Read It and Weep! by P.J. Night Page B

walk.”
    As they headed out the door, Lauren paused a minute. She stepped back inside and fished through her backpack until she found the card.
    â€œI still don’t believe it,” she said out loud. Teddy looked up at her and cocked his head to one side, as though trying to understand her. “But why take unnecessary risks? Let’s get rid of this.” As they headed down the path, she tossed the card into the outside garbage can.

    Later, as Lauren was putting a pot of water on the stove for pasta, she got a call from Charlotte.
    â€œIs everything okay?” asked Charlotte anxiously.
    â€œOf course,” said Lauren, putting a lid on the pot and turning on the gas. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
    â€œUm, no reason,” said Charlotte.
    â€œAre you still worried about that dumb card?” asked Lauren.
    â€œOkay, yeah, a little.”
    â€œWell, no need to worry,” said Lauren. “I chucked it.”
    Charlotte was quiet for a moment. “Okay. I guess. I hope that’s the end of it.”
    Lauren heard her dad’s key in the lock. “Dad’s home. Gotta go,” she said, and they hung up.
    â€œHey, Laur!” said her dad, plunking down his heavy shoulder bag and stepping over to give Lauren a big hug. He had dark circles under his eyes, as though he hadn’t slept well in days. “What’s for dinner? I’m starved. I think I forgot to eat lunch today.”
    Lauren smiled and rolled her eyes. “It’s a good thing you have me around to remind you to eat and sleep. It’s spaghetti from a box and sauce from a jar. My specialty.”
    â€œSchool go okay today?” he said, moving over to the stove and opening the lid on the spaghetti sauce.
    â€œYeah, it was good. I kind of whiffed in rehearsal, though. Skipped a whole scene.”
    â€œThat’s nice, honey,” said her dad, who obviously hadn’t heard a word she said. Lauren shook her head. She was used to her dad’s forgetfulness. He was always thinking about his work, or his classes, or—
    Suddenly they heard a yelp.
    â€œTeddy?” they both said at the same time. They rushed into the other room.
    â€œTeddy!” shrieked Lauren, flying over to where the little dog was standing next to the couch. He whimpered and tried to walk toward her, his little stumpy tail wagging feebly, but his front paw was curled under awkwardly.
    Her dad had also rushed over, and he crouched at Lauren’s side, examining Teddy. He picked him up gently. “Looks like he might have broken his leg,” he said grimly. “Get me a couch cushion, a small one.”
    Lauren grabbed a cushion and handed it to her father, her eyes wide with horror.
    â€œProbably landed funny when he jumped off the couch,” said her dad. “Turn off the stuff on the stove, okay? Then find my keys and my wallet. I think they’re in my jacket pocket. You can call Dr. Stone from the car and let him know we’re on our way.”

    Two hours later, Lauren and her dad were heading home from the vet. Teddy lay on the cushion in Lauren’s lap, apparently still woozy from his procedure. His front right leg had been shaved of all its fur well past his elbow, and his lower paw was encased in a bright red cast. She stroked him gently.
    â€œPoor little guy,” said her dad, reaching out a hand to pet the little dog. “Such a freak accident, too. He’s jumped off that couch about a thousand times. Guess this was just an unlucky day for him.”
    Lauren was lost in thought. She was thinking about the card. She was thinking about the text she’d gotten. How it had threatened her dog. She couldn’t believe she was thinking this, but it couldn’t be just a coincidence. It’s not as though someone could have been in the house and pushed him off the couch. Of course it could all just be nothing more than random bad luck. But still. She was thinking that