Fight for Life

Chapter Five

Gran hangs up the phone with a tired sigh. She explains everyone is busy. Brenna suggests they just get a couple more volunteers to help. Gran nods, and takes out the tattered phone book from the back of the drawer, flipping through its worn pages. She says she’s calling David Hutchinson from across the street. Maggie knows he’s a goofball and a klutz, but Gran insists he’s close. Two minutes later, David gallops into the clinic, breathless and grinning. His bangs flop in front of his eyes, and he’s wearing a hockey jersey, old jeans, and untied sneakers with the laces dragging behind him.

Brenna says she knows David well. They did a science project at school together, and he almost set the table on fire. He insists, with a shrug, that it was only a small explosion. Gran hands the three of them scrub tops and tells David to wash his hands, working soap between his fingers and scrubbing under his nails.

The bells on the front door jingle, and Sunita Patel comes in, loaded down with an armful of books she borrowed. She’s one of the quietest kids from Ambler, Pennsylvania. She has chocolate brown eyes and long black hair pulled back neatly. Her parents are both human doctors. She’s wearing loafers, khakis, and a purple turtleneck.

Gran says it’s perfect timing. They could use Sunita’s help. Sunita smiles and nods, but she’ll have to be home for dinner. Gran explains she’ll need everyone’s eyes and full attention. She explains that seven puppies are coming in, and Maggie feels her stomach tighten at the number. She’ll decide who is sickest and who needs to be treated first. It’ll be the volunteers’ jobs to watch all the other pups closely. If their conditions change at all, they must tell Gran immediately.