第9部分 (第8/8页)

“It's　not　open　to　discussion；”　she　said。　“He　gets　a　bath；　he　gets　a　meal；　he　gets　an　ad　in　the

paper。”

My　father　put　one　arm　around　Matt's　shoulder　and　the　other　around　Mike's。　“Someday；　boys；

we'll　get　a　puppy。”

My　mother　was　already　heading　back　inside；　but　over　her　shoulder　came；　“Not　until　you　learn

to　keep　your　room　neat；　boys！”

By　the　end　of　the　week；　the　dog　was　named　Champ。　By　the　end　of　the　next　week；　he'd　made

it　from　the　backyard　into　the　kitchen　area。　And　not

too　long　after　that；　he　was　all　moved　in。　It　seemed　nobody　wanted　a　full…grown　dog　with　a

happy　bark。　Nobody　but　four…fifths　of　the　Baker　family；

anyway。

Then　my　mother　started　noticing　an　odor。　A　mysterious　odor　of　indeterminate　origin。　We　all

admitted　we　smelled　it；　too；　but　where　my　mother

was　convinced　it　was　Eau　de　Champ；　we　disagreed。　She　had　us　bathing　him　so　often　that　it

couldn't　possibly　be　him。　We　each　sniffed　him　out

pretty　good　and　he　smelled　perfectly　ros