Pop-Tart peace treaty did the trick.
Much later, Gran finally comes home. Maggie and I have waited up for her in the kitchen. Well, I’ve waited up. Maggie is asleep on top of her homework. My mind is racing with thoughts of Jinx and Rover.
Gran pats her on the shoulder as she goes by and wearily says, “I need a shower, and you girls ought to be in bed. I think Jinx has turned the corner.”
Maggie wakes, startled. “Do you know what’s wrong with him?” she asks, rubbing her eyes.
“I suspect ethylene glycol,” Gran says, and heads to her room.
“Again?!” I look at Maggie.
“It’s terrible!” Maggie shakes her head.
“This can’t be a coincidence. We need to find out where the antifreeze is coming from, and whether it’s deliberate or accidental.” I stand and stretch.
Maggie nods. “The other Vet Volunteers don’t even know that it’s antifreeze yet. We ought to get everyone together tomorrow and brainstorm.”
Well, David knows. But somehow I don’t feel like telling my cousin that David and I spent timetogether today. Maggie knows me pretty well, and I don’t want her guessing that I went over to the Hutchinsons’ hoping to see Brian. Instead, I suggest that we start brainstorming tonight.
“I’ve actually been working on this already if you want to take a look before tomorrow—”
“You have? That’s great, Zoe! But I’m sorry, I can’t stay up any longer,” Maggie says. “I promise we can work on it tomorrow. G’night.”
I’m tired, too, but tonight’s news has me even more determined to get things going. I rummage through the junk drawer until I find construction paper and markers. I have plenty of work to do tonight. But first, I call my mom on her cell phone. It goes straight to voicemail, so I leave a message and turn to my computer. I send one email to the Vet Volunteers about the meeting and another to my mother about my life. I tell her about Jinx and Rover, and how cool the Wrenches and Roses hangout is. I’ll save my big questions for when we talk on the phone.
Once that’s done, I work for another couple of hours on the computer, checking every now and then to see if Mom has responded to my email. Between flips over to my email account, I’ve managed to set up a simple website for the Vet Volunteers. We can use it for a lot of things, butmy first idea is to create short video public service announcements, or PSAs, and post them on the site. I’m sure the other kids will be excited to act in them. We can give valuable information to the public about all kinds of animal care, starting with antifreeze dangers. I can direct—I’ve been on set enough times to pick up some tips. And Mom has always told me I’m a natural actress, just like her, so I can show the other Vet Volunteers how it’s done. I won’t even tell my mother about it. Once we’re done, I’ll just send her a link to the site. I bet she’ll be really proud of me when she sees me following in her footsteps and helping animals. It might even make her miss me more.
I check one last time to see if Mom has answered my email. Still nothing. She hasn’t returned my phone call, either. My heart sinks. I shut everything down and go to bed.
Chapter Seven
T he next day, the Vet Volunteers meet at Wrenches & Roses. Mrs. Darrow has left a plate of veggies and dip for us. Once we’re all settled in our beanbags—and Cuddles is hopping all over that lime-green carpet—I try to get everyone’s attention.
“Ahem,” I say, clearing my throat and waving my arms.
No one pays attention. “Uh-hmmm!” I say again, even louder.
Sunita notices and nudges Brenna. The boys keep talking. “Uh-hmmm,” I repeat, and kick David in the shin.
“Hey! Whadja do that for?” he says, rubbing his leg.
Oh, come on. He’s being dramatic. I didn’t kick him hard. It was really more of a strong nudge. At least now everyone is quiet and paying attention to me.
“Okay, guys. I have an announcement.” I
Much later, Gran finally comes home. Maggie and I have waited up for her in the kitchen. Well, I’ve waited up. Maggie is asleep on top of her homework. My mind is racing with thoughts of Jinx and Rover.
Gran pats her on the shoulder as she goes by and wearily says, “I need a shower, and you girls ought to be in bed. I think Jinx has turned the corner.”
Maggie wakes, startled. “Do you know what’s wrong with him?” she asks, rubbing her eyes.
“I suspect ethylene glycol,” Gran says, and heads to her room.
“Again?!” I look at Maggie.
“It’s terrible!” Maggie shakes her head.
“This can’t be a coincidence. We need to find out where the antifreeze is coming from, and whether it’s deliberate or accidental.” I stand and stretch.
Maggie nods. “The other Vet Volunteers don’t even know that it’s antifreeze yet. We ought to get everyone together tomorrow and brainstorm.”
Well, David knows. But somehow I don’t feel like telling my cousin that David and I spent timetogether today. Maggie knows me pretty well, and I don’t want her guessing that I went over to the Hutchinsons’ hoping to see Brian. Instead, I suggest that we start brainstorming tonight.
“I’ve actually been working on this already if you want to take a look before tomorrow—”
“You have? That’s great, Zoe! But I’m sorry, I can’t stay up any longer,” Maggie says. “I promise we can work on it tomorrow. G’night.”
I’m tired, too, but tonight’s news has me even more determined to get things going. I rummage through the junk drawer until I find construction paper and markers. I have plenty of work to do tonight. But first, I call my mom on her cell phone. It goes straight to voicemail, so I leave a message and turn to my computer. I send one email to the Vet Volunteers about the meeting and another to my mother about my life. I tell her about Jinx and Rover, and how cool the Wrenches and Roses hangout is. I’ll save my big questions for when we talk on the phone.
Once that’s done, I work for another couple of hours on the computer, checking every now and then to see if Mom has responded to my email. Between flips over to my email account, I’ve managed to set up a simple website for the Vet Volunteers. We can use it for a lot of things, butmy first idea is to create short video public service announcements, or PSAs, and post them on the site. I’m sure the other kids will be excited to act in them. We can give valuable information to the public about all kinds of animal care, starting with antifreeze dangers. I can direct—I’ve been on set enough times to pick up some tips. And Mom has always told me I’m a natural actress, just like her, so I can show the other Vet Volunteers how it’s done. I won’t even tell my mother about it. Once we’re done, I’ll just send her a link to the site. I bet she’ll be really proud of me when she sees me following in her footsteps and helping animals. It might even make her miss me more.
I check one last time to see if Mom has answered my email. Still nothing. She hasn’t returned my phone call, either. My heart sinks. I shut everything down and go to bed.
Chapter Seven
T he next day, the Vet Volunteers meet at Wrenches & Roses. Mrs. Darrow has left a plate of veggies and dip for us. Once we’re all settled in our beanbags—and Cuddles is hopping all over that lime-green carpet—I try to get everyone’s attention.
“Ahem,” I say, clearing my throat and waving my arms.
No one pays attention. “Uh-hmmm!” I say again, even louder.
Sunita notices and nudges Brenna. The boys keep talking. “Uh-hmmm,” I repeat, and kick David in the shin.
“Hey! Whadja do that for?” he says, rubbing his leg.
Oh, come on. He’s being dramatic. I didn’t kick him hard. It was really more of a strong nudge. At least now everyone is quiet and paying attention to me.
“Okay, guys. I have an announcement.” I
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