----

Wedge zigzagged in and out of Evon’s long legs.

“Hey..Hold…Wedge…”  Evon sighed and gave up trying to get a hold of the pup.  He lied down and let Wedge chew on his tail.  Carolina walked up to him, using her best efforts to suppress a smile.

“This isn’t funny, Carol.”

Carolina sat down and curled her tail around her.  “Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure.  And besides, Marilyn’s expecting a baby soon, so you’ll have two kids to deal with, both dog and human.”

“Goody,” was all Evon could say.  Carolina got up and kissed Evon on the forehead, along with Wedge.  “I’ll be back by the end of the afternoon,” she said,” I expect Wedge to be asleep when I return.”

Evon shifted his gaze at Wedge.  I highly doubt that…

“I’ll try.”

Carolina disappeared out of the dog door, and Wedge hopped off his dad and started chewing on a chair leg.  Evon jumped to his feet, whisking Wedge from the leg.  “No chewing on chairs—or any wood for that matter—Bad boy.  No chew, bad, bad.”

And I came all the way from a revered background to be scolding a pup in baby talk.  He released a sigh.  Oy vey.

For the rest of the day, Evon was running around the house, picking up Wedge from damaging anything valuable or things he’d get in trouble for destroying, unless, of course, Wedge decided to use the floor as his own personal toilet.

“We-edge!” Evon groaned when he saw a fresh puddle on the floor.  Wedge hung his head and darted under the parlor’s sofa.  Evon alerted Marilyn who came in and mopped up the mess.  Evon warned Wedge for what seemed the billionth time, and took him outside.  “You go potty here.  No potty inside; here.”

Wedge looked at his dad, then back at the snow.

“Here,” Evon repeated.

Wedge squatted over the frozen flower garden.

“No, no, NO!”

Confused, Wedge got up and scurried back inside.  Evon rolled his eyes heavenward.  Help me.

~                                                            ~                                                                        ~

Carolina retreated into the house just as the sun began to set, and the temperature began to drop.  She glanced this way and that.

“Evon?”

A yip returned her call.  She trotted into the parlor, finding Evon asleep in the dog basket, and Wedge chewing up a lace pillow.  Carolina didn’t know whether to laugh or moan.  I guess I’d better stay home from now on.

----

Chapter One

Wedge peered through a window, seeing some dogs go into town from out of nowhere.  It was two in the morning, and he hadn’t slept at all the past night.  Suspicious, Wedge wondered if this was the pack of dogs terrorizing parts of the town.  His heart raced as he slipped through the door.  I hope I know what I’m getting myself into…  He stayed to the shadows and swiftly made his way through the alleys without a sound.  Crouched, his brown eyes intently watching the newcomers, he barely noticed the shadow creeping up behind him.  All in a whirl, a large dog grabbed him and flung Wedge against an alley wall.  Wedge skidded to a stop, blinking and rising to his feet.

“What’re you doing out of you home, house pet?”  The dog asked, making sure to stay in the shadows.  Wedge felt a tiny flame of anger.  Strays always made fun of housedogs; this one was similar to all the others in that way.  He tried to think up a good reply.

“Curious about what you chewed up, tick-infested fleabags are up to.”

He inwardly smiled.  Nice comeback.  The dog did a pretty good job at containing his anger.

“Pathetic little pup.  You should know better than being out alone—“

“—It’s bad for your health,” a scraggly voice finished.

Wedge stole a look to the alley’s entrance.  His stomach churned.  Not one, but five other dogs started skulking towards him.  He leveled himself so his back end faced the other end of the alley and began to back up.  The dog that had tackled him gave a low chuckle.

“You can’t escape us.  Now boys, be easy on him, he’s just a house dog.”

The sounds of chortling and sniggering came from the pack.  They broke out into a run.  He had no time for the “I’m not looking for any trouble” speech.  It was time for him to scram. Wedge made it halfway out of the alley before someone landed on his back, slamming him to the ground.  Wedge landed with a grunt and made a face plant.  He felt teeth bite into his neck and wriggled to get them off.  Everything was a whirl of tooth and claw about him.  It was all so confusing, first seeing one dog’s face, then another.

He didn’t know if they had any diseases or not—he sure hoped they didn’t.  He threw a paw in the air and contacted something.  It yowled and Wedge pushed his way out of the ring of dogs.  He usually wasn’t the one to run from a fight, but now seemed like an excellent time to.  With the gang of dogs hot on his trail, he tore off into the early morning.

Carolina awoke to the sound of scuffling coming from the front door.  She got up and walked over to the window, gazing out.  There stood Wedge.  Her mind became abuzz with questions.  What’s he doing outside at this hour?  She nudged open the door and let Wedge in.  It appeared as if he’d been hit by a runaway rail car.

“Wedge!”  Carolina gasped, “What on earth happened to you!”

The younger dog stared at the rug, looking ashamed of himself.

“I saw some dogs outside and wanted to see what they were up to,” he finally said.  Carolina shook her head regrettably.  “You know your supposed to ask my permission before leaving the house.”

“I’m sorry,” Wedge said in a small voice.  “What’s all the ruckus?” Evon asked groggily, sauntering out of the parlor, still apparently tired.  Once he got a look at Wedge, he answered his own question.

“What in the world—“

Wedge’s head drooped lower.  “I don’t think I even want to know what happened here,” Evon muttered.  Carolina shushed him.  “Explain yourself, Wedge.”

“I got in a fight, okay?”

Evon looked unamused.  “You woke me up two in the morning—“

Carolina’s cut him off with a hard glare.  Evon’s body heaved a sigh.  “We’ll discuss your punishment later on in the morning.  Right now, go get some sleep.”

“Yes Dad,” Wedge said quietly before retreating to his corner.  Evon perched himself on the window and examined the outside himself.

“Do you think he’s back?” Carolina asked.  Evon kept his gaze on the windowpane.  “Only time can tell.”

                                                                        *

Wedge stirred when the light from outside fell over his eyes.  He squinted and stretched.  For some reason, he felt bruised all over; then he remembered.  A sickening feeling occupied the memory.  My punishment.  He checked to see if his parents were awake.  Wide-eyed and bushy-tailed as usual.  He swallowed the foreboding apprehension and waltzed into the parlor.  They appeared to be deep in conversation.  Wedge ambled closer.

“Mom?  Dad?”

No reply.

“I’m here.”

Still no answer.  Wedge thought up a clever way to get their attention.

“There’s strays surrounding the house.”

Evon and Carolina whirled to meet Wedge’s mischievous look.  “Gotcha.”

Both his mom and dad gave him a cold glare.  Wedge’s ears pinned back.  “Sorry.  Didn’t mean to scare you, I just needed your attention.  Ah, what’s my punishment?”

Carolina and Evon exchanged glances.  “I forgot all about it,” Carolina admitted.  Evon nodded.  “Me too.”

“Your lucky this time,” Evon said, “we’re a bit too busy to decide on a decent punishment for now, so go run along.  You’re free.”

Elated and surprised, Wedge turned to leave.  “Wedge,” came his father’s voice.

“Uh-huh?”

“Don’t get in trouble with any of those strays.”

“Yes