The Pet Dog and the Plot

ice, secondary to the cold, clear mission in front of me. First, I locked the back gate with a heavy padlock I

ter months of loneliness and despair, I had found my way to an orphanage to volunteer. That's where I met Alex Turner. A quiet, brilliant sixteen-year-old who had been

on my own terms. The lawyer was surprised by my urgency but agreed to file the initial paperwork immediately. I transferred

I sat on the living room floor, stroking Buster's soft f

front door swung open. I hadn't locke

s voice tight with surprise. He was standing in

orning," I said, ke

l, I hope you feel better. I just came to pack up a few more things." He walked past me, into the kitchen. I heard

iving room, his brow fu

I said, gesturing t

.. I thought I heard the gate open. I wa

ew who it was. Lisa. Sh

e swept in, her eyes immedia

aid, her voice a little too bright. She glanced

ng well," Mark e

by the door. Her face lit up with a small, cruel smile, thinking her plan ha

walking towards me. "Mark told me

stared

?" I aske

of course! It's just terrible. To lose

ah? I leave you alone for a few weeks and you can't even manage to

he performance. T

the words I had cried out in my past life. But thi

factured rage. "How could you be so careless? The manager of an a

. She's obviously distraught." She looked at me, her eyes filled with fake pit

s left their windows open. I knew they could hear every

. He looked at me, his eyes cold and hard. "This is the last straw, Sarah. Your neglige

eath, delivering

t a di