Free The Invisible Harry by Marthe Jocelyn Page A

pet him. “How did you do that? And why are you all wet? And why is Hubert in the bathroom with you?”
    “Let’s go,” I said.
    I picked up Harry and cradled him in my arms, feeling sadness settle over me like dust.
    Jody was here to collect Harry. I was minutes away from having to say good-bye.
    Sure enough, out on the school steps, Dad and Jody were chatting together like old friends.
    Harry nearly jumped from my grasp as he spotted Sam being yanked toward us by his company of dogs.
    “Yo! Shortie!” Sam hailed me.
    “Yo,” I said weakly.
    Jody reached over to pet Harry. “Hey! Harry! Nice to see ya!” And then, in a whisper, “Is that Sam? He’s totally cute.”
    The dogs greeted one another with a chorus of barks and yaps.
    “Jody!” I shouted over the noise. “How was the science competition?”
    “Oh, I won,” she announced, trying to be cool. Then her face split in a silver smile. “It was mighty.”
    “You’re Jody?” asked Sam. “You’re the whiz kid?” He looked impressed.
    “Congratulations, Jody!” said my father. “Whatever you won, I’m sure you deserved it.” He was trying to talk normally, but he was surrounded by large, sniffing dogs. His ankles must give off some enticing scent. Jane begged the leads from Sam, and they were soon hopelessly tangled.
    A taxi pulled up at the curb.
    “Yikes!” said Hubert.
    My mother climbed out.
    Jane dropped all the leashes to hurl herself at Mom. The barking doubled as the dogs realized they were free and tried to pull apart.
    “Quite a reception!” laughed my mother, hanging on to Jane and tugging her bag out of the cab at the same time.
    Sam and Jody called the dogs firmly to attention and sorted out the leads, while Harry watched, panting.
    “Welcome back, Mary,” said my father.
    She gave him a cheerful, polite smile. It washard to believe they had ever been madly in love.
    “Thanks for taking the girls, Alex,” said my mother.
    I could hardly bear to watch them, even though I was dying to. They were hardly ever together to provide this dilemma.
    My mother focused on me.
    “You’re dressed for the pageant already! But why are you wet?”
    “The pageant’s over, Mommy,” Jane said, as if that explained everything. “They did it this morning.”
    Harry chose that moment to start licking my face.
    “And who’s this?” my mother asked.
    I felt myself fill up with sudden, electric resolve. It was now or never.
    “Mom, this is Harry. He’s, well, he’s—”
    “Hello, Ms. Stoner, I’m Jody,” said Jody, extending her hand, with professional good manners. “My dog, Pepper, is Harry’s mother.”
    “Oh, you must be Hubert’s friend.” My mother remembered my lie after Jody’s original phone call.
    “And I’m Sam,” said Sam, extending his hand. “I work for Billie.”
    My mother’s eyes drilled into mine.
    “Mom.” I cleared my throat.
    “Can we keep Harry, Mommy? Please, pretty please?” Jane jumped to the punch line. My mother’s eyebrows went up. She put her bag down.
    “Mom,” I said again, “I’ve been doing Jody a favor while she tries to find homes for her puppies. But I want it to be us who gives Harry a home. And before you say anything, I’ve had Harry since Saturday night, and—”
    My mother shot a look of irritation at Dad. “Oh, Alex, how could you? You have the common sense of a, of a puppy dog! We agreed we would discuss—”
    “Mom!” I interrupted. “You’re not letting me tell you! You’re just flipping out at Dad insteadof listening to me. I’m the person who’s talking to you. I’m the person you live with!”
    There was silence.
    “You’re right, Billie. But it’s my house. Don’t I get to choose how many … living creatures I have to look after?”
    “But you don’t have to look after him. That will be my job. With some help from Sam. And Jane,” I added quickly.
    “I’ll tell you the truth, Mary,” my father said placidly. “These kids did such a good job