Norman's Neighborhood

Thirteen

"That was Logan Scott!" Zoe informed her brother as they pulled away from the sidewalk.
"Yes, it was," Zach agreed dryly. "He does exist outside of  school."
Zoe was quiet for a few minutes, then began to hum to herself softly. She gradually increased her volume, and began to sing words.
Zach did not know the song, but it sounded nice. Zoe was a good singer. The song was probably one she was learning in the school choir.

**********

At six o'clock, Valerie locked the doors and settled the register. She picked up the envelope with the day's cash transactions, went to the kitchen, and stuck her head in the doorway.
"I'm done out here; I'll see you in the family room."
Sam, who was tidying the food prep area, looked up and smiled at his wife.
"I'll be there in a few minutes."
"I hope Zach is driving carefully," Valerie worried.
"He'll do just fine," Sam reassured her. "He's very conscientious."

**********

Having spent a couple hours in the company of his biology textbook, David Scott decided to head over to the campus basketball court for some more lighthearted activity. Since his bout with meningitis, he had become health-conscious; he knew he needed sunshine and exercise. There would likely be a mid-afternoon game going on, with the usual group of players in attendance.

He found most of the regulars there, as well as a few people with whom he was unacquainted.
His roommate, Jacob "Zip" Duncan, was among the habitual haunters of the court. Zip was not exceptionally tall, but his wiry agility gave him an advantage. He darted around the court with fervor, as if the game were the most important part of his day.

Cory Carmichael, whose curly brown hair was stuck to the sides of his head due to profuse perspiration, tried in vain to block a shot by Daniel Golly. Daniel, a trim West African from Côte d'Ivoire, was several inches taller than David's six-foot three. He was also a medical school hopeful, and David had two classes with the earnest young Ivoirian.

"Nice shot, Daniel!" David called out. The others gestured for him to join the game.
"Enough books for the day?" asked Zip.
"Yeah - I need some air," responded David.
Cory swiftly tossed the ball out to his left, directly toward David. Barely catching it, David passed it off to a bony blond he didn't know.

Suddenly, across David's mind came a mental video of Norman playing catch with David and Logan. Tongue hanging out, the exuberant gray dog galloped across the field in pursuit of the ball.
He grabbed it in his jaws and came bounding back to David, who pulled him close and patted his flank. Then he rubbed Norman's ear between his finger and thumb, while the big dog squinted his eyes in pleasure and licked David's arm...

Now, Norman had gone missing. What if he didn't come back?
"Hey, David, pay attention!" warned Zip.
"Sorry," David apologized. "My mom just told me that our dog is missing. I guess I'm distracted."

**********

Norman made a second circuit around the enclosed yard, hoping he had missed an opening the first time. Determining that he hadn't, he plodded back to the door and slumped disconsolately on the pathway. He sighed, thinking over his day of fruitless attempts to locate his people...

Bill and Marguerite had kindly provided him with a breakfast of sausages. The Benson children and their friends had welcomed him to their yard, and then that insufferable barking idiot of a dachshund had rousted him. He had narrowly missed being flattened by an out-of-control automobile, and the fright had sent him careening wildly to parts unknown.

He had been fed lunch and pleasantly waylaid at Millie's house for the duration of the storm, and had departed only to find Yaya in peril. He had voluntarily gone with the Ganas family, feeling responsible for ensuring the old woman's safety. Again, he had been fed and sheltered until he asked to go out - and here he was, trapped until someone came out that door.