Skunked! Read Online Free Page A

He’s pretty miserable. And to make it worse, Father has banished him, which makes him really miserable.”

    â€œThen I suggest you mix up five parts hydrogen peroxide, five parts baking soda, and one part liquid soap. Leave it on the beast for several minutes before washing it off. Repeat this process several times. You will find what you need in the laboratory.”
    â€œThank you.” I turned to go.
    â€œBe careful not to spill the hydrogen peroxide on your clothes.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œIt will bleach them. And avoid storing the mixture in a closed bottle.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œIt is likely to explode.”
    â€œ Explode? Really? Perhaps you could, uh, come and help me.”
    â€œCalpurnia, did I not teach you your proper weights and measures?”
    â€œYessir, you did.”
    â€œWell, then.” He went back to his reading.
    I went to the laboratory out back, which was really just an old shed where Granddaddy did his experiments. Sometimes I’d sit with him and take notes.
    There were many bottles of chemicals on the shelves, the more dangerous ones marked with a skull and crossbones. I finally found what I needed and measured out the three ingredients, careful to keep the mixture off my dress. I poured it all into a big jar and left the cap off. An explosion was the very last thing I needed (although it might be quite interesting). Then I stopped off in the house and swiped a bar of Mother’s fancy rose-scented soap that she kept for special occasions. I figured this occasion was special enough.

    I met up with Travis, and we took Ajax to the river on a leash, me carrying the open jar and taking care not to spill it. Progress was slow.
    Travis asked, “Why didn’t you put a lid on it?”
    â€œYou don’t want to know.”
    At the river we took off our boots and led Ajax into the water. We covered him with our recipe and made him stand there for several minutes. Then we splashed him with water and rinsed him off. Then we did it again. And again. He kept trying to climb up the bank, and we kept scolding him and pushing him back into the water. Nobody, neither child nor dog, enjoyed themselves.
    Then we did a final scrub with Mother’s fancy soap. Ajax still smelled like a skunk but not as much. And now he at least smelled like a skunk that had been rolling in rose petals.
    â€œWhat do we do with Stinky and Winky?” Travis said.
    â€œWe’ll let them go where you found them. They’ll be happier in the wild, you know.”
    â€œThat’s not what I meant.”
    â€œCome on, Travis.…”
    â€œNo, Callie, not yet. Maybe when they’re bigger and can look after themselves. What about Ajax? I’m afraid he’ll attack them again.”
    â€œAfter that? No dog could possibly be that dumb.”
    We looked over at Ajax, who had chosen that exact second to scratch himself with such a silly expression that we both had a moment of doubt. He squinted and grinned, his upper lip caught on an eyetooth. I’d be willing to bet that no dog in the history of the world had ever looked dumber.
    â€œHmm,” I said, “I guess we should put the kits in the loft for now. They’ll be safe there.”
    We took Ajax home and pushed him under the porch, giving him strict instructions to “Stay!” Then we went to the loft, which was sunny and warm and dry. It smelled of sweet hay, and when the sun shone in at just the right angle, you could see a million golden flecks of dust dancing in the air. It felt like a magical place. Up there you could see all the way to the cotton gin downtown and miles of cotton fields in the other direction. It was also a good place to do gymnastics in that you could do rolls and flips and cartwheels in the loose hay without hurting yourself too badly.
    It was no easy task hauling the cage up the ladder but we finally managed. Travis took the kits up in his overalls. We let them