

  “We know you didn’t mean for this to happen,” his dad said.

  “But I made bad choices,” Julian insisted.

  “You did,” his dad agreed. “We’re disappointed in you for taking Star without permission. And for not telling us where you were going. And for breaking your curfew. Okay, for a lot of things—but the point is, you know what you did was wrong.”

  “It’s fine if you ground me forever,” Julian said. He didn’t mind the idea. He’d spend the rest of his life in his room if he knew Star was going to be okay.

  “Right now, we just want to make sure Star gets better,” his mom said. “We’ll figure out the rest later.”

  His parents’ grim expressions remained fixed. Julian could feel how worried they’d been about him. His chest was heavy with guilt, and he was relieved when they finally walked across the room to sit down next to Principal Walter.

  “That wasn’t so bad,” Bryan whispered.

  “That was worse than bad,” Julian muttered. “I should be in trouble. I ruined everything.”

  “It’s not your fault that Star got hurt,” Bryan said.

  Julian turned to face Bryan. “It’s all my fault! I’m always doing stuff without thinking.”

  “Not this time,” Bryan said. “I was there, too, remember? We had a plan. I was prepared. I thought I was ready for anything, but I wasn’t at all.”

  Julian crossed his arms and shook his head. “It was my stupid idea to chase after the treasure.”

  “It wasn’t stupid.” Bryan shook his head. “We couldn’t have known this was going to happen. But we’re in this together. You, me, and Star.”

  Julian knew that his friend was trying to make him feel better, but Bryan’s words only made him more miserable. Bryan never got in trouble. He probably had never broken a single rule before today. Now Julian had made him break all of them. And Bryan could’ve gotten seriously hurt. Julian’s crazy ideas had put both Star and Bryan in danger.

  Ms. Khan burst into the animal hospital. She went straight to the reception desk. “I’m here for Star.”

  “The doctor is working on her now. She’ll be out with news as soon as Star is stable.” The receptionist offered a sympathetic smile and nodded toward the chairs where Julian, Bryan, and their parents waited.

  “But she’s going to be okay, right?” Ms. Khan asked.

  “I’m sorry,” the receptionist said. “I don’t have any more information than you do until Dr. Everett comes out.”

  Her answer made Julian feel hollow. He’d needed to hear her say yes, of course Star will be okay. What if Star didn’t make it? What if . . . Julian couldn’t let himself finish the thought.

  Ms. Khan turned from the reception desk. She glanced around, as if she hadn’t noticed the crowded waiting room. Her gaze landed on Julian and Bryan for a long, uncomfortable moment. Julian couldn’t tell what she was thinking. He pulled the sleeves of the oversize sweatshirt over his hands, as if he could disappear into it.

  Ms. Khan didn’t say anything to the boys or their parents. She didn’t sit down. She just paced back and forth across the waiting room.

  This couldn’t have been further from the scene Julian had imagined—he and Bryan safely returning Star and presenting Ms. Khan with enough gold to save the shelter. Julian knew he should say something, but he didn’t know where to start. He’d let Ms. Khan down. She probably wouldn’t let him anywhere near the shelter again, for however long it remained open.

  Julian was about to turn to Bryan, hoping he’d know what to say. But before he had the chance, the door swung open and a tired-looking woman was striding toward them, a stethoscope draped around her neck. The veterinarian had news.

  ★ Chapter 21 ★

  * * *

  * * *

  Dr. Everett strode into the waiting room, serious and solemn. Julian and Bryan leaped to their feet. She wore dark blue scrubs with colorful, playful dogs printed all over the top. Julian stared at the cheerful pattern, but it didn’t make him feel any better. He tugged anxiously at the cuffs of his borrowed sweatshirt. The vet didn’t start talking until everyone had gathered around her. “Star h
as a deep cut on her side, but I was able to clean it out,” she said. “She’ll have to stay here for a few days to make sure she doesn’t get an infection. After that, she’ll need to rest for a few weeks. Her wound will have to be kept clean, but she’ll be okay.”

  Julian sank back into his chair. Relief made his legs turn to jelly. His mom came over and put a hand on his shoulder. Bryan and his father hugged each other.

