Chapter Twelve
Franklin came racingup, his sandy brown hair sticking up in all directions and his too-big t-shirt flapping.Sam smiled at her young neighbor, who occasionally helped her walk Arlo.He skidded to a stop and immediately dropped to his knees, letting both dogs enthusiastically greet him.
“Franklin,” said Nora with evident pleasure.“I didn’t know you were here today.”
“Mom’s doing health checks for the residents,” he said, scratching Arlo behind the ears while Precious attempted to climb into his lap, despite her relative size to his lap’s size.“She’s a nurse, you know.And there’s no school because of a teacher workday.Mom told me I could come if I stayed out of the way and brought my homework.”
Pamela smiled warmly.“Your mom’s a big help over here.How’s school going?”
“Good, Ms.Cross.I got an A on my science project.”
“That’s wonderful,” Pamela said.“Your mother must be very proud.”
Franklin’s mom, Lisa, appeared a moment later, looking harried but smiling.She wore scrubs and carried a blood pressure cuff.“Sorry, everyone.He promised he’d stay in the activity room.”She gave her son a pointed look.
“But I heard the dogs,” Franklin protested reasonably.“How was I supposed to concentrate on fractions when Arlo and Precious wereright here?”
“A valid argument,” said Nora in complete seriousness.
Sam hid a smile.“Hi, Lisa.How are the health checks going?”
“Good.We’re almost done for the day.”Lisa checked her watch.“Another thirty minutes and we can head home.”
Franklin was now lying flat on the floor.Arlo stood on his chest and licked his face while he giggled.Precious sat beside them like a dignified guardian, his tail thumping against the linoleum.
“Franklin, sweetheart, you need to let them go,” Lisa said.
“Can’t I just walk them around the building once?Please?I’ve been doing homework forhours.”
“It’s been forty-five minutes,” Lisa said dryly.
“Which is basically hours when it’s fractions.”
Pamela glanced at her watch.“I should get going anyway.You all enjoy your evening.Keep up the good work in school, Franklin.”
“I will, Ms.Cross.”
Nora glanced at Sam, who nodded.“Five minutes won’t hurt,” said Sam.“We’re not in a rush.”
Franklin scrambled to his feet with the speed only a nine-year-old could manage.He took both leashes with practiced ease.He’d walked Arlo enough times to know the routine.I’ll be super careful.And I’ll stay on this floor.”
“Five minutes,” Lisa warned.“Then back to the activity room after you bring the dogs back here.”
Pamela said her goodbyes and headed toward the parking lot.They watched Franklin head down the hallway, both dogs trotting happily beside him.Precious’s nails clicked importantly on the floor.
“That boy,” Lisa said with affection.“He’s been asking for a dog since he was four.But it’s just too hard with my nursing schedule and the divorce.”She shook her head.“Borrowing Arlo sometimes is the compromise.”
“He’s good with him,” Sam said.“Very responsible.”
“He is.He takes after you with the organization thing.”Lisa smiled.“He color-codes his homework folders.I don’t know where he got that from.Certainly not from me or his father.”
“Some of us are just born that way,” said Sam, returning her smile.
Lisa’s radio crackled.“I should get back.Thanks for letting him have a few minutes with the dogs.It’ll make the rest of the homework session actually bearable.”She headed back down the hallway.
Nora watched her go, then said thoughtfully, “Lisa comes here twice a month.She does wellness checks, medication reviews, that sort of thing.The residents adore her.And Franklin.”She paused.“He’s a good boy.Franklin reminds me of my grandson at that age.Before he grew up and moved to Seattle and only calls on my birthday.”
