“Harper, wait!”
But she’s gone. So I take out the other headphone, drop my gym towel and follow after her. She’s a short little thing, but fast. I find her three houses down squaring off with the dog. He’s got to weigh more than she does, and as she approaches, slow, silent, arms out, the dog jumps from side to side. It’s like he’s taunting her.
“N-no!” She says as he jumps over a line of shrubs and barks. I’ve never paid much attention to dogs and their barks but that sounded a lot like the thing just said, “So long, suckers!”
This town is making me loony.
“Stuart!” She calls, not loudly.
I follow her as she follows him to the next yard over. He starts his little dance with her again.
“Enough! Stuart. Sit.” I say. He does.
Harper looks at me, mouth open. She’s shocked. And maybe angry?
“I got this,” she spits. So, yes. Angry.
“You don’t, clearly,” I reply. I walk toward the dog.
She huffs, “He’s not just going to sit there for you.”
“Stuart. Stay,” I command. He does. Happily so, I think. Looks like the thing is smiling at me, waiting. I grab his filthy collar with a firm hand and lead him to her.
Her perfect pink lips are slack with surprise again. Then she presses them into a firm line and glares at me.
“You’re welcome,” I say.
I didn’t say thank you,her eyebrows reply.
Damn. She’s got the most expressive face I’ve ever seen. She clips the leash in her hand to the muddy collar and starts to stomp off. But I keep up with her.
“Do you want help hosing him off?”
No reply.
“What do you mean you and your father don’t like dogs. Whose dog is this?”
Nothing.
“Harper!”
She ignores me.
I am not used to being ignored.
Which is why I snap like a twig under her giant pet’s paw and blurt, “Fine, then, do it all on your own. That’s certainly going well for you and the town. I know you’reraking inthe business. Just rolling in profits, yeah? Loads of it. Your ideas thus far have been a smashing success, well done, you, very well done.”
She stops and turns to me, finally, and her bright green eyes are glassy.
Shit.
“What do you want?” She whispers.
Surprised by the question I quip back, “Your town.”
“No,” she says. Her face adds,you already have the town.
So I answer, “My parking lot.”
