George Knows Read online

  Everyone yells. The windows open.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Spill it. What really happened?” I don’t like it when drivers aren’t looking at the road. I see Packmom’s face in the rearview mirror. She’s driving safely. Phew. Funny, that’s the sound everyone made before.

  The Boypup is snoring. He couldn’t wait until we made the five-minute trip home. He’s wasting the good seat. I feel queasy. It’s my Kryptonite, my great weakness. I get carsick unless I can see out the front. I know there are plants to keep my stomach down, but who knew the Boypup was going to take my spot. He could’ve at least let me sit on his lap.

  Packmom sighs. “Karly, what happened back there?”

  Oh no. Maybe the Boypup has a point. I plop across my Pack’s laps and take a pup-nap until we get home. Been there, done that, don’t need to remember my awesomeness in fighting for the Boypup. Karly’ll tell Packmom how wonderful I was and I’ll get a super supper. Snorksnorksnor…

  The car isn’t moving anymore. The doors creak open and legs move and slide out. I drop myself out after them. You know, if they’re going to make me go in a metal box on wheels, they could at least make it lower to make it easier to get in and out.

  I am ready for my Peep food. My tail spins and I drool. I amble to the door and follow my Pack in. Feed me already! I’m a hero! Give me my reward.

  “Go get cleaned up, Karly, Joey, I’ll get dinner warmed up.” Packmom turns to Packdad and hugs and kisses him. Hey, no kissing, it’s time for dinner! Stop wasting time. “I was sure he was gone.” She slumps into a chair. I smelltaste the fearhormone push through her skin. Time for Superbasset. I sit on her foot and put a paw on her lap.

  “I’ll get food out in a minute.” She looks at me and strokes my head.

  “Hon, I’ll do it.” Packdad almost steps on me as he bends over to kiss her on the head. I turn to lick her hand, just to show him how it’s done. She smelltastes saltysweet, not so scared.

  “I don’t understand how there can be a dragon in the park. However, ever since I married into your family, I’ve discovered I don’t understand a lot of things. Heather will solve the problem. Actually, she didn’t seem as concerned when she brought Joey out.” He kisses her again and backs away.

  Hey, don’t forget who brought Joey out. And, would it hurt you to give me a scritch? I flip over and present my tummy. Packdad gives me a quick rub, gets up, goes to the place that all the food comes from, and gets out bowls of the stuff.

  “Is it okay if I just zap it in the microwave?” he asks, as he peels off the tops and looks inside each bowl. I go over to him and cock my head. You can drop a little here. I’ll make sure it’s all clean.

  “Hmmm? Oh, yes, that’ll be fine. What do you mean, Heather seemed less concerned?” Packmom stops petting me and gets up to clatter plates around.

  “She wasn’t as tense. Maybe it was because she found Joey. Or maybe she knows what’s going on with that dragon. She’s your sister, you need to ask her about it. I’d like Heather’s take on it. Sometimes it’s hard to know what Karly saw versus what she thought she saw. Granted, it’s not every day that anyone sees dragons.”

  “Hodag. Heather said it was a Hodag.”

  Beep. Beep. Beep.

  Whine.

  The microwave is telling us it’s time to eat. I watch Packdad as he gets all the wonderful food. It smelltastes wheatycookedcowtomatogreen. Oh nummy. Packmom made spaghetti and meatballs. I bump her leg to remind her I get my share.

  “Hmmm. What do you want?” Packmom looks at me with a smile. As if she doesn’t know. I sit and drool. Get up and walk to my supper dish and drool in it.

  “I suppose you think you should get a special treat for your part in saving Joey? Here.” She scoops a blob of spaghetti and meatballs into my bowl.

  Oh, heaven.

  Just heaven.

  The smelltastes swirl up, tickling my tongue. I can’t wait. My nose deep into the bowl, I slurp the lovely stuff down.

  It’s gone.

  I look around.

  Behind.

  I slide my bowl to look under it.

  Where did my food go? “NoooOOOoooowoowoo.”

  “You’ve had your share. Might want to wipe your muzzle, though. There’s red sauce all over it. Looks like you got into a fight with some…” Packmom’s voice breaks off into a whimper. Why? Spaghetti doesn’t fight.

