Hey guys! Here I am with Chapter Four! Technically chapter three, since nobody cares about Author's Notes.
Chapter Three
''They're cute.'' I cooed.
''They're fat.'' Hailey said.
'''We'll you were porky when you were born, but did I judge you? No.''
''Dad.''
''They do look a little like, rats.'' Gus said.
''Very expensive porky rats.'' Mom said observing from across the kitchen, not letting herself get attached.
''Nikki, honey. Come on, where's your sense of compassion?'' Dad asked.
''Yeah Mom.'' I said helping out Dad.
''Yeah.''
''What they said.''
Mom looked helplessly at Dad. ''Brandon,how can we afford this? SIX puppies! AND one grown dog! I swear sometimes your just like a child-''
''Wait.'' Hailey held up her hand. ''So you're saying, that we can keep all these puppies?''
''No!'' Mom said quickly. ''We're not keeping them all.''
''How can we choose one?'' I asked. ''That's favoritism!''
''Oh for God's sake-!'' Mom shook her head. ''They're not children! Brandon, help me out!''
''Look, honey, darling, dearest.'' Dad got that look in his eyes that he used when he was trying to persuade Mom. ''I know you can be the best wife in the world and let us keep these puppies.'' Mom opened her mouth but Dad shut it for her. ''until they are old enough to be adopted. You can bear that burden, can't you?'' Dad kissed Mom on the cheek.
Mom gave in. ''I guess.'' she looked at Dad. ''what about the mother?''
''What's one other family member mom?'' I asked.
''Yeah, baby.'' Dad said. ''What's one other family member?''
''Okay. But just her.'' Mom said. ''Now, if you don't mind, I have a headache like you wouldn't believe and I need to lay down.''
As Mom walked to the bedroom, Gus called out. ''Can we name the puppies, Mom?''
''NO!''
''What else do you want us to do?'' Dad asked. ''Give them numbers like in a prison?'' I snickered.
''Whatever you think is right Brandon.'' Mom called. ''Clearly you make the final decisions in this household.''
Dad mouthed the word Yes! and pumped his fist.
''That one looks like a Tessa.'' Hailey said picking up a buff colored puppy.
''That one's a Cisco. Definitely a Cisco.'' Gus said stroking the head of a white colored one.
''What breed are these again, Dad?'' I asked stroking the head of the mother dog, who I had named Annabelle. She had once been a house dog, the way she acted around people.
''Well, I'm not to sure. The Mom's definitely a pure bred Cocker Spaniel. The Dad might've been a hound. Beagle or Bluetick, maybe.'' Dad said trying to examine the runt of the litter, Half Pint.
I didn't really care about what breed they were, because they were cute,really cute. They had the body of a hound, but the head and wavy fur of a cocker spaniel.
Suddenly my cell phone rang. I walked away from the puppies and answered. ''Hello?''
''Hey Andrea?'' It was Julie.
''Julie, what are you doing? Aren't you suppose to be doing something at camp?'' I asked.
''Well, about that...''her voice trailed off.
''You didn't!'' I said. ''You got kicked out of camp!''
''No, I didn't get kicked out nessecerily. Camp wasn't really my cup of tea, so I kinda quit. I'm on the way home now.''
''Really.'' I said. ''Well, I've got three surprises for you.''
''Tell me! If it's over twenty dollars, keep it for yourself.''
I laughed. ''It's not that kind of surprise!''
''Well, what kind of surprise is it, then?'' Before I could say anything, she interrupted. ''Let me guess, Meredith got hit by a car and died!''
''No. There's this new girl that moved in across the street and David seemed interested in her.''
''Your serious! She can't be prettier than you!''
I sighed and looked across the street where Stephenie was dribbling a soccer ball. ''She is, trust me.'''
''We'll straighten that out later. Well, what else.''
''We're keeping seven dogs! Six puppies and a mother. We're only keeping the puppies until the old enough to be adopted.''
''And what are you going to do with the mother?'' Julie asked. ''Dump her on the side of the road?''
I laughed. ''No, we're keeping her.''
''Wow. So, did your Mom go in to Cardiac arrest or something? Which hospital is she in so I'll know where to send flowers?''
I laughed again. ''No she didn't, Dad calmed her down.''
''That's good. Soooooooo, what's the third surprise?''
I took a deep breath. ''I joined the summer Drama Club.''
''Really! Are you going out for roles or are you painting sets like I am?''
''Going out for roles.''
''THAT'S GREAT! I'm so happy to see you spreading your wings Andrea. This time last year, you were just about on antidepressants! I hope you get a good role. They still give out roles for the trees and the bramble bushes and stuff like that.''
''Now if I get a role like that, I will be on antideppressants.''
Julie laughed. ''Bye. I be seeing you in like twenty minutes.''
''Bye.'' I said. ''I'll be waiting for you.''
I hung up and told Dad where I was going. I went to the garage to get my bike when I noticed someone, a young man, maybe in his late teens or early twenties, staring at me. I looked away. What a creep, I thought as I peddled away.
