Free Strays by Jennifer Caloyeras Page A

well.
    â€œYour dog had an accident,” announced Talbot.
    I looked down. There on the grass was one of the largest dog dumps in all of dog-dump history.
    â€œYou need a bag?” Kevin asked, pulling a blue plastic baggie from his back pocket.
    â€œFor what?” I played dumb.
    â€œThe poop.” This got everyone else’s attention, and they stopped what they were doing to watch the showdown.
    â€œWhat poop?” I asked.
    â€œIris, I’m not stupid. Here’s the bag.” His tone seemed to have shifted from supportive to admonishing. I was embarrassed. I wished everyone would just focus on their own dogs and stop staring at me.
    â€œI’m not cleaning up poop,” I said quietly. I wasn’t about to let myself be degraded in such a demeaning way, forced to pick up poop from this animal that I didn’t even like, while everyone watched like I was some sort of circus act.
    â€œIt’s part of the deal,” said Kevin. “If you’re not sure how to do it, I can show you.”
    â€œWho doesn’t know how to pick up a dump?” asked Randy.
    Everyone laughed, and I felt the waters rise swiftly all the way to my neck . Why was the world out to embarrass me? I contemplated just walking away from it all. But before my body had time to react, Roman took off again. In my anger, I’d let go of his leash. I chased after him, shouting his name. And, to my surprise, he stopped running and waited for me.
    â€œThank you,” I mouthed to him as I picked up the leash and walked back to the group, grabbing the small doggie bag out of Kevin’s hand. I approached the offending area. Sticking my hand in the bag, I picked up the poop, still warm through the plastic. I twisted the bag and waved it around, showing everyone I was capable of picking up dog poop. As I tossed the bag in the trash, Talbot came up to me with her dog. I wondered what the next rude thing to come out of her mouth was going to be.
    â€œSorry about all that,” said Talbot.
    â€œSorry about what?” I wasn’t about to let her have the satisfaction of knowing she had angered and embarrassed me…twice.
    â€œIt’s this thing I do. When I’m uncomfortable, I find someone to pick on. That someone was you.” She paused. “I’m working on it.”
    Her candor impressed me. When I made a mistake, I blew it off or pretended it never happened, but Talbot was willing to face her gaffes head on. It made it easy to forgive her.
    â€œDo you like your dog? I could just take mine home with me!” She let Garrett lick her face.
    â€œI’m not so into dogs,” I said.
    â€œWell, what are you into?” she asked.
    I shrugged. I didn’t even know anymore. I guess lately I was into composing hit lists and making court appearances.
    â€œThat guy seems like a jerk.” I motioned toward Randy, who was looking my way and laughing at me—probably for the whole dog poop situation.
    â€œDon’t let him piss you off. He’s nothing but a bully. I can tell. And she”—Talbot pointed to Shelley, who was sitting on the grass with Bruce, pulling up grass at the roots and then chewing on them—“she’s on her own planet. At least that guy seems nice. And maybe even cute if he ever took off that thing.”
    I looked over at Oak. I wasn’t the only one wondering what he’d look like without the hood.
    â€œHe never takes it off,” I said.
    â€œYou know him?”
    â€œWe go to Santa Cruz High. But I’ve never even talked to him before today.”
    â€œHey, what are you doing after this? It is summer vacation, right? There’s gotta be some fun to be had,” said Talbot.
    â€œI have to head home,” I said.
    â€œParents?”
    â€œYeah.” I didn’t get into the fact that at my place it was just parent , nor did I tell her that my afternoon would consist of preparing dinner for myself, and