第9部分 (第7/8页)

g　tied　down　in　the　back　of　his　truck。　Someone　had　hit　it　in　the

middle　of　an　intersection；　and　Dad　had　stopped　to　see

how　badly　it　was　hurt。　Then　he　noticed　that　the　poor　thing　was　skinny　as　a　rail　and　didn't

have　any　tags。　“Starving　and　pletely　disoriented；”　he

told　my　mother。　“Can　you　imagine　someone　abandoning　their　dog　like　that？”

The　whole　family　had　converged　on　the　front　porch；　and　I　could　hardly　contain　myself。　A　dog！

A　wonderful；　happy；　panty　dog！　I　realize　now　that

Champ　was　never　much　of　a　looker；　but　when　you're　six；　any　dog—no　matter　how　mangy—

is　a　glorious；　huggable　creature。

………　Page　29………

He　looked　pretty　good　to　my　brothers；　too；　but　from　the　way　my　mother's　face　was　pinched；　I

could　tell　she　was　thinking；　Abandon　this　dog？　Oh；　I

can　see　it。　I　can　definitely　see　it。　What　she　said；　though；　was　simply；　“There　is　no　room　for

that　animal　in　this　house。”

“Trina；”　my　dad　said；　“it's　not　a　matter　of　ownership。　It's　a　matter　of　passion。”

“You're　not　springing　it　on　me　as　a　…a　pet；　then？”

“That　is　definitely　not　my　intention。”

“Well；　then　what　do　you　intend　to　do？”

“Give　him　a　decent　meal；　a　bath　…　then　maybe　we'll　place　an　ad　and　find　him　a　home。”

She　eyed　him　from　across　the　threshold。　“There'll　be　no　‘maybe’　about　it。”

My　brothers　said；　“We　don't　get　to　keep　him？”

“That's　right。”

“But　Mo…om；”　they　moaned。