“Gross! Gross! Gross! Double gross!” Selma Wong said.
“Disgusting!” Maggie Fogel said, which sent the other girls into bursts of giggles. Maggie Fogel reminded Veronica of the girl on the cover of Anne of Green Gables. She’d never read Anne of Green Gables, but still. Maybe it was the braids.
“Oh, Maggie, grow up. We’re not babies anymore. It’s perfectly appropriate to think a man is handsome,” Sarah-Lisa said. She smoothed her cardigan and adjusted her hair. “Right, Athena?”
“Right, S-L,” Athena concurred. Then she and Sarah-Lisa blushed and simultaneously applied lip gloss. Veronica wondered if they were aware that the green of their cardigans was clashing wildly with the flush in their cheeks. They looked like Italian flags.
“If I were a senior, I would want to marry him,” a girl named Becky Shickler piped in. Becky reminded Veronica of Piglet because of how cute and small she was.
“He’s like a mountain man, you guys,” Coco Weitzner said. She was all legs and limbs and a mouthful of braces.
“Yeah, but a really handsome mountain man,” Sarah-Lisa declared.
“Okay, we get the picture, Sarah-Lisa,” Maggie said.
“That’s for sure!” Darcy said, running her hand through her wavy brown hair.
As they approached the landing, Sylvie piped up. “At least he’s not trying to be cool like Mr. Chin was last year.” Her bitten nails were painted black. Veronica bit her nails too, but she’d never put color on to attract attention to them. “What a poser-loser.”
Sylvie made poser rhyme with loser. She didn’t seem to care if anyone agreed with her or not. Maybe that’s why she quit the A Team. The whole point of being on the A Team was matching the other people on the A Team.
“I liked Mr. Chin,” Melody Jenkins said. “Didn’t you?”
“Oh, Melody. You would,” Darcy said.
Torrents of laughter rolled down the stairs. Ms. Padgett turned around and looked at her class. It was almost time for Morning Meeting and they were expected to behave.
Single file, Ms. Padgett’s class made their way into the auditorium.
Sunlight burst through the row of little leaded windows that went all along where the high walls met the ceiling. Particles of dust drifted in the white sunlight, almost like snow falling. It was amazing to think the air might be full of other beautiful stuff you couldn’t see because it floated around in darkness.
Veronica watched eagerly as each class filed in. She looked into the faces of her fellow Randolf students, trying to guess what kind of people they were—what kind of books they might like, what kind of laughs they might have, what kind of friends they might be.
Sarah-Lisa smiled right at Veronica, inching her way closer and closer. Both Sarah-Lisa and Athena had smiles that warmed up whatever was near. Veronica smiled back, flattered. It was exciting how hard Sarah-Lisa was working to sit next to her. She climbed awkwardly over Saskia and made Becky stand up so she could get by. Then Sarah-Lisa climbed over Veronica too, nearly stepping on her feet.
Duh, Veronica thought, I was not the destination. Athena was.
Veronica tried to get comfortable squishing between Melody and Sylvie.
After a few minutes, Mrs. Harrison, the principal, walked onto the stage. She reached behind a red velvet curtain and turned off all the lights. In the blackness she lit the candle she was holding and placed it on a round table in the center of the stage. The orange flame danced in the silent, darkened room. Mrs. Harrison said quite simply, “Do you come to Morning Meeting with heart and mind prepared?”
Veronica waited for someone to answer, but all the other girls were looking at the floor. The question made her think about her heart and her mind in a way she had never thought about them before. She knew she could make up her mind and she knew sometimes she could not make up her mind. What about her heart? That wasn’t something she’d ever thought about other than it being the thing that beat inside her chest. The beating was something her heart did all by itself. She wasn’t in control of that. Was Mrs. Harrison saying there was some other aspect of her heart that she could control? What would you want to prepare your heart to do?
She could think of things she’d like to make her mind do. Like not think about her finger when it itched, like not let Cricket hurt her feelings … But what could her heart offer aside from keeping her alive?
