Animal Angel by M. J. Wilson Page B

wasn’t exactly rotund, but her belly was round. As she turned circles on the grass, sniffing, stretching, and getting her bearings, I noticed her teats swollen with milk. I couldn’t help but gape. She looked just like the cow we’d milked on our class field trip last year.
    With a prod to my back, Mom nudged me forward. She took the leash from Sue and let Jenny sniff around for a while. Once Jenny had relieved herself, Sue said goodbye. When we turned toward the house, Penny, Kaye, and Dad stood on the front porch. Penny looked just as jazzed as I felt, while Kaye seemed to be appraising the whole situation for its appropriate emotional response. Dad’s mouth was set in a sort of grimace.
    Lee wailed from inside the house, causing Mom to quicken her step. Jenny galumphed along behind. Without stopping to introduce the dog to her new foster family, Mom stepped inside. We all followed as she turned toward the living room where Lee lay nestled in a bassinet. From around the corner, Pepper dashed up to Jenny. She scooted back as Pepper eyed her curiously.
    Mom dropped the leash, hurried over to Lee, and scooped him up. “Who forgot to put Pepper in a separate room?”
    Kaye edged around the doorframe, looking both guilty and defiant. Her lips were drawn into a frown. Before she could say anything, though, the two dogs started sniffing each other. Their tongues lolled happily out of their mouths, and tails began to wag. I let out a tiny breath of relief.
    â€œSee? They like each other,” Kaye said in a flippant tone. Still, I could see she was fighting a smile as her eyes crinkled at the corners.
    Satisfied with the new arrival, Pepper trotted out to the kitchen where I could hear her drinking greedily from her water bowl. We needed to get Jenny some food and water. Kaye’s attitude made me sure she wouldn’t be up for that chore. Mom sat on the couch cooing to Lee. I decided it would have to be me.
    I found Duke’s old dishes under the sink. After a moment’s hesitation, I plunked them on the floor beside Pepper’s bowls and set about filling them with dry food and water. It felt strange to give Duke’s things to another dog. Pepper watched me with such intensity that I caved and hurried to the pantry to get her a dog treat. Her tail practically knocked me over as I stepped around her. That dog would turn herself into a helicopter one day, with her tail acting as the propeller.
    When I got back into the living room, Jenny was by the couch sniffing Lee’s head. She gave it a tentative lick, and when everyone started cooing praise, she started to wag her tail again. I watched with something a lot like envy as Jenny made Lee giggle while she sniffed his ears and chin. Mom stroked Jenny’s head and Lee’s giggles turned into a full-blown chortle.
    â€œSee? She’s a natural,” Mom said. “When the puppies get here, she’ll take to them in no time.”
    â€œBut will they take to her?” Dad asked. He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed.
    Mom pursed her lips and arched an eyebrow at Dad. He gave a half shrug that said he conceded. These puppies would have a new mama and that was that. My sisters and I grew quiet as we watched Jenny trundle around her new surroundings. She sniffed at the coffee table for a while. Then she squatted and peed on our carpet. I held in a burst of laughter.
    â€œNo, no, Jenny,” Mom scolded gently.
    Dad sighed and disappeared into the kitchen to get some cleaning supplies. Mom stood and passed Lee to Kaye. She smoothed a hand over her skirt.
    â€œLet’s get Jenny settled, shall we?”
    In the breakfast nook, Mom set about bunching towels and blankets into a makeshift bed. I gathered Jenny’s food and water bowls from the kitchen. Penny rearranged the small bookshelf that normally stood in the nook corner so that the doorway was partially blocked.
    â€œThis way she’ll have more