home and think things over for a bit. Crystal saw Riana heading her way, she ducked into an alley to avoid her. She'd take the back way home.

As soon as Crystal walked through the dog door, she wished she hadn't. Keefie was in a corner, looking guilty, The Cat was hissing on the counter, there was spaghetti sauce all over the floor, and Dad was on the floor and in the middle of it, uttering some very impressive swear words.

Crystal sidled over to The Cat, and muttered, "What happened?" 

The Cat smirked. "Dad was going to serve us spaghetti for dinner, and Keefie got a little overexcited."

Crystal grinned. "Is Dad OK?" she asked. 

The Cat nodded. "He wouldn't be talking like he is if he wasn't!"

Crystal grinned again, but gulped as Dad picked himself up from the floor, looking murderous. "It is time for me to depart the scene, huh?" Crystal backed away from Dad. 

"Just what I was thinking!"

Cat and Crystal hightailed it out, and they left just in time to hear Dad shrieking, "You darn dog, I'll skin your hide!" and along with it an excited slurping.

Crystal poked her head inside the dog door again. She giggled. Keefie had her face in the spilled spaghetti, and Dad was still swearing.

She turned back to TCat and grinned. "You know Keefie, in there. The model of self-shame and humbility!"

TCat poked her head in, and drew it back again as a glob of noodles hit her in the face. Crystal laughed.

Cat sat down serenly and purred, "Some may laugh, but spaghetti sauce actually enhances the fur."

Feline and canine lapsed into helpless giggles. "Seriously, though," Crystal giggled. "Dad could've been hurt!"

Cat laughed harder and said, "I'll hafta remember those swears! I never knew there were so many different ones!"

They collapsed into laughter again.

When her laughter had subsided, Crystal hailed TCat: "Well, comrade," Crystal grinned. "The time is ripe for me to depart!"

Cat giggled and said, "Yes, friend! I feel the wind of travel ruffle my fur. Farewell!"

Crystal turned from The Cat, and started to Keesha's. Crystal hadn't seen her mother in days.

When Crystal scratched at Keesha's door, her mother's human, Ken, opened the door. "Crystal," he greeted. "Keesh and another of your doggie friends are in there."

Cyrstal was puzzled. Who could be visiting her mother? Crystal stepped over the doorstep, and saw Blaze and Keesha sitting on the couch together, looking serious. "Blaze," Crystal said. "What are you doing here?"

Blaze gulped. "I...um... I'm trying to find you!" he said.

Crystal rolled her eyes. "Well," she said. "I'm not here, OK?"

Blaze narrowed his eyes, but remained on the couch. Crystal looked suspiciously from Blaze to Keesha. What in the world was going on? And why was Blaze sitting on her mom's couch without showing any inclination to move?

"Blaze," said Crystal. "Why don't you get out of here? Keesha's my mother, you see."

Blaze faltered, but Keesha came to his rescue. "Blaze is here to get some advice on dogsledding. I thought, since your dad was a racedog, Crystal, I could give him some advice," she said smoothly.

Crystal stiffened. She suddenly became very interested in a bluebottle out the window. Why did Keesha have to mention her father? She didn't really care about Keesha giving Blaze racing advice. Cody would always be a better sled dog. Deciding to go hang out in the boiler room, Crystal departed the scene.

Blaze looked at Keesha curiously. He had never heard anything about Crystal's unknown father.

Sensing Blaze's stare, Keesha glared at him and said a little too briskly, "So, Blaze, we were saying that you were a little too, uh, pushy, with Crystal. Maybe if you just backed off a little, were more yourself..."

Lucy, Cody(c)Blackwolf123