  “Thank you,” Ms. Khan said, her eyes welling up with tears.

  “Star’s a lucky dog,” the vet said. Julian thought a lucky dog wouldn’t have to get stitched up at all. But then he looked around the waiting room at all the people who were worried about Star, and he guessed she was pretty lucky to have so many people who loved her.

  “Can I see her?” Julian asked.

  The vet shook her head. “Not tonight. She needs to rest. But you can come back tomorrow if your parents say it’s okay.”

  Julian looked at them hopefully. His parents exchanged a glance.

  “Why don’t you go wait for us in the car?” his mom said. “We’ll be out in a minute.”

  Julian’s heart sank. What if his parents decided he could never see Star again? He knew he’d messed up, but he needed her in his life. Still, right now, all he could do was what he was told. He said goodbye to Bryan and thanked Principal Walter for picking them up. He mumbled that he was sorry to Ms. Khan. He knew it wasn’t nearly enough, but he was all out of words.

  Julian was totally drained from the emotional rollercoaster of the day, but he couldn’t sit still. He paced laps around the car, hoping the cool night air would calm him down. Even though the vet had said Star was going to be okay, adrenaline still pulsed through his body, leaving him restless and worried.

  He looked at the clinic building. Rectangles of light spilled from the windows and splashed across the grass. He wondered if Star was behind one of them. He hoped she had a cozy blanket. He hoped she wasn’t scared being in a strange place where no one knew her hand signals. He wanted to go inside and show the staff how to talk to her. He wanted them to give her lots of thumbs-ups, so she’d know she was a good girl and none of this was her fault. He wanted to tell them that she liked to be scratched behind the ears. But now wasn’t the time to disobey his parents. They’d told him to wait outside, and that’s what he had to do.

  Way too many minutes later, his parents came out. Before they even reached the car, Julian ran up to them. “I promise I’ll never do anything like this ever again. I more than promise—I swear I won’t. I know I messed up. But you have to let me see Star again!”

  His voice broke, and tears pricked at his eyes before spilling down his cheeks.

  His dad crossed his arms and studied the asphalt for a moment before looking Julian directly in the eye. “What you did was very serious, Jules. It’s not just about Star. You and Bryan could’ve gotten hurt. You made choices that put you all in danger.”

  Julian looked down at his shoes, unable to hold his dad’s gaze.

  “That’s why you can only go to school and the shelter for the rest of this semester,” his dad said.

  Julian gaped at his parents. “I’m still allowed to go to the shelter?”

  “No more treasure hunting. No hanging out with Bryan outside of school as long as you’re both grounded,” his dad continued. “And we expect good grades.”

  “No more detentions,” his mom added. “We’ll get you a tutor if you need extra help, but you’ll complete all your homework.”

  “But I can go back to the shelter?” Julian repeated. It seemed too good to be true. “I can see Star again?”

  “We just talked to Ms. Khan, and we agreed that the best way for you to learn to take more responsibility is to keep working at the shelter.”

  “She must be so mad at me,” Julian said, his voice quiet with shame.

  “You did break the rules, and you’ll have to regain her trust.” His mom reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. “But we all know that you and Bryan meant well. Honey, it’s just that you tried to help in the least practical way.”

  “The shelter is going to be shut down, and we had to stop it—” Julian was trying to explain himself, but the plan and his emotions were getting all jumbled inside of him. “It was the only way I could think of.”

  Julian thought back to how sure he’d been that there was hidden gold out there, just waiting for him and Bryan to find it. Now that it was over, he realized how ridiculous it had been to chase after buried treasure. He might as well have wished for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow or finding an old lamp with a genie in it to grant him three wishes.

  “None of us want the shelter to close.” Dad put an arm around Julian’s shoulders. “We love that you’re so passionate about Star and the other animals, but you became so focused on trying to help that you couldn’t see what was reasonable.”

  Julian hung his head. The plan had made so much sense when he and Bryan had set out that day—he was sure they’d thought of everything. Saving Star and the shelter had become so important to him that the thought of losing them made him leap into action. He’d focused in a way he never had before, but now he saw that it was too much, as if he’d crawled into a tunnel and the rest of the world had disappeared.

