Liars Garden

Chapter 5

Hanna had an after school job volunteering a the pet shelter in town. Sometimes I went with her just so I didn't have to go home right away. It was Friday anyway and Leslie was going to a friends. I wasn't sure what one. I rarely saw her with anyone when I passed her at school but almost every weekend since middle school she had found a place to hide her tail. Sometimes I was jealous, other times I was impressed that other people could stand Leslie's attitude that long, and most times I just wished I could go with.

Chris had some kind of practice he was going to. Some sport with a ball, I think. It was hard to keep track. He was always in one sport or another, and when it wasn't sports it was clubs. Whatever could eat his time up and give him a good scholarship.

All I had was Hanna and about twenty dogs with wet noses trying to get into my pockets. We were supposed to be leashing up a few to go for a walk but as soon as they all saw the leash they went crazy in their outdoor pen. Hanna was laughing and trying to wrangle her favorite little mutt into his harness. The thing was the size and shape of a tree trunk.

"Holy crap, they are excitable today!" Hanna breathed as we finally escape, each of us holding two leashes in each hand. "I think they missed you!"

I snorted. I hadn't come with Hanna in a few weeks, mostly cause I was trying not to get too attached to her, but also cause mom hated pets. She got extremely peeved the last time I came home from the shelter and I still had dog hair on my shirt.

"I doubt they care that much," I answered pulling a small yorky mix away from someones mailbox. "I think it was more the prospect of escaping."

Hanna wasn't really listening. "It's almost summer. Hoping some of these guys can get homes soon. Taddy has been here since last New Years." Her eyes flitted to a lanky gray dog with a large white spot on his forehead. "I swear, people are so irresponsible. Did you know he was a Christmas present for their kid and they dropped his ass at the shelter cause, and I quote,"we didn't know he would get that big". Isn't the horrible?"

"Sounds like something my mom would do." I said it without thinking and winced. Hanna looked at me with her huge eyes and scoffed.

"Well, that's no way to treat pets,"she scowled. "Ruby over here was left in a closet for months before someone found her. Apparently, her owners just up and left. I'd love to give them a piece of my mind." Hanna raised a fist the best she could while holding onto two pulling dogs.

I shrugged. "I was never allowed pets growing up. My mom says they are too nosy."

"Nosy?"

"And dirty," I added as Kimber, a tiny little thing with a stub tail, peed all over the concrete.

"All living things are dirty in someway," Hanna pointed out sounding almost a bit hurt. I shrugged again at her.

"Probably why my mom hates mostly everyone." It slipped out casually but as soon as I said it I felt my stomach twist. Why did I have to say that? Now Hanna was giving meone of those questioning glances that I absolutely hated. This is why I hated talking to people. The looks and opinions that rattled in their head.

"She sounds like a shitty person."

I didn't respond after that, just kept my eyes forward and walked.

"So...that's it then? Time to clamup? Seriously, you okay at home, cause, like, you don't seem to be a well adapted person and all," Hanna pried.

My eyes shifted to her quick and then back to the sidewalk.

"I won't tell anyone. Unless it's super serious and all. I just kind of worry a bit," Hanna added, her voice dropping low as if she were telling me a secret.