Girl's Best Friend

Chapter Five: Idea

When I get home, I go straight to the barn. Jake is nowhere to be seen, but the meatloaf is gone. I go to the pile of straw where I hid the meatloaf last night. The plastic bag is shredded and all the meat is gone. I groan. Jake must've found that too.
I go back outside, where my dad is butchering a pig. I pull on some rubber gloves that are sitting next to some knives and other dangerous looking items.
"I can clear this for you." I say to Dad, gesturing towards the pig's innards. He has a knife between his teeth, so all he can do is grunt, but I take the grunt as a "yes" and pick up the innards. I hold them at arm's length, trying not to look too closely at what I'm holding.
I bring the innards to the barn and set them on the board. Then I climb the ladder to the loft.
Jake comes out of the barn, nose twitching. I try to keep as still as I can so I don't scare him. He doesn't notice me, or doesn't care.
He slobbers down the meal, then, stomach bulging, waddles to the tarp, turns around three times, and collapses with a sigh.
When I'm sure he's asleep, I silently climb down the ladder and start towards him. I reach out my hand and gently stroke his side. He doesn't wake, only streches his legs until they are stiff as boards.
I stroke him until Julia storms into the barn. "Hannah! Hannah! There you are, Mom wants you, Hannah!"
Jake jumps, looks around, then skitters into the horse stable. Julia doesn't notice.
"Come on Hannah, Mom wants you!" She tugs on my arm.
"Okay, okay." I say. I follow her inside.
"Hannah, I need your help canning." Mom says as I walk in the door.
An hour later, it's raining. Mom finally says I can go, but when I pull my coat on, she stops me. "No, I don't want you getting pneumonia or anything." Mom says. "Stay inside, read a book!"
I scowl.
Mom gives me squinty-eyes. Again.

I read the Australian Shepherd book from cover to cover. Mom calls me downstairs to set the table. After I'm done I start going back upstairs again.
"No, Hannah, you haven't been spending enough time with the family lately." Mom says. "It's time for supper. Then we are going to play a game."
I pout, but Mom gives me those dreaded squinty-eyes again and I say, "Okay. I will."
Like I have any choice.
We have supper. It's a microwave meal, chicken potpies, which seems so boring after having salmon with cheese. I can tell when my parents are worried, and it's when they don't have time to make a good meal. They'll break out the stash of microwave meals in our downstairs freezer.
Julia chooses the game. I don't get any say in it. It isn't a game. Well, not a board game like I expected. It's a tea party. Julia plays "tea party" all the time just to get extra dessert.
I sit on another tiny chair while Julia pours the "tea" (water). It reminds me of my trip yesterday to the principal's office. My parents must not know about it, because they haven't asked me about it yet. I'm not going to be the one to tell them.
After an agonizing half hour of "Would you like more sugar in your tea?" and "These cakes are simply superb!" I can go.
I race to my room and hop on my bed. I open the Australian Shepherd book:

Chapter 3: The race
This is the moment you've been waiting for. Your dog has been training for months and finally you're ready. The course has jumps, tunnels, ramps, and even a lap pool! A huge audience is watching. You watch the first contestant: one minute and thirty-five point three seconds. This will be hard to beat. You're up next.
Up next.
Next.
Just before I fall asleep, I suddenly know how we can save our farm.