Jennifer Li Shotz - Scout: Storm Dog

SCOUT WAS WORRIED. He ran his snout over Matts heavy suitcase, sniffing and snorting, his tail sticking straight out behind him and his ears perked forward. His brow was furrowed in concentration, as if he was trying to figure out where Matt was going.

Its okay, Scout. Matt laughed as the dog nudged the lid of the suitcase open and stuffed his head into the neatly folded pile of T-shirts. Relax, pal. Youre coming with me. Matt wrapped his arms around his dogs chest and gave him a hug. You dont think Id go to Puerto Rico without you, do you?

Scout responded by licking Matts eyebrow.

Satisfied, Scout spun around three times and, after some rearranging of the blankets, plopped down next to the suitcase on the bed. He dropped his head onto his paws, still watching Matt.

Hows the packing going? Matts mom called from the kitchen. Were wheels up at fourteen hundred hours.

On it! Matt called back down. He turned to Scout and shook his head. How many times has she already asked me that this morning? Matt questioned the dog, who stared at him blankly in response. Military parents. Matt sighed.

Matt shoved a Reno baseball cap and a pair of flip-flops on top of his clothes and zipped the suitcase shut. He looked around his room, at his fishing rod leaning in the corner, the kayak oars hanging on the wall, and the photo of his whole family at his sister Bridgets high school graduation just a few months earlier. It was the last photo he had of the four of them. Now that Bridget was off at her first semester of college in California, she and Matt only talked via the occasional text. After Bridget had left, Matts dad had shipped out too, for what Matt hoped would be his last deployment to the Middle East. They managed to FaceTime once a week, depending on his dads schedule.

It had just been Matt, his mom, and Scout all summer, though Matt kept himself busy kayaking and rock climbing with Dev, Amaiya, and Curtis. Matt had been looking forward to going back to school with his three best friends in a couple of weeks, but plans had changedas they so often did in his family.

If you had asked Matt to name the very last thing he imagined doing for his seventh-grade year, it would have been spending it in Puerto Rico with his mom and dog. Matt still wasnt sure how he felt about itother than knowing it was the right thing to do. That was because the upheaval in Matts life was nothing compared to what a lot of other people were going through in Puerto Rico. Just a few weeks earlier, a powerful hurricane had crashed through the island. Matt had seen the frightening images in the news: houses ripped from their foundations, tall trees snapped in half, cars flipped on their sides...

The island was devastated.

More than half of it was still without electricity. Tens of thousands of people were without clean water. Just as many people had no home to return to. Fallen trees blocked roads, making it hard for rescue crews to get through with food and water.

Thats where Matts mom came in.

National Guard troops from all over the country were headed to Puerto Rico to help, and she was leading the way. Thats because she wasnt just Matts momshe was Colonel Tackett, in charge of the entire Nevada Army National Guard base. She would be heading up the response teams that were converging at the National Guard base in Puerto Rico. They were going to help in any way they couldthey would find people who needed assistance in remote areas, distribute food and medical supplies, clear debris, rebuild businesses and homes, reopen roads... whatever needed doing.

When Matts mom got word of her deployment, Matt had a decision to make. With his dad and Bridget gone, he couldnt stay alone in their house on base. His mom had spoken to Devs mom and then gave Matt the choice to spend the first semester of seventh grade living at Devs house. Matt was temptedhanging out with his gangly, goofy, hilarious friend 24/7 would be a ton of fun. Plus, he had quickly felt more at home here in Nevada than in all the other states hed lived in during his twelve years, mostly thanks to the closest friends hed ever had.

But the more Matt thought about staying at home, the more a little feeling started to tug at him. Matt had always felt as though he were a part of something bigger. Like the decisions he made werent just about him.

After a couple of days, that wiggly feeling in his gut grew into a certainty, and his decision became clear.

I cant help from here, he thought.

Matt wanted to go with his mom and help out as much as he was able to. He knew he wouldnt be allowed out in the field with her troops, but maybe he could help in smaller waysplus, he could still be with Scout.

Matts mom was taking Scout to Puerto Rico too, in case her team needed him for a search-and-rescue operation. After all, Scout was the best dog they had. In the eight months since hed joined Colonel Tacketts K-9 team, Scout had proven that he was the best of the best. Hed been rough around the edges at firsta little undisciplined and a lot stubborn. But then a dam burst and a flood crashed through Silver Valley. Scout had saved a lot of lives that day, including Matts and his sisters. And if that werent enough, Scout had also saved Matt, his dad, and his friends when theyd gotten stuck on a mountain in the middle of a terrifying wildfire.

Scout was the star of Colonel Tacketts team, but he was also an important part of their family now. He didnt just live with the Tacketts, he was also Matts shadow, protecting him all the time.

So it was decided: Matt would join Scout and his mom, and live with them at the National Guard base in Puerto Rico. They didnt know how long they would be thereat least several weeks, if not several months. All the schools on the island were still closed, but if they opened in time, Matt would probably start the school year there as well.

It would be a big change, but Matt was ready.

The doorbell rang downstairs, and Matt heard his mom greeting someone. A herd of elephants stomped upstairs and toward Matts room.

This is NOT happening, Dev bellowed from the hallway. Dev had not stopped giving him a hard time ever since Matt had made up his mind to go.

Matt grinned. Its happening.

Matt turned to see Dev filling the doorframe. Amaiya ducked under Devs arm and walked into the room.

I cant believe this is really happening, she said with an exaggerated frown.

Me neither, Curtis said from behind Dev.

Dev plopped into Matts desk chair. Its not too late for you to come live at my house, Dev said. My mom is a seriously good cook.

No offense, Matt said, but your room is too much of a mess.

Ouch, Dev replied.

I mean, hes not wrong. Curtis shrugged.

Amaiya turned to Matt. Feel free to take me with you.

Id take you all if I could, Matt said.

Excited by all the new company, Scout hopped down off the bed and ambled over, plopping down on the rug at the center of the room.

Scout! the kids cried out.

Were gonna miss you too, buddy! Amaiya said.

Gimme a kiss, Dev baby-talked, leaning down to rub his nose against Scouts. The dog obliged him with one big, wet slurp across the cheek.

As Amaiya rubbed Scouts ears, her expression grew serious. Whats it going to be like in Puerto Rico? she asked Matt. I went there once on vacation and the beaches were so beautiful, but now... Its awful what the storm did.

Yeah, its a mess, Matt said. My mom said roads are still flooded or blocked with trees and stuff. Lots of people still dont have water or electricity.