  Julian sighed. “I never thought I could be too focused on something. I couldn’t think about anything except Star. I couldn’t even see how crazy the idea was.”

  “Ms. Khan told us how good you’ve been for her,” his mom said. “We know you can do so much when you put your amazing mind to it.”

  “I can’t give up on her,” Julian said.

  “No one is giving up on Star or the shelter,” his dad said. “We’ll help you figure out another way to try to help, okay?”

  Julian nodded. He leaned into his dad, and his mom wrapped her arms around both of them. Julian sagged against them. For once, he didn’t have a single idea of what to do next.

  “One more thing.” His mom ruffled his hair. “Once the vet says it’s okay, you can bring Star home.”

  Julian tilted his head back to see her face. He couldn’t believe his ears. “Wait . . . what?”

  Both of his parents were trying not to smile, but their eyes crinkled at the corners.

  “We can see how much you love her,” his dad said. “And she’s been as good for you as you’ve been for her. You’re much better when you’re together.”

  “What you did today was beyond irresponsible,” his mom said. “But Ms. Khan says—and we agree—that the best place for Star to heal is with you. And with our family.”

  Julian hugged his parents even tighter, burying his face in the fleece of his dad’s jacket. He couldn’t stop smiling, even as mixed-up tears spilled down his cheeks. His mind swam in a swirling current of exhaustion, guilt, and love. He and Star belonged together. But he’d almost lost her forever today. He made a million silent promises to Star, his parents, Ms. Khan, and Bryan that he’d be much more responsible from now on. Nothing had gone the way he’d expected, but Star was going to get better. She would finally be part of his family.

  ★ Chapter 22 ★

  * * *

  * * *

  Julian and Bryan sat in the office after school, waiting for Mr. Walter. Other kids shot curious glances through the big window, wondering what the two boys had done to land themselves in the chairs outside the principal’s office. Bryan sat with a book open on his lap, trying to ignore the stares. Julian felt like he was on the wrong side of a tank at the aquarium. He knew the other kids would tease them if they heard about the failed treasure hunt. He’d probably get a pirate nickname that would stick for the rest of his life.

  Principal Walter finally emerged from his office and drove the boys to the shelter, where their bikes were still stashed in the bushes from the day before. Bryan slung a leg over his bike and mumbled, “See you tomorrow.”

  “Yeah. Good luck,” Julian said. Bryan’s parents had decided that his punishment was to do chores around the house befo
re he could go back to the shelter. Today he was supposed to rake up all the leaves in the Walters’ yard—and the Walters had huge trees.

  “You too,” Bryan said, and he rode off toward home.

  Julian gripped his handlebars, lingering by the edge of the parking lot. He desperately wanted to hop on his bike and pedal as fast he could to see Star, but he had to make things better with Ms. Khan first. He took a deep breath and wheeled his bike to its usual spot around the side of the shelter.

  Ms. Khan wasn’t in the lobby or her office. That part of the shelter felt like a ghost town. If it weren’t for the sound of barking dogs carrying down the hall from the kennels, Julian might have worried that the shelter had been shut down overnight.

  He found Ms. Khan in the kitchen, up to her elbows in sudsy water and dirty dog food bowls. Her shoulders were slumped, and a few strands of hair had escaped from her usually neat ponytail. Julian hadn’t even seen her face, but he could tell she was exhausted. And at least part of it was his fault. A knot of guilt lodged in his throat as he walked over to her.

  “I can do the dishes,” he said, picking up a dishtowel. “Or laundry. Or scoop kennels. Whatever you need.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked without looking at him.

  Julian took the dripping bowl from her hands and toweled it off. He didn’t know how else to let her know how sorry he was. He imagined how scared she must have been to find Star missing from her kennel.

  “I’m so sorry. I’m going to make it up to you and show you that you can trust me again,” Julian said.

  Ms. Khan turned off the faucet and took the towel from Julian to dry her hands. He picked up another towel and twisted it nervously. Even though his parents had told him that Ms. Khan would forgive him, he expected her to tell him to get lost and never come back.