He whimpers and licks my fingers, scoops up the wiener, and chews. Okay.

I lie there for a while, handing him more slices of wiener.

“Time’s up, Naomi. Do you need help getting him out of there?”

“No. I don’t think so.” I stand up. “Diesel, come. You need to get that stuff off your fur.”

The thunk of his head hitting the underside of the mattress signals that he’s coming out. He slinks behind me.

“We’ll just rinse you and then you’re done.” This time he’s not fighting as much, so he feels lighter when we hoist him back into the tub.

He looks at me. I’m scared.

“It won’t be so bad, I promise. Look I’ll come in with you.”

Mom shakes her head and backs out of the bathroom.

Then, clothes still on, I hop in with Diesel, pull the curtain, and turn the shower on. Second time I’ve gone in water with all my clothes on. My knees shake as I remember that dive from the dock.

But I wasn’t with you. Diesel’s thought pops into my head. You didn’t trust.

Who was there to trust? All those kids who look over my head?

Pizza Girl, he answers.

I sigh. She did try to find me.

We stand under the shower for at least ten minutes. Diesel lets me rub his fur under the water. The water draining off him is brown but the skunk smell seems to be fading.

When I finally shut off the water and pull the curtain back, Mom is standing there, ready with another bucket of hissing bleach brew.

“We’re supposed to do this twice.”

“No. Diesel’s had enough. He had two tomato baths last night.”

“If your father had done it right the first time —”

“Dad’s not perfect. I get that. But he’s a good guy and you know that.” I want to say more but stop myself. “You could cut him some slack, you know?”

Mom’s mouth sits straight. She doesn’t answer.

“And Diesel’s just fine the way he is right now.”

13

Monday, June 28:

Morgan’s Scheme

The last Monday through, without Diesel, all I wanted to do was stay in bed. I didn’t even get up until Mom shook me awake so she could rush me over to Aunt Cathie’s to babysit Luanne. But today, bright and early, Morgan shows up at our door.

Morgan has to knee Diesel off her. “Down, boy!”

Wiener Girl, Wiener Girl!

Pizza Girl, no? I think inside my head.

She smells like wieners now. And I have missed her delicious smell!

“C’mon, you just saw Morgan on Saturday,” I say out loud.

Forever ago! His tail wags his whole body.

Morgan slides her backpack off and raises a pointer finger. “Sit.”

Diesel’s butt instantly crashes to the floor. Pat me. Pat me.

She crouches down and scrubs behind his ear. “Oh, you’re a good, good doggie!”

His tail swishes along the floor. She likes me.… Oh yes, that’s a good spot. His back leg thumps as she scratches his back. Love you, love you. He licks his lips and shifts on his paws.