too."

Scamp was still backing away. Fang locked eyes with him and openly sneered.

"Oh, we almost forgot," Tramp nodded, oblivious to the hostility between his son and Fang. "Meet Scamp--he's the boy of family." He winked again. "Always in the doghouse, that one."

"And this is Angel," Lady interrupted, pointing with her nose at the gorgeous pomeranian pup. "She isn't related to us in general, but she's one of the family now."

Angel beamed, showing off a beautiful smile. Fang almost melted right then and there.

"Let's go to the backyard. Don't want Jim Dear waking up and seeing you three romping around in broad daylight, know what I mean?" Tramp panted, and led the pups and Lady to the backyard.

Fang glared daggers at Scamp as the scruffy turquoise-collared pup sat down beside Angel and did his signature scratch behind the left ear. Angel watched him, smiling. Fang decided it was time to cut in.

He pushed himself between Scamp and Angel, scooting Scamp out of the way with a hind leg. He turned his attention on Angel.

"Surprised to see me?" he panted, tongue lolling out, one eyebrow raised.

"Yeah," Angel muttered, squeezing up a smile. She looked around at the other dogs.

Afghanna was racing around the yard with a bone in her mouth. Skip and Danielle chased after her, determined to get the bone, but Afghanna was at least two feet ahead of them, long spotted legs stretching behind her. Scamp was watching Angel and Fang--mostly Fang, with a frustrated look in his brown eyes. Annette and Collette shot disgusted looks at the stray pups, sulking by a bush. Lady and Tramp sunbathed side by side next to the flower bed.

"Listen," Angel whispered to Fang, "you don't belong here. The Street life suits you. Just go home."

Fang scratched his long, golden ear casually. "No matter what y'say," he grinned, "you'll never be able to push me away. I'm stickin' around to keep an eye on your second shadow, get my meaning?"
 

Angel looked confused.

Fang sighed. He jerked his head toward Scamp.

Angel's eyes lit up. "Scamp? He's my best friend."

Fang held back a growl. "How so?"

"I know the life on the streets, Fang. You and your posse won't last long out there. You need a home, and a family that loves you."

Fang scoffed. "Yeah, an' a prissy little collar hangin' around my neck--while we're at it, how about a doggie door?" He laughed obnoxiously. "No thanks, doll. House Dog life ain't for me. 'Sides, what's this got to do with chew toy over there?" He gestured to Scamp again.

Angel sighed and began walking away, she stopped beside him, one paw lifted to continue walking, her refinely-pointed brown nose stuck in Fang's direction as she looked over her should at him. She wasn't smiling. "I've had five families. I could never get one--just one--to stick. If it hadn't been for Scamp, I would've wound up where you and I met sooner or later."

Fang knew what she meant. The pound was no place for a dog like her. She didn't deserve it. She deserved a cozy little house life with a human family that cared for her and hung on her every need.

But that wasn't the life for him. Or his stray-dog friends.

He decided it was time to play a little game. He strolled toward Afghanna and Skip to let them in on it. As he walked, he passed the bush Collette and Annette were hiding behind, shooting dirty glances at the street dogs and whispering behind their paws.

As Fang passed them, he said casually, "Whisper louder, gals, I don't think the dogs at the Park heard ya."
 

Annette curled her lip at him, but Collette, the one with the long silky ears and red collar, smiled sweetly, looking very much like her mother, and edged away from her sister and out from behind the bush, falling in step beside Fang. Annette rolled her eyes and trailed along behind.

"You're Fang, aren't you?" Collette asked politely. "I'm Collette."
 

"I remember," Fang informed her, winking. Collette giggled.

Annette heaved a sigh behind them. "I'm going to go get a drink. C'mon, Collette!"

Collette glanced at Fang as they walked, then back at her blue-collared sister. "Oh, okay," she grumbled, turning around and following Annette to the bowls of water lined neatly beside the doghouse.

Fang saw Scamp approach Angel out of the corner of his eye. He snorted to himself. After his little plan was executed, she wouldn't want to spend a second with that little runt.