Read Online Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret - Free Book Online

much of the oil off Ra’s fur as I could. I took off the choke chain, and Andrew buckled the sun collar around Ra’s neck.
    â€œThat looks great,” I said. I sat on the floor next to Ra, stroking his side. He gave a contented sigh and put his head on my leg. I couldn’t stop smiling.
    â€œWe need to decide on a story,” Andrew said.
    I waited for him to explain.
    â€œIn case someone sees Ra and asks about him, we need to be able to explain where we got him and why we’re keeping him in the fort. We both need to have the same story.”
    I didn’t even want to think about anyone discovering Ra, but I knew Andrew was right. “We can say we found him,” I said.
    â€œNo,” Andrew said. “If we found him we should have tried to find out who lost him. We would have posted flyers and let people know we had found a dog. We need a believable story of why he’s really ours.”
    â€œSome kids gave him to us in front of the grocery store,” I said. “We had gone to buy potato chips and there were these two girls standing out in front with Ra, asking every shopper if they wanted a free dog. We said yes.”
    Andrew nodded. “Perfect,” he said. “I’ve seen people there before with puppies or kittens. It’s a stupid way to find a home for an animal, but it does happen. It’s believable.”
    â€œOne girl was about ten,” I said, “and the other was maybe seventeen or eighteen. They said their family was moving out of state and couldn’t take the dog and they didn’t want their parents to turn it in to a shelter. They wanted to be sure he went to someone who would love him, and we promised that we would.”
    â€œI didn’t know you could lie so well,” Andrew said. He seemed truly impressed. “No wonder you always get A’s in language arts. You tell lively, lavish lies.”
    â€œWhat lies?” I said, trying to look innocent. “I’m merely telling you where I got Ra.”
    â€œThe girls told us his name was Max,” Andrew said, “but we decided to change it to Ra.”
    â€œYep,” I agreed. “That’s exactly what happened.”
    â€œWe’re keeping him in the fort because we want to share him,” Andrew said. “This way we can take turns walking him and feeding him, and he belongs to both of us.”
    I nodded. Although I secretly felt Ra was more my dog than Andrew’s, I knew that wasn’t really fair.
    A voice called from beyond the trees. “Rus-ty!”
    â€œUh-oh,” I said. “That’s my mother. I’d better get home before she decides to look here for me.”
    â€œI’ll stay awhile,” Andrew said. “When I go, I’ll take his old collar and the bottle of oil and put them in the trash can by the ball field.”
    â€œGood thinking,” I said. “I’ll come back and walk him before I go to bed.” I gave Ra a quick pat on the head and hurried toward home.
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    â€œThere you are,” Mom said when I walked in. “Where were you? Didn’t you see my note?”
    â€œNote?” I said.
    She pointed to the note she had left me. I picked it up, as if I were reading it for the first time. “Sorry,” I said. “I went for a walk.”
    â€œWell, it isn’t too late to get your hair cut,” Mom said, “if we leave right now.”
    I grabbed two more cookies.
    â€œWhat on earth did you get on your jeans?” she asked.
    I looked at the oily orange streaks, shrugged, and followed her out the door.
    After dinner that night, while Mom watched Wheel of Fortune , I slipped quietly out the back door. Mom’s a fan of both Wheel and Jeopardy! , so I had an hour to be with Ra. As long as I was back home before Jeopardy! ended, Mom would not miss me.
    Ra whined excitedly when he heard me unlock the padlock. When I stepped inside, he pranced around, whacking my