Chapter 6

“Here, Blitzen,” Jarek called out periodically as we crept about the property. When we turned a corner and lost sight of the Fortescue homestead completely, a puppy-sized dachshund squeezed himself and his little sweater out of a doggy door and responded to Jarek’s call, shaking his little tail with an eagerness that kept him off balance and shortly found him flopped at Jarek’s feet.

“This dog is not named Blitzen,” I laughed in disbelief.

“I don’t know if it is or not, but he’s sure acting like he wishes it was.” Jarek dipped to his knees and the dog wagged itself upside down at the prospect of a pet. “Huh, boy? Huh?” He rubbed the puppy’s belly until I thought maybe the rapturous tail spinning would lift him into the air.

“So, what, is this puppy like a prize?” I wondered aloud. “We’re ten minutes in and now we’re supposed to be dog parents together?”

“I bet not. But look at his little sweater.”