Sally's Bones Read Online Free Page B

Sally hugged him tightly.
    As Mr. Simplesmith searched the scene for something he could understand, he discovered one simple truth. In the soulful brown eyes of his daughter and the twinkling black orbs of her pet, he detected love. Though he could not imagine living with a corpse, neither could he bear to cause Sally more pain. He agreed to let Bones remain on the conditions that he stay off the couch and be kept their family’s secret. Sally did not immediately agree.
    â€œBut wh-hy?” she whined. “Bones is amazing. Everyone will love him!”
    â€œMany people will fear him,” her father replied. “This thing—”

    â€œDog,” Sally corrected. “My dog, Bones.”
    Seymour smiled faintly. “All right. Your dog Bones is…unique. And many people are afraid of things they’ve never seen before, especially when those things appear to be skeletal animals returned from the dead.” Seymour leaned in a bit closer now, his scientific curiosity getting the best of him. “It is fascinating, though. How does he function without a central nervous system or organs of any kind? Hmmm…”
    Mr. Simplesmith paced the kitchen. He picked up a drumstick and tapped it lightly against his lips. Knowing she had lost her father to the turning wheels of his singularly brilliant brain, Sally shifted Bones off her lap and returned to the table. It had been a long day, and she was actually quite hungry.
    â€œThe chicken really is good, Dad,” she offered brightly. “I meant what I said before I choked on it. Have some.”
    Mr. Simplesmith regarded the uneaten drumstick in his hand and shook his head. “I think I’ve had enough to digest tonight,” he sighed. “Perhaps Bones would like some of the scraps, though? Here you go, uh, boy.” His hands shaking slightly, Sally’s father tossed the chicken leg at the lifeless mutt. Bones shuffled backward and shot Sally a horrified look. He opened his mouth to protest, but before he had the chance, Sally was speaking.
    â€œOh, gee, Bones. Isn’t that soooo nice of my father? Giving you something he made himself in the hopes that you’d like it and would feel welcome in your new home?” Sally looked to Bones with pleading eyes. She nodded her head encouragingly, praying that he would pretend to like the marrowbones of dead animals just this once.
    At first, the dead dog merely glared at her, unblinking and unyielding. Sally was about to confess her dog’s deep disdain for the bone her father had gifted when the cadaver conceded. Sighing heavily, Bones took the meaty bone by its tip, careful to touch it only with his front teeth. He carried it behind Sally’s chair and growled low so that only she could hear.
    Mr. Simplesmith grinned. “He obviously likes being with you, Sal.” His smile faded. “Which is problematic.” He took a chicken wing and began to nibble on it.
    â€œCome on, Dad,” Sally said, rolling her eyes. “Do you really think an angry mob is going to knock down our door when they find out about Bones?”
    Just then a gust of wind blew open the kitchen door, and a loud crash came from the yard behind the Simplesmiths’ house. Seymour rose to check out the commotion, but Sally beat him to it.
    â€œHa ha,” she laughed nervously as she pulled the door to her. “Guess we forgot to close up. Good thing it’s just a windy night and this has absolutely nothing to do with your concern for Bones’s safety.”
    Her father frowned. “It’s not Bones I’m worried about, Sal,” he explained as he returned to his seat. “Your pet’s exposure could put us all in danger. I’m sorry, but your safety is my top priority. The deal is this—Bones can stay here, but only in secret. And if I get one whiff of any trouble, he’s got to go. Understood?”
    The deal was not at all understandable to Sally.