She digs into the pocket of her jeans and hands me two envelopes. They both hold brownie order forms and money.

“Mama,” I say, carefully stacking the bills, “where did these come from?”

She sits down on the bed beside me and studies my bitten-down fingernails. “One is from Dylan’s teacher, Mrs. Harris, and the other is from Byron, downstairs. He and his husband ordered brownies for both their families. They went ahead and paid up front.”

My heart lifts as I lay out the stacks of fives and tens and even a twenty. I recount again and add the two piles in my head. “I think the two orders together come to seventy-eight dollars,” I say. It sure looked like a lot more when the money was in piles.

Mama must have heard the disappointment in my voice. She tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and says, “I bet your daddy will bring home more brownie money tonight.”

“I sure hope so,” I sigh. “Time’s running out.”

Mama slips an arm around me. “And I bet you’re going to get lots of money for orders from your school.”

“You really think so?”

Mama nods. “I really think so, Piper.”

“But what if we don’t get the money in time, Mama? What then?”

Mama frowns and gives me a very serious face. She shakes her finger at me. “Now Piper, what have I said?”

I blow out a breath. “I know, I know: look at the doughnut instead of the hole.”

“Right,” Mama says.

Mama takes my hand. “I tell you what, let’s take that money and the order forms up to Mrs. Bailey and check on Dylan. He’s playing with Chloe. Then,” she says, “we’ll go over to the Humane Society. I think you need some Baby time.”

I jump off the bed and grab Mama around the waist. “Really and truly? We’re going to see Baby?”

Mama laughs. “Really and truly, baby girl. I’ve got the car today. We’ll go see Baby and then pick up your father.” She touches the tip of my nose with her finger. “How does that sound?”

“It sounds like the best medicine!”

54

Baby and Piper

Baby’s heart leaps with joy

when he smells the girl

coming toward his cage.

His white paws dance

Tap tap tap

on the cold concrete floor.

A tremble of excitement starts

at the tip of his tail and,

by the time it reaches the tip of his nose,

his body wiggles and waggles all over.

The girl! He yips with happiness.

My girl! He barks for all to hear.

The girl smiling, reaching out to touch his nose.

“Hi, you,” she says. “Hi, Baby boy.”

He remembers when she came here

when he was scared and lost.

She said his name,

then too,

reminding him who he is and

who has his heart.

Now she comes inside his cage.

He crawls into her lap