Melody tapped her, interrupting her swarm of thoughts. She shook Veronica’s hand and nudged her to shake hands with the person on the other side. Sylvie in turn shook hands with Coco Weitzner and two by two the whole school shook hands with their neighbors. Morning Meeting was over.
* * *
At lunch, Veronica put her tray down next to Melody. Sarah-Lisa arrived at the table, and then Athena. Maybe lunch was something Veronica was getting the hang of, after all.
“There’s a candle-lighting party tonight at Sarah-Lisa’s,” Athena said, sitting down across from Veronica. She opened her packet of plastic-wrapped utensils.
“Really?” Veronica said. Of course there was a party at Sarah-Lisa’s! It was the social event she’d heard kids talk about that first day of school.
“Can you come?” Athena said, flashing Veronica one of her warming smiles.
“Are you inviting Veronica?” Melody said. Veronica almost choked on her milk. How could Melody say that?
“Yes, silly. Everyone’s invited. You have to come. Promise you’ll come?”
“Sure,” Veronica said. She tried to sound like being invited was no big deal.
“You don’t sound that excited,” Sarah-Lisa said. She put her tray down next to Athena. But she didn’t sit. “Athena, I kind of have to go to the bathroom. Come with me?”
“I am. I’m really excited,” Veronica said, kicking herself. She was beyond excited. But some little voice always told her to act differently than she felt.
“Athena, let’s go already,” Sarah-Lisa repeated. “I’m gonna pee in my pants.”
“See you tonight,” Athena said, winking.
Whenever Athena winked like that, singling Veronica out, she got goose bumps.
“It’s gonna be so fun,” Athena said as Sarah-Lisa steered her out of the cafeteria. They hung tightly to their purses and each other. They were the only girls in the whole grade who used shoulder bags instead of backpacks.
“See,” Melody said. “You are going to be really popular.”
Half-Full
Veronica ran straight to Paws and Claws after school. She wanted to see Cadbury and she desperately needed to discuss her outfit for the big party with Esme. She was seriously worried that wearing a uniform for several days had weakened her sense of style. This party was very important.
Inside Paws and Claws, Ray was reading a copy of the New York Post at the counter, not doing anything resembling work. Typical. But instead of ignoring her as usual, he put his paper down and looked at her funny. Esme was behind him checking inventory.
“Hey, Veronica,” he said.
Veronica scanned the cages looking for Cadbury. She didn’t see him. Esme turned around. “Veronica,” she said, “I came in after my shift at Dr. Harskirey’s and he was gone. You know if I had been here I wouldn’t have let anyone take him.”
Veronica’s heart dropped like an elevator whose cables had been cut. It landed hard, shaking every bone in her body. Esme came around from behind the counter and held her. Esme’s arms were warm but Veronica was cold. It was like cement had been poured inside of her and had set.
She had no recollection of walking home, but eventually she found herself standing outside her apartment building, confused. Charlie gave her a particularly enthusiastic greeting and for the first time in her life she didn’t smile back. She stared at the rows of buttons in the elevator, unable to make sense of them. She had no idea how long she stood helpless before her arm eventually took charge and her finger pushed four.
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were waiting at the front door. Why were they home so early?
; “Honey, you have to call us if you’re going to be late! That is a rule. You know that.”
Mary should have been yelling at her, but Mary didn’t seem to be anywhere.
“Mary had an appointment with the surgeon, they’re figuring out whether or not she needs surgery, remember?” her mother said.
“What’s wrong? You look terrible. Did something happen?” her father asked.
“Mommy,” was all Veronica could manage to say. She fell into her mother’s arms and buried her head in the lovely smell of her mother’s perfume expecting to be held, as Esme had held her. But her mother shook her instead.
“What is it? Speak to me. Did something happen? You are frightening me. We didn’t know what happened to you. Are you hurt?”
Yes, my heart is breaking! Veronica tried to say.
“Someone named Sarah-Lisa called you. You’ve been invited to a sleepover party tonight. She said you have to call her back. We had no idea where you were.”
