Part 31 (1/2)
”That always happen up here?” said Zavion.
”No,” said Henry. ”Only sometimes.”
Not that night, he thought.
The memory flooded back to Henry.
- The bird on the wind swooped so low that the boys and Brae could almost feel its feathers. The last tree on the mountain, one of the red spruces just below them, rustled and they knew the bird had landed there, maybe settling in for the night.
Henry pointed at the bandanna. ”Brae-” he said, moving his finger so he was pointing at Brae. Then he slowly moved his finger so it was pointing at the bandanna again. Brae grabbed the bandanna in his mouth.
”No, Brae,” said Henry.
The tree rustled again. A lot. Too much movement for a bird to make. Brae got up off of the sleeping bag and trotted over to the tree, the bandanna still hanging from his mouth.
”Brae!” yelled Henry.
”You taught him to steal food?” said Wayne.
Brae bounded back to Henry and Wayne, his tail wagging, and then he doubled back to the tree. When he came back again, someone was with him.
”Ae up here all the time-”
”Bull-” said Wayne.
”I do.”
”Youre full of it.”
”It takes three hours and twelve minutes to climb the mountain from my driveway to this spot. I can turn off my headlamp in three places, I know the trail so well-”
”Okay, okay!” said Wayne.
”I love being up here at night,” said Nopie.
”We love being up here at night,” said Henry. This trail was his and Waynes. This night was his and Waynes.
Brae whimpered. He still had the bandanna in his mouth, so the sound came out m.u.f.fled.
”Youre teaching Brae that trick all wrong,” said Nopie.
”Huh?” said Henry.
”That trick. Youre trying to teach him to open a present, right?”
”Maybe-”
”The command has to be clear.”
”It was clear-”
”Uh-uh. Just pointing at the bandanna is confusing-”
”What do you know about training a dog?” Henrys voice seemed to echo off the moon. ”You dont even have a dog-”
”I trained my grandpas corgi to count,” said Nopie.
”A corgis not a dog,” said Henry. ”A corgis a pig that eats dog food.”
Brae whimpered again.
”Hey, cool it, Henry,” said Wayne. ”Brae thinks you just insulted dogs everywhere-”
”Watch,” said Nopie. ”This is how you should teach him. Squeeze your hand into a fist-”
”Like this?” Henry stepped toward Nopie, both fists in front of his face.
”Whoa, chill, Henry,” said Wayne.
”Ill show you.” Nopie turned to Brae. ”Drop it,” he said.
Brae dropped the bandanna.
”Dont tell my dog what to do,” said Henry.
”Good boy,” said Nopie.
Brae wagged his tail.
”Shut up, Nopie!” yelled Henry. And then he pushed Nopie hard, and Nopie fell backward onto the ground. He jumped onto Nopies chest and pinned him to the ground. He felt Waynes hands under his armpits, pulling him up. He stumbled to his feet, elbowing Wayne back.
No one spoke after that. Nopie looked from Henry to Wayne, the whites of his eyes s.h.i.+ning in the moonlight. He shook his head once, a small erasing gesture, Henry thought, and then tilted his head up toward the night sky. Nopie turned on his headlamp, a circle of light talking to the circle of the moon. He stood up.
”Nopie-” said Henry.
”Have a good night,” Nopie said, rubbing the top of Braes head.