  “Shush. It’s okay. Joey’s fine. Heather and her friends will get to the bottom of this.”

  Peeps, it’s over. Worry about now, not before. Before is gone, nothing to do about it. Like the spaghetti.

  Loud thunks come from the other room before Joey crashes into the room. “Is dinner ready yet.” Joey bounces like a ball. Crazy Peep.

  “Yes, it is. Sit down. Where’s Karly?” Packmom asks.

  “Coming, Mom. Is George there?”

  “There’s food here, where else would he be?”

  Hey, I’m not a stupid familiar. However, I am a sleepy one. I know from experience no one is going to share with me, and since the Boypup got older, no one drops anything either. Doesn’t stop me from walking around the table and drooling on laps as food is passed around. They ignore me. I make my three spins and collapse on the rug next to the sink.

  Something nudges my paw. I shake it off. A foot pushes under my belly.

  “Come on big guy, my turn to do dishes, but you need to get out of the way.” Packdad adds in a whisper, “If you’re good there might be something in it for you.”

  Oh boy. Yum! Leftovers. I am always good. My tail thumps on the floor and I smile.

  Oh.

  I check the room to see if Karly is around. I suppose I should find out what she’s doing.

  Except.

  Spaghetti leftovers.

  I’m torn.

  She can’t get into too much trouble. It was only a short cat…erm, dog nap.

  It’s spaghetti leftovers.

  My drool pools on the floor.

  Packdad bends over with a rag and wipes it up. “I guess I better scrape the plates before I slip on your puddles. Hard to believe I was more concerned about the puddles from your other end when Heather first brought you over.” He chuckles.

  Very funny. I haven’t had an accident since…well, it was a long time ago. No reason to bring it up. I’d glare, but the smelltaste of spaghetti in a bowl clacking in front of me keeps my eyes down.

  Score.

  Packmom’s voice and footsteps get louder as she comes closer to the kitchen. As a predator I notice important things like this. I’m not supposed to eat from the Peeps dishes and they aren’t supposed to eat from mine. I scarf down the remaining bits of noodles. There is a little green tree left on the bowl. I munch on it thoughtfully. Not as tasty as carrots, but not bad.

  “Heather, one sec. Brian, George’s bowl is in the corner. Would it’ve been too much to scrape the scraps into it? Honestly. What? Yes, he’s the culprit. I know, we’re supposed to cut back on George’s food.” She looks at Packdad. “Did you hear that? No more food for George unless it’s scheduled.”

  Auntie Heather’s voice sounds underwater on the phone. I don’t get how Peeps can use the things, but, whatever. My hearing is much better than any Peep’s.

  Packdad answers with a funny smile. “You have it on speaker, I think the kids can hear it from upstairs. Hey, you’re the one that gave him a bowl first.”

  Packmom sighs. “No more…So, Heather, the Hodag is a friendly dragon? How can that be? Karly said he, I mean she, wouldn’t let Joey go. What about the bones?”

  “Can you come out tomorrow with us? I have a good idea what’s going on. I’d like to get your take on it, though.”

  “Yes, of course. You’re sure that the kids aren’t going to be hurt by this thing?” I keep dodging Packmom’s feet as she paces the length of the kitchen. Packdad puts a hand on her shoulder and leads her to a chair. Good, I was worried about my tail. I swipe my tongue over it. Pee time. I dance to the door.r />
  “Hang on, George. Can’t you wait until she’s off the phone? I need to know what’s going on.”

  Packdad is scolding me for this? Whatever they’re saying won’t change in three seconds. It’s potty time—that’s what’s important. I scratch the door and cross my legs to keep everything in. Hurry up! A fart booms from behind me. I look at Packdad. He looks at me. Whoa. Who knew I live with a pro? Wonder if he gives lessons.

  He shakes his head and waves his hands in the air. “You win. Let’s get you out before I have more to clean up.”

  The leash is hanging on the door. It seems strange to me that he has to use it. After all, he’s old enough to know the neighborhood. With a snap, we’re connected and out the door. I race to my spot and whizz away. Not enough time to check pee-mail or add any new messages. Whew. Sigh. Thank goodness. I check for a good spot and do my business, and wait for Packdad to clean up after me.

  We dash back to the house. Packmom is sitting at the table, looking at her phone.

