Bruce Hale - Switched

It had taken all afternoon to set up, but it only took five minutes for the dog to destroy everything.

As soon as everyone else had left the house on errands, Parker Pitts had hustled like mad, trying to make everything perfect for the farewell party for his big sister, Billie. Hed vacuumed, tidied, and dusted the whole downstairs (much more thoroughly than Mom ever had). Hed festooned the dining room with blue streamers, party hats, and musical notes cut from shiny golden paper.

Heck, hed even gotten their neighbor Mrs. Johnson to drive him to pick up the cake from the bakery. It was powder blue (Billies favorite color), decorated with musical notations and an edible microphone on top (all his idea).

The cake sat on the table. His mom would pick up the Thai takeout on her way home.

All was perfectjust the way Parker liked things to be.

Restless, he readjusted the place settings hed made from Dads scratched vinyl records and repositioned the bass clef centerpiece just so. He was ready. Everything was set to make Billies send-off for her semester abroad a truly magical experience.

As six oclock struck, his moms and dads cars pulled into the driveway almost simultaneously. That alone made it a red-letter day. Parker couldnt remember the last time theyd both been home for dinner together.

Gee, and all it took to make this rare event happen was one of their kids leaving town.

At the thunk-thunk of car doors and the happy chatter of everyone coming up the walkway, Parker smiled. He loved how his family was a rainbow of color, from his mahogany-skinned dad to his wheat-skinned mom, with he and Billie falling somewhere in between. His grandma used to be on the walnut-colored end of that spectrum, but

With an effort, he forced away the thought of her. What you didnt think about couldnt hurt you.

The front door swung open. Were home! his mom called.

Right away, the clickety-clack of doggie toenails scrabbled on the entryways wooden floor. Thunderous footfalls and thuds from bumped furniture marked the progress of Boof, Billies shaggy goldendoodle.

Parker gritted his teeth.

That dog.

He burst into the dining room like a dirty-blond hurricane. Making straight for Parker, the dog reared up on his hind legs, planted two massive paws on Parkers chest, and bathed his face with a tongue funkier than fifty weeks worth of dirty gym socks.

Parker staggered back.

Yuck! Twisting away from the creature, he swabbed at his slimy face with a forearm. Now hed have to go wash again. Bad dog! Down!

Nothing he said seemed to sink in. Of course, that wasnt surprising, given that Boof had flunked out of the Perfect Puppy Academy and that Billie rarely bothered to reinforce the few commands the dog did learn.

Boof jumped up again. This time, one of his sharp toenails caught on Parkers shirt pocket. When Parker tried to shove the dog away, the fabric tore with a loud r-r-r-rip.

His favorite Star Wars T-shirt, wrecked.

Parkers face flushed hot. Bills! he cried. Get this thing away from me!

Bored of jumping, Boof thrust his nose into Parkers crotch and took a loud, deep whiff. Parker raised a knee, spinning away.

Billie!

Gliding into the room like a long-necked princess in ripped jeans and an explosion of curls, Billie patted her thighs. Come here, Boofie-Boof. Is the widdle puppy bugging my widdle brudder? Is he?

The mop-haired dog thwacked his tail back and forth, knocking paper party hats off the chair and onto the floor. Amber eyes shining, he padded over to Billie and licked her face up one side and down the other.

Parker shuddered. Little puppy? He weighs almost as much as I do. He collected the hats, wondering if theyd been contaminated by dog germs. Could you sterilize paper hats?

Just then, Billie noticed the decorations. Her mouth fell open in an O, and her hazel eyes widened. For me?

Parker nodded.

Oh, P-man, youre the best! She beamed so broadly her eyes disappeared into slits. Rushing forward, Billie gave him a fierce hug. Im going to miss you, bro.

Yeah, I know, said Parker, ducking his head.

His throat tightened. Though she was four years older and technically his half sister, that didnt matter. Ever since Grandma Mimi had helped them bridge their differences five years ago, Parker and Billie had been pretty tight. He was really going to miss her.

Of course, if he admitted this to Billie, her head would swell so big shed never fit through the airplane door. So he let her guess.

Ooh, and that cake! she squealed, squeezing her hands together. Total coolness!

Parker couldnt hide his grin. Thought youd like it, he mumbled. Then his skin prickled with drying dog slobber and he shivered. Um, be right back.

Parker hurried into the kitchen and blasted the hot water, vigorously scrubbing his face and hands with soap. Too bad Boof wasnt like the animals from some of his favorite fantasy tales, all helpful and full of natural wisdom. He was no Aslan of Narnia. In fact, as far as Parker could tell, this dogs wisdom consisted primarily of knowing which cat poop was the crunchiest.

Did you tidy up around here again? asked his mom, setting some takeout bags on the counter. She squeezed his shoulders and smooched the back of his head as he washed. As youd expect of the citys top Realtor, she was impeccably turned out, today in a copper-colored dress that matched the highlights in her hair. You really didnt have to.

Parker shrugged. I wanted to. Drying his face with a fresh dish towel, he reflected that it felt more like he had to. Ever since Mimi well, ever since then, he really wanted to keep things at home clean and well ordered. It made him feel better. And like Mimi always used to say, a tidy room makes for a tidy mind.

At the thought of his grandma, Parkers lips clamped tight and his chest felt heavier than a mountain of regrets.

She shouldve been here tonight. His Mimi loved a party.

In that moment, Parker missed her like a beached whale misses the waves. He sucked in a ragged breath, casting around for something else to clean.

Just then, his dad sauntered into the kitchen. As usual, his tie was askew, his cobalt shirt looked like it had never met an iron, and his tweed jacket was rumpled. The overall effect was like an unmade bed with a potbelly.

Whats the word, Bird? he asked. Good day today?

Not bad. Parker sponged up the spilled water around the sink, hiding a shy smile. He loved when his dad called him Bird, the nickname of Charlie Parker, an old-timey sax player he was named after. In fact, his dad was such a jazz fan, he and his first wife had named Billie after some long-ago singer. Between Dads music professor job and Billies talents, it was a tuneful household, to say the least.

Mmm, that smells good. Parkers dad rummaged in one of the takeout bags, cracking open a cardboard container and lifting out some flat noodles. Pad Thai with chicken? He slurped down the noodles and went back for more.