Part 9 (1/2)

”I guess,” said Jessi.

”And we've got a food supply, and papers on the floor in case of an accident. All we have to do is keep Sonny quiet - and he's already quiet - keep him hidden, and keep his food dishes clean. You know, so they don't smell.”

”Uh-oh,” said Stacey. ”Laine, what about Sallie?”

”Who's Sallie?” asked Dawn.

”She comes in to clean our apartment,” replied Laine. ”Boy, you guys are really in luck. Sallie's on vacation for a few weeks and Mom and Dad never bother to replace her while she's away. They just let the dust build up.”

”So if we keep the door to our room shut, no one will come in?” asked Mal.

”Nope,” said Laine.

And that was how we hid Sonny until Friday afternoon.

I was nervous about Friday. It was the first time I would have to leave Sonny alone for so long with Mrs. c.u.mmings at home. I had made sure to walk Sonny before we left. I fed him and played with him. I put his food, his water, and his toys in plain sight. Then I closed the door to the guest bedroom. With any luck, when we returned from the tour, I would find things as I had left them.

But my luck had run out. As I said before, we walked into the apartment, and there were Mrs. c.u.mmings and Sonny.

”Well, see you later,” I said. I turned around to head out the door.

”Oh, no,” exclaimed Laine. She grabbed the back of my s.h.i.+rt. ”He's your dog, Kristy. Start talking.”

”He's Kristy's dog?” repeated Mrs. c.u.m-mings. ”Then what was he doing in the guest bedroom? That's where I found him, crying away.”

”He was crying?” I said. - ”Yes. He had to go to the bathroom rather badly.”

”Oh. I guess an entire afternoon was too much for him. Poor Sonny.” I scratched him behind his ears. ”Wait!” I cried suddenly. ”Mrs. c.u.mmings, he didn't, um, mess up the carpet, did he?”

Laine's mother shook her head. ”No. I got him outside in time.”

”What kind of diversion did you create?” Jessi asked Mrs. c.u.mmings, with interest.

Mrs. Gummings looked confused.

”She means, how did you get him by the guards?” I said helpfully.

Now Laine looked confused, too. She glanced at her mother.

”Why, I simply walked him outside. As I pa.s.sed Eddie, he said, 'Nice dog, Mrs. c.u.mmings. I didn't know you had a pet.' And I said, 'Neither did I,' and we both laughed. Then I told him where I'd found the dog and that I'd let him hear the rest of the story as soon as I knew it myself.”

I clapped my hand to my forehead. ”I am so sorry,” I cried. ”Did you get kicked out of the building? What are you going to do?”

”Kicked out?” said Laine. ”Why would we get kicked out?”

”For having a pet. I know they're not allowed in your building.”

”Yes they are,” said Laine.

”But you said we had to hide Sonny.” Now I felt confused.

”From Mom and Dad,” Laine explained. ”They've always said I couldn't have a pet. They said pets make too much dirt. You know, shedding their fur and stuff. And I thought, especially with Sallie on vacation - ”

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. ”You mean I've been sneaking Sonny in and out for nothing?”

”I thought you were sneaking around so Mom and Dad wouldn't find out about him.” Laine was laughing, too. So was everyone else.

Except Mrs. c.u.mmings.

Laine's mom looked at me thoughtfully and said, ”Kristy, what do you plan to do with Sonny? We can't keep him.”

I explained that I was busy softening up Watson.

But Mrs. c.u.mmings looked doubtful. ”Your stepfather said no, honey?”

”Yeah.” I looked at the floor.

”What makes you think he's going to change his mind?”

I shrugged. ”Because I want Sonny? Because he reminds me of Louie?”

Mrs. c.u.mmings gave me a Parent Look. ”If I were you, I'd start finding Sonny's owner. He might have one, you know. Or start finding him a new owner. Sonny is welcome to stay here until you leave next week. But...”

Her voice trailed off. I knew what she had meant to say, though. After that, who knew what would happen to Sonny? The c.u.m-mingses wouldn't keep him. What would they do? Drop him off at the dog pound?

I tried to think positively. It was Friday afternoon. I would be in New York until the following Sat.u.r.day morning. That meant I had about seven and a half days to find either Sonny's former owner or a new owner.

That was possible, wasn't it?

I went to bed that night feeling pretty subdued. But when I awoke on Sat.u.r.day, I was full of ideas.

”First thing,” I said to Mary Anne and Laine as we lay in our beds, ”is to take Sonny to a vet and make sure he's healthy. I'll have a much easier time finding a home for him if he has a certificate of health from a veterinarian.”

”Good idea,” said Laine.

”I know,” I replied. ”Except for one thing. I'm broke. I've spent all my money on supplies for Sonny. . . . Hey, that sounds like a Country and Western song! . . . Anyway, I don't have a penny. And vets are expensive.”

”There's a good clinic not far from here,” Laine informed me. ”The doctor's fee is whatever you can afford to pay.”

”What if you can afford zero,” I asked.

”I'll lend you five dollars,” said Laine.

”Me, too,” spoke up Mary Anne. ”A ten-dollar fee isn't bad.”

”Wow, thanks! This is great. I promise I'll pay back both of you - after I'm home and I've earned ten bucks baby-sitting.”