can wear.”

“Well, you don’t deserve to wear that uniform, boy,” Mr. Baker fumed, “Now get this through your head: If I ever see you dressed like this again, you won’t ever see my daughter again.”

Balto was shaking. The last threat had struck a deep nerve in him and he lost all will to speak. Mr. Baker noticed this, in addition to the sudden paleness of Balto’s face. He stepped back and nodded, his eyes still burning with anger. As he turned around, though, he came face to face with his mother.

“George, you ought to be ashamed!” she scolded, “Leave the poor boy alone! He’s done nothing to deserve that!”

“The boy’s insulting every man who ever wore that uniform!”

“He’s doing that uniform an honor, wearing it to his junior prom! You know how young boys are these days,” his mother replied, “Look at it! It’s been washed, pressed, and even the buttons have been shined! It’s in pristine condition, unlike yours!” At this, Mr. Baker’s furred cheeks, which were already red with anger, turned purple, and his veins began to show.

“It doesn’t matter how the uniform looks if what’s in it is filthy!” he thundered. Ms. Baker acted as though she had not heard this, crossed her arms, and looked her son straight in the eye.

“You never won an argument with me, and you won’t win this one,” she said in a calm, firm voice, “Jenna is going to the dance with this young man, and he’s going to wear whatever he pleases.” She then gave George Baker the look a mother gives her son when she wishes to say, ‘I have spoken. This argument is over.” Her son, however, was not quite so easily moved this time.

“Mother, that ‘young man’ is a half-breed!” he hissed. Ms. Baker gasped and put her hand over her mouth, but quickly slapped her son for such an insult.

“That’s quite enough out of you! Get out of this room this instant!” she said firmly, pointing to the entryway, “I don’t care where you go; just go somewhere else! You just wait until your wife gets home, boy, you’ll hear from me! Now go!”

Mr. Baker looked from his mother to Balto, who was standing quite still against the wall, and then back to his mother, who by that time had crossed her arms again and had begun to glare at him. Fuming, he turned and walked briskly past Annie and down the hall with clenched fists. He was not yet far enough away to avoid being heard, however, when he growled,

“Stupid half-breed, what does he think he’s doing, wearing that uniform?”

“I think he looks magnificent!” said a young female voice from behind him. Mr. Baker turned around. Jenna had just come from her room and, without so much as a glance toward her father, walked right up to Balto and hugged him. Unknowingly, she had snapped him out of his shocked, frightened trance and brought him back to his usual self. When he snapped out of this trance, he gasped.

For the first time since they met, he thought Jenna more beautiful than she had ever been. Instead of one of her simple, long skirts, she wore a magnificent blue dress that might have been worn by an angel. She had also let her red hair fall past her shoulders; it matched perfectly with what could be seen of the back of her neck. In stark contrast, the front of her face, muzzle, neck, and chest were all of a cream color. All of this beauty combined in one creature can have a starling effect on anyone who sees her, but especially so on one who loves her, as Balto did.

“Jenna,” he said with a sense of awe, “you look…incredible!”

Jenna blushed and smiled.

“Thanks.”

“Are you ready to go?”

“Whenever you are.”

“Then, shall we?” Balto asked, indicating the door.

“By all means.” Both teens laughed good-heartedly at their overly-elegant language.

Balto held the door open for Jenna and the two descended the front steps together; two friends, on one special night.

Chapter Two

A Feeling

That evening, Balto and Jenna arrived at their high school just as the dance was starting. Pulling up to the front of the building, he cut the engine and stepped out. Walking around the front of the car, he then opened Jenna’s door and, once she had stepped out, offered her his hand.

The school gym had been converted into a rectangular dance floor with candle-lit tables on all sides, near the walls. At one end stood a small stage. Some couples talked and laughed at their tables while others danced to slow music from an old phonograph on the stage.

“Would you like something to drink, Jenna?”

“It looks like they have lemonade; that sounds good.”

“I’ll get two.”

“Thanks,” Jenna replied, taking a seat at a nearby vacant table, “I’ll wait here.”

No sooner had Balto disappeared into the crowd than a black and white malamute walked up to Jenna.

“Jenna,” he said, “nice to see you here.” Jenna sighed quietly.

“Hello Steele.”

“Care to dance?” he drawled, leaning an elbow on the table.

“Thanks, but I’m here with someone else.”

“Really?” He looked around. “I don’t see anyone.”

“He’s getting us drinks,” Jenna replied, becoming annoyed.

