in front of us. Theo grabs Mia’s arm and pulls her behind him.
“That your little brother?” Bobby sneers at Theo.
“Yeah. He is. And he’s got nothing to do with this.”
“Says you. I say everyone here is a part of the trouble you got yourself in.”
“Don’t touch him again.”
“Then be smart; come with me and we’ll … figure out a way to fix things. Rethink the stories you told. Once you leave, I got no beef with anyone here.”
Atticus growls and edges toward Bobby. Bobby glances down, remembers the attack on his ankle earlier in the day, and backs up a few feet. He notices Mia behind us.
“Mia? Nice. A little chubby, but—” It wasn’t all that many hours ago that Mia knocked Bobby off his feet. He must have forgotten, talking that way. She reminds him when she steps in and knees him where the sun doesn’t shine. He falls to his knees with a sickening, strangled half scream, half groan.
“I am not chubby.” She glares down at him. “I told you not to talk to me like that.
And
you play a crappy hand of poker, you scum-sucking turd.”
I hear a siren and a police car pulls into the parking lot. A Sergeant Laurence clone steps out of the car.
“One of you Joe Duffy?” he calls.
Dad nods, moves forward to shake his hand.
“I’m Lieutenant Spring, got a call from Sergeant Laurence a little while ago. He asked me to keep an eye on some of his friends as they were driving through our neck of the woods. He was worried they might run into some trouble, so we’ve been keeping an eye on you. A couple minutes ago, one of you texted him that therewas need for assistance. Sergeant Laurence radioed me the info on Bobby. Turns out he’s got a couple outstanding warrants and he stole that car. License plate was reported a couple hours ago. You did me a favor putting the drop on him like that.”
That’s why Mia waggled her phone at Dad and Dad let us all get out of the bus to confront Bobby. She’d been keeping in touch with Sergeant Laurence and Dad figured out what she meant.
Mia is one sharp girl. Dad’s no dummy, either. I look over to smile at her and see that she and Theo are holding hands. I take a picture of them clutching each other. Then I snap Bobby on his knees, clutching his private parts and dry heaving a little. Atticus lifts his leg and pees, sprinkling Bobby. I take a picture of that, too. “Good boy.”
“Bobby.” Lieutenant Spring looks down at him. “On your feet, you know the drill.”
“Thanks, Officer. Do you need to get statements from us?” Dad asks.
“Nah, Bobby’s got a record long enough to keep us busy for a while. I understand you people are on the road to pick up a dog? I got one from the pound. I know what good friends they are. You take care of that dog. I’ll handle Bobby.”
The cop crams Bobby into the backseat and roars out of the parking lot. We climb back into the bus andslump in our seats, exhausted. This has been a busy day. I look around—a lot of gray faces.
Dad looks back at us in the rearview mirror.
“Everyone in favor of grabbing a few hours’ sleep now that it’s dark? Get a fresh start in the morning? We’re not that far away now, and it’s probably too late to get the dog today anyway. We’ll get going first thing. I’ll call the shelter tonight.”
Four voices say yes and we drive off in search of a motel.
ATTICUS
I know better than to believe they’ve forgotten about that dog. No one’s talking about it much, but we’re getting closer. I can feel it. I’m glad we’re going to stop and sleep in a bed. I can nap anywhere, but I like to do night in a bed. I usually sleep with my boy, but tonight I’m going to stay with Mia. I will growl if they try to make me change my mind. She’s soft. I’m tired.
I raise my head to study my boy, Ben.
I’ll be nice to this dog for Ben’s sake. But I’ll let the dog know there are rules and they will be followed. I know how to nip heels so it doesn’t draw blood but
“That your little brother?” Bobby sneers at Theo.
“Yeah. He is. And he’s got nothing to do with this.”
“Says you. I say everyone here is a part of the trouble you got yourself in.”
“Don’t touch him again.”
“Then be smart; come with me and we’ll … figure out a way to fix things. Rethink the stories you told. Once you leave, I got no beef with anyone here.”
Atticus growls and edges toward Bobby. Bobby glances down, remembers the attack on his ankle earlier in the day, and backs up a few feet. He notices Mia behind us.
“Mia? Nice. A little chubby, but—” It wasn’t all that many hours ago that Mia knocked Bobby off his feet. He must have forgotten, talking that way. She reminds him when she steps in and knees him where the sun doesn’t shine. He falls to his knees with a sickening, strangled half scream, half groan.
“I am not chubby.” She glares down at him. “I told you not to talk to me like that.
And
you play a crappy hand of poker, you scum-sucking turd.”
I hear a siren and a police car pulls into the parking lot. A Sergeant Laurence clone steps out of the car.
“One of you Joe Duffy?” he calls.
Dad nods, moves forward to shake his hand.
“I’m Lieutenant Spring, got a call from Sergeant Laurence a little while ago. He asked me to keep an eye on some of his friends as they were driving through our neck of the woods. He was worried they might run into some trouble, so we’ve been keeping an eye on you. A couple minutes ago, one of you texted him that therewas need for assistance. Sergeant Laurence radioed me the info on Bobby. Turns out he’s got a couple outstanding warrants and he stole that car. License plate was reported a couple hours ago. You did me a favor putting the drop on him like that.”
That’s why Mia waggled her phone at Dad and Dad let us all get out of the bus to confront Bobby. She’d been keeping in touch with Sergeant Laurence and Dad figured out what she meant.
Mia is one sharp girl. Dad’s no dummy, either. I look over to smile at her and see that she and Theo are holding hands. I take a picture of them clutching each other. Then I snap Bobby on his knees, clutching his private parts and dry heaving a little. Atticus lifts his leg and pees, sprinkling Bobby. I take a picture of that, too. “Good boy.”
“Bobby.” Lieutenant Spring looks down at him. “On your feet, you know the drill.”
“Thanks, Officer. Do you need to get statements from us?” Dad asks.
“Nah, Bobby’s got a record long enough to keep us busy for a while. I understand you people are on the road to pick up a dog? I got one from the pound. I know what good friends they are. You take care of that dog. I’ll handle Bobby.”
The cop crams Bobby into the backseat and roars out of the parking lot. We climb back into the bus andslump in our seats, exhausted. This has been a busy day. I look around—a lot of gray faces.
Dad looks back at us in the rearview mirror.
“Everyone in favor of grabbing a few hours’ sleep now that it’s dark? Get a fresh start in the morning? We’re not that far away now, and it’s probably too late to get the dog today anyway. We’ll get going first thing. I’ll call the shelter tonight.”
Four voices say yes and we drive off in search of a motel.
ATTICUS
I know better than to believe they’ve forgotten about that dog. No one’s talking about it much, but we’re getting closer. I can feel it. I’m glad we’re going to stop and sleep in a bed. I can nap anywhere, but I like to do night in a bed. I usually sleep with my boy, but tonight I’m going to stay with Mia. I will growl if they try to make me change my mind. She’s soft. I’m tired.
I raise my head to study my boy, Ben.
I’ll be nice to this dog for Ben’s sake. But I’ll let the dog know there are rules and they will be followed. I know how to nip heels so it doesn’t draw blood but
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