Free A Tale of Two Tails by Henry Winkler Page A

Quinn said.
    Officer Quinn opened up an ink pad. He took Cheerio in his arms, held his front paw, and rolled it across the inky surface. I was watching Cheerio very carefully and I could see him getting agitated. He let out a low growl and his upper lip curled into a snarl.
    â€œDon’t even think about it, boy,” I whispered to him. “You better be on your best behavior. And I mean it.”
    Cheerio settled down and let Officer Quinn press his inky paw on a sheet of paper. He didn’t make a move when they did his other front paw, either. As a matter of fact, his curled lip had relaxed. I guess he was getting used to being in jail.
    Or at least, that’s what I thought. But was I ever wrong.
    That whole time, he was just waiting for his opportunity to make a break. As soon as Officer Quinn turned his back, Cheerio leaped off the counter and took off running through the station house. It wasn’t hard to find him, though, because everywhere he went, he left two big black paw prints on the mint-green linoleum floor. When we finally caught him, he had jumped into a wastebasket next to the water cooler. I figured that out because the paw prints stopped right there.
    â€œCheerio, get out of that wastebasket,” I commanded him. “You’re just making things worse.”
    He didn’t listen. He tried to burrow into the crumpled-up papers and empty coffee cups.
    â€œYou can’t hide from the law, pup,” Officer Quinn said. He was laughing by this time, which shows you that basically he is a really nice guy.
    Cheerio peeked out from over the top of the wastebasket. His long ears flopped over the side, and all you could see were his big brown eyes and his black wet nose.
    â€œAww,” said Officer K. “How could such a cute fellow like you cause so much trouble?”
    Officer Quinn reached in and lifted Cheerio from the wastebasket.
    â€œExcuse me, Officer,” I said, “but doesn’t he get to make one phone call?”
    â€œYour dog is talented enough to dial the phone?”
    â€œNo, I was going to do it for him.”
    â€œHere, sweetie,” Officer K said. “You can use my phone.”
    I went over to her desk and picked up the receiver. As much I didn’t want to do it, I knew I had to call my dad. Cheerio was in trouble, which meant I was in trouble. We needed my dad, and that’s all there was to it.
    I started to dial our number, when suddenly, my mind went totally blank.
    Oh come on, Hank. This is nuts. Who forgets their own phone number? I do, that’s who. I know it like I know my name, but where is it? It’s like it’s playing hide-and-seek in my brain. This is no time for games! Come out, come out, wherever you are.
    I took a breath and went with my best guess. The phone was ringing, and it sounded like our ring. That was good.
    â€œHello. Baja Fresh,” the voice said on the other end of the phone.
    That was bad.
    â€œHello. Uh . . . Stanley Zipzer isn’t there by any chance, is he? Maybe ordering a beef-and-cheese burrito?”
    The guy on the other end of the phone must have covered the mouthpiece because I could hear his muffled yell.
    â€œAnybody here named Stanley? With the last name of Zipzer? Sorry, kid. There’s a Jimmy and a Salvador here. Salvador’s got the taco grande. Does that sound like somebody you know?”
    â€œNo, sir, sorry. But I hope he enjoys his meal.”
    I hung up the phone and almost started to cry. That was our one call, and my stupid brain blew it. It’s just like my brain to give up when I need it the most.
    I looked at Cheerio. He seemed to be enjoying the delicious smell of Officer K’s watermelon gum.
    That’s just great , I thought. He’s sniffing up a storm and having a fine old time. He doesn’t even have a clue.
    But me, I know the truth.
    We’re going to be locked in here forever.

CHAPTER 18
    Ten seconds later, the doors to the station