Storm Watcher Read Online Free Page B

storms. Luke almost felt – not quite normal – but better than he had since Mom died.
    When they finished training on Friday afternoon, Willajean called to Luke, “Come with me, Lost-and-Found. I want to show you something.”
    Luke’s heart did a tight double squeeze in his chest. He hadn’t been inside the house yet. And what did she mean by lost-and-found ? Perhaps she was merely referring to his daily task of getting lost in the woods.
    She led him through the house. He gawked at all the rooms they passed. One after another. This place was humongous. Boxes were stacked everywhere. But a few areas had been unpacked. A flat, wide-screen TV that had to be at least fifty-two inches hung on the wall of the living room with a brand new video game system underneath. Luke wanted to stop and drool over the tall stack of video games, but didn’t.
    The longest table he’d ever seen filled the dining room. It would make a great bike ramp. Stopping in an enclosed sun porch, Willajean pointed to a large wooden whelping box. Sprawled inside was a sleeping bloodhound, surprising because seven puppies roughhoused nearby.
    “Here’s the litter. They were born on June first, so at the end of July you can take one home – a belated birthday present.”
    “Uh…yeah that’s great.” Luke tried to get excited about his birthday tomorrow, but without Mom it just wouldn’t be the same. No off-key singing. No girly-color wrapping paper. No over-cooked cake. He swallowed. How could the things that had annoyed him so much before be missed so much it hurt deep down inside? He’d actually been trying to forget about his birthday. And although the blood pups were super cute, they grew into big dogs just like the three they already had at home. Did he even want one?
    “Do you have a name picked out yet?” Willajean asked.
    Luke hadn’t considered names. He cleared his throat. “No. But I know I’d like a female.” For Mom. Plus Dad couldn’t say no to that.
    A papillon raced into the room, barking and yipping, obviously agitated. Willajean picked the dog up. “Well, you might want to wait until you get to know your dog. They have distinct personalities. Isn’t that right, Sweetie?” Willajean asked the papillon. Sweetie squirmed, and Willajean set her down. She raced to the door, then stopped and glanced at Willajean. She whined.
    “What’s the matter?” Willajean followed the dog.
    Luke stood in the sunroom, uncertain if he should go or stay.
    After a couple minutes, Willajean came running back with a white mass in her arms and Sweetie yipping at her heels. “Lady’s in labor. She’s early. Luke, quick, get that white box off the shelf.”
    “Uh.” Luke stammered, but he spotted the box and struggled to get it down.
    When he placed it on the floor, Willajean pointed to a bag full of towels. “Use them to cover the bottom.”
    He spread them out.
    Willajean laid the dog on top. “Go get Megan, please.”
    Luke ran to the kennel’s kitchen.
    “Where ya been?” Megan asked as soon as he burst into the room.
    “Lady.” He gasped. “In…labor.”
    “Already?” Megan washed her hands.
    How could she be so calm? Luke wanted to rush back to the house, but kept pace with Megan. By the time they returned, poor Lady was panting and shaking.
    Pulling on a pair of latex gloves, Megan helped Lady while Luke and Willajean watched. He was unable to tear his gaze away. Lady strained, and a blob came out her back end, followed by a gush of blood. Gross. The blob didn’t resemble a puppy at all. Covered with a see-through film, it had a string that went back inside Lady.
    Megan moved the blob closer to Lady’s head. Lady chewed off the sack, and cleaned the pup with her tongue. Really gross.
    Megan pointed to a gooey mass and said, “That’s the placenta, and this is the umbilical cord.” She held the pup up, and Lady cut the cord with her teeth. “You gotta make sure the mother dog doesn’t chew off the puppy’s