House of Blues

piss out of him?"
    " I just think having a dog will make him feel
secure."
    " Haven't you noticed that animal is vicious?"
    " He just doesn't like you, that's all."
    "Doesn't like me! He nearly tore my throat out.
Well, look, let's say for a minute that he's just the most precious
little pooch and Kenny loves him to death. What do you think Jimmy
Dee's going to think?"
    " Jimmy Dee?"
    "Yes, Jimmy Dee. The kid's uncle and guardian.
Have you noticed how absolutely fabulous he made that house, just for
those kids? How do you think he's going to like the last of the
timber wolves leaping up on the dining room table and scarfing the
pasta?"
    " Jimmy Dee," Steve said again, as if he'd
just heard of him for the first time.
    "Did you get that thing from the pound?"
    " Yes. Why?"
    "Okay, well, Kenny's going to ask that too. So
here's how it's going to go—assuming we don't have to pump
Napoleon's stomach to get Kenny out. Meaning this is the best case
scenario. "Kenny and Napoleon fall in love. But Jimmy Dee says
he can't have the dog. So then he knows Napoleon's got to go back to
the pound, where he's going to meet a horrible end. How do you think
that's going to make him feel?"
    "God, you're being nasty."
    She was, and she knew it. But somehow she just
couldn't stop. "Nasty! I just came home to a mouth full of teeth
and a kitchen full of shit. Anyway, I can't get over how thoughtless
you were about this."
    "Thoughtless! Nobody else is doing anything for
Kenny."
    " That isn't fair and you know it."
    " You have the nerve to tell me—oh shit,
listen."
    Skip heard children's voices. "Where'd you put
Napoleon?"
    " In the courtyard. Tied up. Don't worry."
    By now the dog had set up a racket. Without another
word, Steve went tearing downstairs. Skip stopped to pull on a pair
of shorts and a T-shirt.
    She arrived in the courtyard to find a young man on
the ground with Sheila bending over him, Steve holding Napoleon and
looking grim, and Kenny staring wide-eyed, holding out a hand for the
dog to sniff.
    Napoleon's tail began to wag. A pink tongue came out
and licked Kenny's hand. Gaining confidence, Kenny began to pet the
dog's massive head. Napoleon snuggled into the caress as if he'd died
and gone to heaven.
    Sheila said, "You're sure you're okay?" and
began helping her friend up.
    The boy looked as if he had the flu.
    "What's happening?" said Skip.
    Sheila put a hand on her hip, outraged. "He
attacked Emery."
    Emery. Sheila's new boyfriend—or what passed for a
boyfriend in the eighth grade. She'd better try to make amends, Skip
thought, and held out her hand. "I'm Skip. He doesn't like me
either."
    The boy managed a weak smile, but Sheila scowled.
    Steve had by now let go of Napoleon's collar, and
Kenny was caressing his chest and back, petting him all over as
reverently as if the dog were a unicorn with whom he'd been granted
an audience. Emery continued to stare round-eyed at the animal.
    Finally, he blurted, "I think I'd better go
home."
    "But Emery," Sheila said, and her eyes
locked with his. She saw the futility of protest and stopped in
mid-whine. "I'm sorry this happened." She sounded so polite
and grown-up, Skip was bowled over.
    Sheila walked him back to the street, and when she
returned, she hissed, "What is that animal doing here?" Her
eyes meant war. Skip couldn't believe this was the same Sheila who
only the night before had asked Steve not to go back to California.
Now she hated him. Steve glanced guiltily at Skip. "He's a
provisional pet. I mean, he could be a pet if Uncle jimmy agreed."
    Kenny stared at Steve like an actor in one of those
movies in which island natives think a shipwrecked man is god. "You
got him for us?"
    "Well, a boy needs a dog, don't you think?"
    Sheila said, "Do you know what you just did to
me? I'm probably never going to see Emery again." Tears were
starting.
    Steve grinned. "Napoleon really didn't like him,
did he?"
    She started to sob. "I didn't want a dog, I
wanted a cat."
    Kenny stared at her, astonished.
    "I don't see why I can't have a cat."
    A voice came from the side of the house. "Anybody
home?"
    They heard metal against metal as Jimmy Dee unlocked
the gate. Napoleon started barking as if the Huns were invading.
Steve grabbed his collar again.
    They heard Sheila say, "Uncle Jimmy, if Kenny
can have a dog, why can't I have a cat?"
    "If Kenny can what?" Jimmy Dee came into
view and proved the third person that day who reminded Napoleon of
someone. The dog strained against his