  “Heather is certain we don’t have to worry about anything right now. She’ll explain tomorrow. Why don’t you go watch a movie with the kids and I’ll make some popcorn. Joey needs a little family time. Even if he doesn’t think anything special happened, I’m still a little weirded out. I need a little family time.”

  Packdad strokes her hair. Hey, hello, you’re supposed to do that for me.

  “I’ll make the popcorn, go be with the kids.” He kisses her and helps her out of her seat. Pulls her into his arms. Kisses her on those strange lips. Pushes her toward the family room. Peeps are very strange.

  Since he burns more popcorn than he makes, I follow Packmom to check on my Girlpup. It was a crazy day, even for a witchlet.

  Chapter Twenty

  “I’ve got hot cinnamon rolls,” Auntie Heather calls out as she walks into the house. “Is there hot water for tea?” She’s carrying a box and a bag. She puts the bag on the table.

  “It’s Tuesday, it’s early in the morning, and there’s a dragon out there. Why are you so happy?” Packdad wonders over his coffee mug.

  I like coffee. It smelltastes good. Sweetmilkbittersharp. They never share any with me though. I drink it from the bottom of their mugs when they leave them on the short tables.

  Packdad lifts his nose and sucks in smelltaste. He’s loud. Peeps have no idea how to use their noses. “I might forgive you for walking in so cheerful. Did you make them this morning?”

  Auntie Heather pulls one out of the box and places it on the plate Packdad used for his toast. I wanted to lick the crumbs. I can wait for cinnamon roll crumbs. I drool. Or maybe a cinnamon roll. My Packpups could drop one.

  “Not happening. I brought over some dried yams for you. Yes, I thought it would be easier to explain what’s happening in the park over something sweet.” Auntie Heather reaches into her bag and tosses a piece of bark at me. It doesn’t smelltaste like bark. I pick it up and chew it. Nice. Crunchy with a sweetstarch smelltaste that finishes with spicy cinnamon. I gulp it and wag for another. Auntie Heather tosses me a half.

  Crunch.

  She gives me “that” look. “No more for you. I also want to see if I can borrow Karly for the day again. It’s for a unique learning experience.”

  “She’s upstairs with the Joey. They should be down in”—he looks at his watch—”two, three, four…”

  Trucks are lighter on the road than my Packpups going down stairs. They rush into the kitchen and each grab a roll. I give them my best “basset eyes.” They ignore me. How rude. They run to the family room to watch the box with no smelltaste or smellfeel. Just sound and sight. Nothing useful about it.

  Packmom pushes her hair back and pulls a chair out from the table. She settles in with her hands on the table and her head on her hands. Packdad pours her some coffee.

  With cream and sugar.

  I want some. They ignore me. What is with this family?

  “So what are we going to do about the dragon?” Packdad asks.

  “I told you last night, the Hodag isn’t dangerous. Go to work, we’ll call you if we need you for anything,” Auntie Heather says, taking a roll for herself and sitting down.

  Packmom eyes the rolls. She gets up and grabs two plates, sliding one to Auntie Heather, and putting a roll on one for herself. She takes a bite and gets a funny look on her face. I know that look. I creep over to where she’s sitting and put my head on her lap. I look at the table leg. I was very artistic when I was teething as a pup. A hand thumps on my nose as Packmom slips the roll to me. I gulp it down. Packmom can be picky about what she eats. We make a good team and no one gets his feelings hurt.

  When I crawl out from under the table, Auntie Heather stares at me. Uh oh. Busted. Hey, not my fault the roll fell into my mouth.

  Auntie Heather shakes her head and continues talking to Packdad. “You’ll just get in the way. It would be far easier if you didn’t come. Take Joey with you, pretend it’s ‘take your kid to work’ day. He’ll love being with you.”

  Packdad folds his hands on the table. “Tell me what that creature is and why you think it’s safe and I’ll think about not tagging along. I’m not forgetting the human bones George found.”