“I went to visit Cadbury.” At the mention of Cadbury’s name her throat got tight. She needed Kleenex. The sound of clicking disoriented her. Was Fitzy here? Oh no, was she late to walk Fitzy? If Fitzy had peed on the Persian carpet upstairs, Mrs. Ferguson would be so mad. It was Friday. No, she didn’t walk Fitzy till after dinner on Fridays.
“Honey, are you okay?” Mrs. Morgan said.
Veronica couldn’t focus and she rubbed her eyes hard because what she saw was impossible. Bounding over, his tail sticking straight up and swinging back and forth like a metronome, was Cadbury.
“Cadbury!” she screamed. Cadbury jumped up and put his front paws on her legs. Her parents had bought him! For her. Cadbury was her dog! It was unbelievable but true. Veronica got down on the floor so she could put her head in his cone. He licked her everywhere that he could reach. He licked her mouth. He licked her hands. He put his tongue all the way inside her nose. The little lemon beagle crawled into her lap as if that was the place he most belonged. She traced the path of white between the pale caramel spots with her finger like a boat on furry river. She planned to memorize each one. His velvety ears were so soft. He panted in his plastic cone, his warm body pressed against her.
Mary liked saying that things are not necessarily as they appear. And the truth was Veronica had never been happier in her life. She had everything she could ever want. And yet her nose was dripping, her chest was heaving, and she was sobbing all over the place.
Cadbury and Fitzy Sitting in a Tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G
While setting the table for a delicious homemade meal, Veronica caught her parents smiling at each other, congratulating themselves on being such wonderful parents and buying Cadbury. They were often impressed with their own parenting, and tonight Veronica actually agreed with them. Tonight they were the best parents in the world.
Veronica’s mother placed the last of the serving bowls on the table.
“You really went all out, Marion! What a meal,” her father said. “Yummy. I love your Indian food. Let’s buy dogs every day. Pass the whosies, please.”
“Well, it’s a big celebration. You finished your paper and we have a new member of the family,” his wife said.
“Here, Daddy,” Veronica said, passing her father the naan.
“I’m assuming, by whosies, you are referring to the chutney and the dhal? But here is the raita just in case,” Mrs. Morgan said, sending a fleet of smaller dishes around the table.
Cadbury was in front of Veronica’s chair. She worked her toes up and down, massaging his little spine. He was so warm, and his fur was so nice, and his tail wagged and wagged, gently slapping her ankle.
“Veronica, tell us about this party tonight,” her father said.
“Oh! The party,” Veronica remembered. “I don’t know. It’s like the social event of the year, I guess. This girl’s father is an artist and everyone makes a lantern or something in his studio and then they walk around with them. Maybe even in the park.” Veronica slipped Cadbury a piece of naan under the table.
“Well, that’s exciting!” her mother said. “Don’t get him used to table scraps. What time does it start?”
“I don’t know but I don’t want to leave Cadbury. And I have to walk Fitzy.”
“Honey, we can walk Fitzy for you. Isn’t the party more important?”
“No. I’ve waited my whole life for Cadbury. Plus Fitzy has to poop,” Veronica said.
“I like your priorities!” her father said. “A good bowel movement is no small affair. In fact, Marion, I would rather have a good bowel movement, or any kind of bowel movement actually, than go to the Lycanders’ party next week.”
“Daddy!” Veronica said.
Were other people’s fathers as comfortable as hers was talking about such matters? She doubted it. Cadbury or not, her parents were crazy.
“Marvin, I really don’t know what to say,” his wife said.
“Veronica, you should go to that party. Cadbury will be fine,” her father said.
“I can’t leave him.”
“But you won’t be leaving him alone, we’ll be here,” her mother said.
“Mom, he needs me. Honestly, those girls have everyone.”
“I think you’re being silly, but I can see we won’t get anywhere with you, so let’s talk about Fitzy. If you think there is going to be any trouble,” her mother said, “tell us. Cadbury is your responsibility now and Mrs. Ferguson can always get another dog walker. Why don’t you at least call that girl and tell her you can’t come. Before you walk Fitzy.”
“She is the most popular girl in New York City. I’m sure she doesn’t care if I RSVP to her party, or even if I go to her party. There will be so many kids there, she won’t notice if I am there or not.”
