Stray

from
EveryLivingThing
byCynthiaRylant.

InJanuary,apuppywanderedontothepropertyofMr.AmosLaceyandhiswife,Mamie,and
theirdaughter,Doris.Icicleshungthreefeetormorefromtheeavesofhouses,snowdrifts
swallowedupautomobilesandthebirdsweresofluffeduptheylookedcomic.
Thepuppyhadbeenabandoned,anditmadeitswaydowntheroadtowardtheLaceyssmall
house,itsearstucked,itstailbetweenitslegs,shivering.
Doris,whoseschoolhadbeencalledoffbecauseofthesnow,wasoutshovelingthe
cinderblockfrontstepswhenshespottedthepupontheroad.Shesetdowntheshovel.
Hey!Comeon!shecalled.
Thepuppystoppedintheroad,waggingitstailtimidly,tremblingwithshynessandcold.
Doristrudgedthroughtheyard,wentuptheshoveleddriveandmetthedog.
Comeon,Pooch.
Wheredidthatcomefrom?Mrs.LaceyaskedassoonasDorisputthedogdowninthe
kitchen.
Mr.Laceywasatthetable,cleaninghisfingernailswithhispocketknife.Thesnowwaskeeping
himhomefromhisjobatthewarehouse.
Idontknowwhereitcamefrom,hesaidmildly,butIknowforsurewhereitsgoing.
Dorishuggedthepuppyhardagainsther.Shesaidnothing.
Becausetheroadswouldbetoobadfortravelformanydays,Mr.Laceycouldntgetoutto
takethepuppytothepoundinthecityrightaway.Heagreedtoletitsleepinthebasementwhile
Mrs.LaceygrudginglyletDorisfeedittablescraps.Thewomanwassensitiveaboutthrowingout
food.
Bythelooksofit,Dorisfiguredthepuppywasaboutsixmonthsold,andonitswaytobeinga
bigdog.Shethoughtitmighthavesomeshepherdinit.
Fourdayspassedandthepuppydidnotcomplain.Itnevercriedinthenightorhowledatthe
wind.Itdidnttearupeverythinginthebasement.ItwouldntevenfollowDorisupthebasement
stepsunlessitwasinvited.
Itwasagooddog.
SeveraltimesDorishadopenedthedoorinthekitchenthatledtothebasementandthepuppy
hadbeenthere,allstretchedout,onthetopstep.Dorisknewithadwantedsomecompanyand
thatithadlainagainstthedoor,listeningtothetalkinthekitchen,smellingthefood,beingapart
ofthings.Italwayswaggeditstail,eyesallsleepy,whenshefounditthere.
Evenafteraweekhadgoneby,Dorisdidntnamethedog.Sheknewherparentswouldntlet
herkeepit,thatherfathermadesolittlemoneyanypetswereoutofthequestion,andthatthe
pupwoulddefinitelygotothepoundwhentheweathercleared.
Still,shetriedtalkingtothemaboutthedogatdinneronenight.
Shesagooddog,isntshe?Dorissaid,hopingoneofthemwouldagreewithher.
Herparentsglancedateachotherandwentoneating.
Shesnotmuchtrouble,Dorisadded.Ilikeher.Shesmiledatthem,buttheycontinuedto
ignoreher.
Ifigureshesrealsmart,Dorissaidtohermother.Icouldteachherthings.
Mrs.Laceyjustshookherheadandstuffedaforkfulofsweetpotatoinhermouth.Dorisfell
silent,prayingtheweatherwouldneverclear.

ButonSaturday,ninedaysafterthedoghadarrived,thesunwasshiningandtheroadswere
plowed.Mr.Laceyopenedupthetrunkofhiscarandcameintothehouse.
Doriswassittingaloneinthelivingroom,huggingapillowandrockingbackandforthonthe
edgeofachair.Shewastryingnottocrybutshewasnotstrongenough.Herfacewaswetand
red,hereyesfullofdistress.
Mrs.Laceylookedintotheroomfromthedoorway.
Mama,Dorissaidinasmallvoice.Please.
Mrs.Laceyshookherhead,Youknowwecantaffordadog,Doris.Youtrytoactmore
grownupaboutthis.
Dorispressedherfaceintothepillow.
Outside,sheheardthetrunkofthecarslamshut,oneofthedoorsopenandclose.Theold
enginecoughandchokeandfinallystartup.
Daddy,shewhispered.Please.
Sheheardthecartraveldowntheroad,and,thoughitwasearlyafternoon,shecoulddo
nothingbutgotoherbed.Shecriedherselftosleep,andherdreamswerefullofsearchingand
searchingforthingslost.
Itwasnearlynightwhenshefinallywokeup.Lyingthere,likestone,stillexhausted,she
wonderedifshewouldeverinherlifehaveanything.Shestaredatthewallforawhile.
Butshestartedfeelinghungry,andsheknewshedhavetomakeherselfgetoutofbedand
eatsomedinner.Shewantednottogointothekitchen,pastthebasementdoor.Shewantednot
tofaceherparents.
Butsheroseupheavily.
Herparentsweresittingatthetable,dinnerover,drinkingcoffee.Theylookedatherwhenshe
camein,butshekeptherheaddown.Noonespoke.
Dorismadeherselfaglassofpowderedmilkanddrankitalldown.Thenshepickedupacold
biscuitandstartedoutoftheroom.
Youdbetterfeedthatmuttbeforeitdiesofstarvation,Mr.Laceysaid.
Doristurnedaround.
What?
Isaid,youdbetterfeedyourdog.Ifigureitslookingforyou.
Dorisputherhandtohermouth.
Youdidnttakeher?sheasked.
Oh,Itookherallright.herfatheranswered.WorstlookingplaceIveeverseen.Tendogsto
acage.Smellwasenoughtoknockyoudown.Andtheygiveananimalsixdaystolive.Thenthey
killitwithsomekindofashot.
Dorisstaredatherfather.
lwouldntleaveanantinthatplace,hesaid.SoIbroughtthedogback.
Mrs.Laceywassmilingathimandshakingherheadasifshewouldnever,ever,understand
him.
Mr.Laceysippedhiscoffee.
Well,hesaid,areyougoingtofeeditornot?