“Is that so?” Steele said with a laugh, sitting down opposite her. He leaned closer and pointed toward the buffet table. “Well then, if he’s getting punch, I’d advise you to have him drink it first.”

Jenna followed his gesture and watched, astonished, as a few boys gathered around the punch bowl began to sway back and forth. She looked at Steele with a gaze that said, “Just what are you trying to pull?” and he grinned.

“A little gift from my friends at the bar downtown,” he explained. Jenna, more than a bit undignified, shook her head.

“We don’t need alcohol to have a good time, Steele,” she growled, raising her voice.

“Shh!” he whispered, glancing frantically around them. Finally satisfied that no one had heard, he leaned toward her. “You got it all wrong, Jenna. I’m having the time of my life, but sometimes things get a little…boring.” He ended with a chuckle, but Jenna just shook her head. Steele cleared his throat, eager to change the subject. “So, who’s the lucky guy that got you?” Jenna just sat and stared past him with a smile on her face. The answer came from behind him.

“Ahem.”

Steele quickly snapped his head around in surprise. Balto stood just behind him, holding two tall glasses filled to the brim.

“Excuse me,” he said, “but you’re in my seat.”

Still staring at Balto in disbelief, Steele got up, and with one last glance at Jenna, walked off. Balto watched him for a moment, and then sat down.

“I see the quarterback has his eyes on you,” he said, handing Jenna her glass.

“Eventually he’ll learn that the world doesn’t revolve around the football team, despite how much he believes the contrary.” Jenna lifted the glass to her lips, but stopped suddenly and examined the glass carefully. This caught Balto’s attention. “Lemonade right?”

“Yep, ice cold. Why?”

Jenna took a drink and then pointed to the buffet table. Balto spotted the same unfortunate boys that Jenna had seen and shook his head.

“The punch has been drugged,” Jenna said with an air of disgust.

“So I see,” Balto replied, “Steele?”

Jenna nodded.

Just then, a tan husky escorting a brown female passed by and Balto, recognizing him immediately, called him over.

“Kaltag! Hey, Kaltag!” The husky turned.

“Balto? Is that you?”

“Come on over. Take a seat!” Balto cried happily, pulling two more chairs up to the table. As Kaltag and his date sat down, Balto leaned toward Jenna. “You don’t mind, do you?” Jenna smiled.

“Of course not.”

“Balto,” Kaltag interrupted, “what kind of suit is that?”

“My dad’s old uniform,” Balto replied, “you know we humble farmers have no use for suits.”

“Too true, too true,” Kaltag remarked with a laugh.

“Laugh while you can,” Balto replied, “Just wait until I get my own uniform. We’ll see who’s laughing then.” Balto and Kaltag burst into laughter, but Jenna took Balto’s hint to heart, and was slower to join in. Balto noticed this, and stopped laughing.

“Jenna, are you alright?” he asked, seeing the slightest pallor of her cheeks.

“Yes, I’m…fine,” she insisted.

“Jen, would you, uh, like to dance?” Balto inquired, standing up and offering her his hand.

“Of course,” she replied, taking his hand.

Balto led her out onto the dance floor and they joined hands. Almost embracing, they began to step and sway with the music playing from the phonograph.

“Balto,” Jenna said, “You said you’d be getting your own uniform… Did you…”

Balto hung his head.

“Yeah, I enlisted a month ago,” he replied softly, “I’m lucky they called me up after the dance.” He paused. “Now I’m wishing I hadn’t signed up at all.”

“Balto, don’t say that,” Jenna said.

“But I mean it Jenna!” Balto whispered, “I never should have joined up. I should have stayed here with you.” He looked her in the eye, and she saw that he was beginning to cry.

“Balto, I’ve know you since we were just kids,” she said soothingly, “And you are the bravest, kindest, most wonderful boy I’ve ever met.” She hugged him tightly. “You go out there, and make us proud of you.”

Just then, the phonograph was stopped, and a senior choir girl began to sing as a saxophone played a slow, jazzed love song. Balto and Jenna took notice, and began to dance slowly along with the music.

How do I get through one night without you?

If I had to live without you, what kind of life would that be?

Oh, love, I need you in my arms need you to hold,

You’re my world my heart my soul

If you ever leave, baby you would take away everything good in my life

There was a short pause, and Jenna and Balto looked deep into each other’s eyes. They embraced as the girl continued to sing.

Without you, there’d be no sun in my sky

There would be no love in my life, there’d be no world left for me

And I, baby I don’t know what I would do, I’d be lost if I lost you

If you ever leave, baby you would take away everything real in my life

And tell me