“Well, shouldn’t you just thank her for inviting you?”
“Marion, don’t meddle. Veronica is old enough to know what the right thing to do is.”
“Right, Mommy, stop meddling,” Veronica said. Although she did wish the party was another night. It would probably be fun. But how could she leave Cadbury?
* * *
While Veronica and Cadbury stood in the vestibule waiting for the elevator she told him all about Fitzy. “Most dogs and children don’t like her. I guess nobody likes her. I mean, I like her, but she can make a pretty bad impression.”
Cadbury listened. His dark brown eyes were so trusting. Veronica gave him a kiss right on his leathery nose.
Her heart was a big wet mess of love.
Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were out for the evening, so Veronica let herself in.
Fitzy growled ferociously at Cadbury. She dug her nails so deep into the expensive Persian carpet Veronica thought she might make a hole in it. Fitzy was so dramatic.
“Fitzy, this is my dog, Cadbury.” Fitzy made a noise between a whimper and a scream. It was surprisingly powerful and every time she made it, her tiny body lifted several inches off the ground. She looked hilarious, yelping in midair, but poor Cadbury began to howl. Fitzy’s eyes were gleaming and Veronica picked her up, hoping to calm her. Something warm traveled across Veronica’s arm and soaked through her sleeve.
“Oh God! Fitzy! Did you pee on me?” Veronica put her down and went in the kitchen to wash off. She rummaged around under the kitchen sink looking for plastic bags. The Fergusons didn’t own a pooper-scooper. Esme said rich, childless people owned useless things like pooper-scoopers. But when Veronica had asked how Mrs. Ferguson liked to clean up after Fitzy, Mrs. Ferguson said, “Mr. Ferguson and I pay so very much money in taxes, dear.” Veronica had not quite followed so finally Mrs. Ferguson said, “We don’t clean up after Fitzy. We just leave it.”
So Veronica brought her own bags. Almost always. She was so excited about Cadbury she’d forgotten.
When she returned to the living room, she saw Fitzy looking very guilty. Nearby, on the expensive Persian rug, Fitzy had left three tiny poops as further statement of her dissatisfaction.
Veronica picked up the poop with toilet paper and f
lushed it down the toilet in the powder room. Fitzy watched as Veronica washed her hands with lilac-scented soap and dried them on the guest towel.
“Fitzy, don’t look at me like that,” Veronica said. “You are not that innocent and I swear if you so much as lay a tooth on Cadbury…”
Cadbury, meanwhile, padded down the hall. Fitzy barked louder the closer he got. Veronica wondered if Fitzy was afraid of Cadbury’s cone. Then, in a flash, both dogs were up on their hind legs wrestling like best friends. Fitzy’s legs were so short she could almost stand underneath Cadbury. It was adorable.
When they’d had enough playing, Veronica took them out. For the first time in Fitzy Ferguson’s life, she didn’t growl or pull or frighten a single child. Fitzy and Cadbury walked side by side like model dogs. When Veronica dropped Fitzy back at the Fergusons’, it was obvious they were sad to say goodbye.
* * *
Veronica had the whole weekend with Cadbury before going back to school.
She put his hot spot cream on twice a day and tended to his every need.
He followed her everywhere, looking up at her with his lovely eyes. He was alternately playful or sleepy and cuddly.
The first night, she crawled into bed wondering if he would sleep right next to her as she’d fantasized. She patted a spot on the comforter as her mother often patted the couch when she wanted Veronica to sit next to her and read. But instead of curling up next to her, Cadbury dug his way under the sheet and blanket, disappearing somewhere near her ankles. His cone made a funny shape out of the blanket. He made little yawning sounds and moved up a bit before tucking his head into his knees and pressing his little doughnut body right against her belly.
Veronica stifled a laugh. She didn’t want him to move or be self-conscious. She lay next to him, listening to the sound of his breathing. The warmth of his body next to hers was the nicest thing she’d ever known. No wonder grown-ups slept in twos.
Part 2
The Good, the Bad & the Beagle Page 5