  “The Hodag only comes out when the woods are in trouble. She guards and protects that land. The last time she was out, according to the book, was one hundred years ago when a farmer tried to cut down all the trees. She shared the prairie, but those woods are sacred to her kind. When she came out, she marked the borders using her…” Auntie Heather does something weird with her hands, lifting them in the air and bending two fingers a few times. That is a new Peep body language word to me. “…‘fiery breath to scorch the trees’. It took a while to figure out the writing since it was mixed with drawings. Things also started to go missing along with sightings of a dragon. The Indians in the area told him that the spirit of the woods didn’t want him trespassing. That’s when the will was written. The will we must find somehow.”

  Auntie Heather bites into her roll, chews and swallows without sharing with me. “Besides, those bones had nothing to do with the Hodag. I figured out where they came from last night.”

  “They came from a person. That’s all I need to know.”

  “Of course they came from a person. It’s just that the Hodag didn’t murder the person. In fact, nobody was murdered.”Auntie Heather reaches for her bag and pulls out two bones and a coil of dark wire.

  “Heather!” Packmom shrieks. “Those. Are. Human. Bones. They don’t belong on my table. That’s disgusting,” Packmom eyes the pile and turns her head.

  “What? They’re not dirty. Give them proper respect, Doreen. They may be bones, but they were once a person.” She takes the old wire I remember her finding in the pit, and sticks an end into the bone. It slides in like a rope through a tennis ball. I used to like to chase and play tug when I was a silly pup. She strings the other bone to the first and holds them by the wire. They make an arm. A Peep’s arm. Peeps’ arms belong under skin, not just hanging there. Although, it does look like a toy. I want to get a better sniff. Auntie Heather stops me with a glance.

  “These used to be part of a whole skeleton that hung in a doctor’s office a very long time ago. I have no clue how the Hodag got it, but the wire was probably shiny and attracted her. She loves shiny things and now she seems happy with shiny chip bags. The Hodag isn’t dangerous—she hasn’t hurt anyone. There’s absolutely no need for you to come with us. In fact, you’ll just get in the way.” Auntie Heather puts the bone and the wire back in her bag.

  Packdad taps his fingers on the table. “Nice story. Good to know she’s a ‘spirit.’ Still not happening. I’m coming with. How do you know it’s not going to protect the woods against you? I’ll watch Joey, but I’m staying close by in case you need me. These are my kids and there’s a monster out there. I’m not about to go off to work and leave my family while you go do something witchy and hope you can make it go away.”

  That might have been
a great speech, if Packdad’s mouth wasn’t filled. It puzzles me that Packmom didn’t want hers. Well, her loss, my gain. I look over at her, hope springing eternal. She is looking at the Packpups walking into the kitchen.

  “I’m coming too. You aren’t hurting my friend,” the Boypup sticks out his lower lip.

  Got to give it to the boy, he’s loyal.

  Almost as loyal as a dog.

  Auntie Heather leaves the table and crouches by the Boypup. “We aren’t going to hurt her. She’s a good friend to have, but we need to fix some things so she’s happy. You can help by staying with your dad and keeping an eye on him. Can you do that?”

  “I want to see her.” He turns to Packdad. “Dad? You going to meet my friend, too? Otherwise I’m going with Auntie Heather.” Lip still out. If he were a dog, his rear paws would be digging into the ground. He wasn’t going with Packdad unless he could show him his new friend.

  Foolish Boypup.

  “Men.” Aunt Heather says under her breath. With my outstanding ears, it’s easy to hear her. “Fine. We need to get to the woods. I think I know what you two can do. Brian, make sure you have your phone.”

  “The van is big enough for all of us, if you want to come with us.” Packmom grabs keys from the counter. Packdad, thin and as fast as a gray whippet, tries to take them from her. “Uh-uh, my van, I get to drive.”

  “We’re not going to drive. No chemical smells on us. We do need to wash up before we go.” Auntie Heather rummages in her bag again. “Use this soap, I made it, should be natural enough, I should think.”

  I look at her, round-eyed. I am not taking a bath. I am a natural creature and don’t stink of chemicals.

  “You’re fine as you are George. Hurry up everyone. We have a Hodag to take care of.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It’s a mystery to me that Joey is never leashed. Karly always is when we’re outside. Personally, I think she’s outgrown the need. Then again, I don’t want to be his keeper.

  Joey is hopping around like a rabbit, asking a gazillion questions. I stop listening. He’s a creepy pest and better not get in the way of our work. I trot—a basset on a mission.