Adopting Jenny Read Online Free Page A

Dad’s face. He said, “Joanie, I said no. Now go get the dog some food.”
    â€œBut…” My stomach knotted. “Why?”
    â€œWe’ve been over this, Joanie . A nother dog is expensive and a lot of work . ” Dad closed his eyes and sighed.
    â€œThat’s so…that’s so dumb!”
    â€œTo your room, Joanie,” he said in a voice that left no room for discussion.
    We didn’t talk about it anymore , but the next morning when I got up , Mr. Ice Cream was gone.
    ****
    After the fourth attempt at nursing, frustration began creeping onto Mom’s face. She centered herself and started the whole routine of a drop of Karo syrup on the tongue before offering the opportunity to nurse.
    Penny grunted as her head snapped up. She had nodded off to sleep again. She exhaled sharply. “I’m going to bed.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea,” Mom said. “Joanie, why don’t you head up to bed too.”
    â€œNo,” I said too quickly, too sharply. That earned a frown from Mom. I reminded myself not to get into trouble or that would automatically relegate me to the sidelines during this little adventure. “Please, Mom, just a little longer?”
    Mom opened her mouth to reply, but she was cut off by Lee. His wail strengthened with each second that Mom didn’t spring to his bedside. Normally I would have been cringing at the piercing sound, but at the moment, I was relieved to have Mom’s attention diverted. She wiped her hands on the towel spread across her lap and stood.
    â€œDon’t move the puppies,” she said. “Let these two stay with Jenny.”
    I watched the two puppies nip at each other’s ears. Heavy footsteps thudded down the stairs. Peering around the doorway, I saw Dad entering the kitchen. He hovered near the refrigerator as if he couldn’t decide whether or not to get some food out or whether he wanted to come into the breakfast nook with me. I chewed my lip while I waited for him to make his choice. If he decided I was in the way, I would be in bed faster than I could blink.
    This seemed to be my constant struggle with Dad. I would always be too little, too annoying, or too in the way.
    The quiet of the house settled around us, and for a moment the peace made me relax. I hadn’t realized how tense I had become, but since Dad had entered the room, I guess that made sense. Right now, though, it was nice to feel so calm around my father.
    Out of the calm Dad said, “Have I ever told you how I met Mom?”
    I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. “No,” I said. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard your version.”
    â€œI’m sure Mom’s told you a thousand times,” Dad said, leaning his head back against the wall. “But she has no idea what she did to me that day. Totally changed my life.”
    I cuddled an arm around Jenny and leaned against her soft, warm side. One of the puppies was still snuffling around her tummy, and occasionally Jenny would lean over and give it an encouraging lick. I waited for Dad to continue.
    Finally he said, “I don’t know if you knew this or not, but I left school at sixteen. Just dropped out. I tried to join the army, but I was too young. I got some construction jobs, but mainly I just drifted around. My folks hated that.” He paused and rubbed his chin. Then he said, “So when I was nineteen I decided to go back and finish high school.”
    â€œThat’s good,” I said, mainly just to have something to say, but also because I did think it was a good decision on his part. I couldn’t imagine dropping out of school and then going back when I was practically ancient.
    â€œYeah, but man, I was so much older, or at least I felt so much older,” Dad said. “Anyway, the day I got there my cousin told me that he had someone he wanted me to meet. We turned a corner and there she was; your mom. She was