Free Storm Watcher by Maria V. Snyder Page B

shouted.

    By the end of July, Luke had cleaned all the sensors, repaired two frayed wires, recharged the battery in the data logger, wiped dirt off the solar panel, and rebalanced the rain gauge.
    “Not that you need a rain gauge right now,” Dad said between bites of a grilled hot dog. He flipped through the gauge’s manual. “When’s the last time it rained?”
    “June seventeenth,” Luke answered. He braced for a taunt from his brothers, but they were too busy racing each other to see who could eat the most hot dogs.
    “Sheesh, the azaleas are gonna die if it doesn’t rain soon.” He tossed the manual away as if it was the cause of the drought and opened another book. “Tomorrow, I want you to turn the data logger on.”
    “How do I start it?” Luke asked.
    Dad handed him the manual and pointed to a diagram. “You connect the wires from the solar panel here. And the wires for the battery are attached here. Remember, the battery is only for backup.”
    “Okay.”
    “Woo-hoo!” Scott raised his hands into the air. “Six dogs with buns. Oh yeah, I’m the hot-dog-eating king.”
    “Call the Guinness Book of World Records ,” Jacob said. “Put it on speaker so I can hear them laugh at you.”
    “Says the man who couldn’t finish five.”
    “I’m so proud of you both.” Dad winked at Luke, including him in the joke.
    Exclaiming over the time, Luke’s brothers raced to get ready for their shift at the park, but Dad hung around. He cleared the table, then loaded the dishwasher. Surprised and glad for the help, Luke scrubbed the baked bean pot extra hard.
    “Those two never could stay still for long.” Dad slid forks into the bin. “When they were little it drove us crazy with all the noise and commotion, but when it was quiet…that meant big trouble.”
    “Like the time they shaved Ranger’s whiskers?” Luke asked.
    Dad laughed. A wonderful comforting sound Luke hadn’t heard since March.
    “I’d forgotten about that,” Dad said.
    “Or the time they built a snowman in our living room? Or the time they made a fort with the new curtains?”
    “The snowman I’d never forget. I sucked water out of the carpet for days afterward.” Dad filled the soap dispenser. “Good thing you were too smart to get involved with their crazy schemes.”
    Jacob and Scott hadn’t included him in most things, but Luke didn’t want to ruin this rare moment with Dad by mentioning it.
    “They just don’t stop to consider the circumstances,” Dad said. “Unlike you. You’re my thinker. I’d never trust the twins to work on Willajean’s tower unsupervised, but I know you’re following directions and won’t hurt yourself.”
    Luke squared his shoulders at the compliment. Score one for me.
    When they finished cleaning up, Dad said, “Come on, I want to show you something.” He looked like a kid who had just sneaked money out of his parent’s wallet.
    He led Luke to the Puppy Palace. The door had been propped open to keep the shed cooler, even though the three dogs preferred to sprawl in the shade under the oak tree. Too curious to remain there, the hounds trotted over to check it out.
    Luke’s heart lurched. In the palace was another bunk. On the empty wood board were a new dog’s bed, a shiny stainless steel bowl, a rubber chew toy, a puppy collar, a leash, and a bag of puppy food.
    “Happy belated birthday, buddy.” Dad clapped him on the back. “Now we’re all set for the new pup.”
    A shaky twirl formed in Luke’s chest. As it spun, it sent off shoots of numbness that raced to Luke’s hands and feet. He wanted to sink to the ground. He wanted to confess everything. All of Willajean’s bloodhounds had been sold.
    Instead, he picked up the thin, puppy-sized leash. “Thanks, Dad. This is great.” The words tasted like rancid milk on his tongue.
    “Glad you like it.”
    Hounddog jumped up on the new bunk and pawed at the puppy food.
    “We’d better put this away.” Dad shouldered the