Fight for Life

Table of Contents

• Chapter One
• Chapter Two
• Chapter Three
• Chapter Four
• Chapter Five
• Chapter Six
• Chapter Seven
• Chapter Eight
• Chapter Nine
• Chapter Ten
• Chapter Eleven
• Chapter Twelve
• Chapter Thirteen
• Chapter Fourteen
• Chapter Fifteen
• Chapter Sixteen

Chapter One

Mitzy is a full-grown Airedale terrier. She has a mostly tan, short, wiry coat with a black patch over her back. She has a long nose, a stubby tail, small ears, and a confused look in her eyes. Maggie has been trying to teach her how to sit for longer than it should take, and Maggie is getting frustrated. When Mitzy’s owners brought her in, she was warned that Mitzy was a bit “slow.” Maggie promised them that she could teach her basic commands.

Maggie’s Gran raises her, ever since her parents died when Maggie was a baby. Gran owns an animal clinic called Dr. Mac’s Place. She says that all animals are wild at heart. Kids, too. Gran always said that Maggie has her father’s freckles and her mom’s temper.

Mitzy stops chasing her tail and barks at Maggie. She must be dizzy. Maggie pulls gently on her leash and pushes down her rear end. She rolls onto her back, begging for a stomach rub. Maggie knows that if she gives a tummy rub, Mitzy will think she can do whatever she wants in a training session. So she pulls Mitzy to her feet, and forces her to sit again, this time staying for half a second.

Maggie leans down to scratch between her ears for praise. Then, she unclips Mitzy’s leash from her collar and she takes off. Mitzy is nothing like Sherlock Holmes, Maggie’s old, slightly overweight basset hound. He’s her only pet, but because their house is attached to Gran’s clinic, Maggie gets to spend as much time as she wants with the animals.

Gran calls out the backdoor that it’s time for Maggie to do homework. What a horrible word. Maggie can do a lot of things, but homework and school? No thank you. Maggie does try at homework. But she always messes up. Gran has been getting serious about Maggie’s grades. Gran keeps telling her that she needs good grades to get into veterinary school. She’s about to be in middle school, after all.

As Gran closes the door, her cat, Socrates, squeezes out. He’s a feline football fullback, all rust-colored fur and muscle. He likes to lie around and think a lot, as his name implies. Maggie calls Sherlock to her. She intends to show Mitzy how it’s done. At one word, Sherlock obediently sits, lays down, stays, and comes. Mitzy watches them, and Maggie hopes she’s learning something.

Suddenly, both dogs prick their ears toward the house. A new patient has arrived.