Read Online Coming Apart (9780545356152) by Ann M Martin - Free Book Online Page A

moving so fast, I thought you’d run right up the trunk after it.”
    Jacques sniffed at the remains of Mr. Pennington’s vegetable garden. “You used to like to garden with me,” remarked Rudy. “You’d sit out here while I planted and weeded. And you liked to eat green beans. Remember that? And to play with the vines?”
    Jacques settled himself between two rosebushes. “Another of your favorite spots,” said Mr. Pennington, “although how you sat here so often without getting pricked by the thorns is beyond me.”
    Jacques struggled to his feet and headed for the back door.
    â€œTime to go in?” asked Rudy. “Let’s get you a biscuit.”
    Inside, Mr. Pennington took a cookie from the jar of doggie treats, and Jacques ate it, tail wagging.
    â€œHa,” said Mr. Pennington with a smile. “You’re going to prove that doctor wrong. What does she know about your spirit?”
    Jacques gave Rudy a grin and headed for the living room. Mr. Pennington remained in the kitchen, cleaning up his breakfast dishes and thinking about what to fix for supper.
    He heard a sharp intake of air from beyond the kitchen door.
    â€œJacques?” Rudy paused to listen. “Jacques?”
    He stepped into the dining room and saw Jacques lying on the floor.
    As Jacques had grown older, Rudy had wondered if one day the old dog might die in his sleep, and whether Rudy would be able to distinguish sleep from death. Now he saw that death looked very different from sleep. Jacques was lying absolutely still, legs stretched before him, tongue protruding slightly, eyes open. There was nothing sleeplike about the rigid, surprised posture.
    â€œWell, boy.” Mr. Pennington’s voice caught and he raised a trembling hand to his lips. Then he bent over and stroked Jacques’s body, feeling not lifelessness, but something between life and death. No beating heart, but warmth, and that silky fur, and Jacques’s particular musky scent.
    At last Mr. Pennington straightened up and reached for the telephone. “Min,” he said. “Jacques is gone.” He listened for a moment. “Thank you.”
    Min arrived at Mr. Pennington’s house two minutes later. She put her arms around her friend and held him close.
    â€œI called the vet,” said Rudy, dabbing at his eyes with a limp handkerchief. “The office isn’t open today, but she’ll meet us there anyway.”
    â€œWe’ll take my car,” said Min.
    Rudy wrapped Jacques in the blanket he had slept on since he was a puppy and carried him to the car. He held Jacques while Min drove, and he never stopped stroking his ears. “I love his ears,” he said to Min.
    There wasn’t much to be done at the vet’s office. The doctor greeted Rudy and Min at the door, took Jacques, blanket and all, from Rudy, and laid him on an examining table.
    â€œWhen did it happen?” she asked.
    â€œLess than an hour ago. We’d been out in the yard and he seemed happy, and then we came inside and a little while later I found him lying on the floor.”
    â€œI can assure you it was painless,” said the vet.
    â€œI wish I’d been there with him at the very … the very moment,” said Rudy.
    Min reached for Rudy’s hand. “Maybe he wanted to spare you.”
    â€œMaybe.” Mr. Pennington turned to the doctor. “What’s to be done now?” he asked.
    â€œWe can have him cremated, if you like. We’ll have his ashes ready for you in a couple of weeks.”
    â€œAll right,” replied Mr. Pennington.
    â€œI’m very sorry for your loss,” said the vet. “Jacques was a wonderful dog. He was a favorite here in the office.”
    Mr. Pennington smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate your coming in today.”
    When Min turned onto Aiken Avenue a few minutes later, she said, “Would you like me to come inside with