Anderson - Left behind: Vet Volunteers Series, Book 17

I t took some convincing, but I finally got my parents to allow me to stay with Maggie and Dr. Mac for the long holiday weekend. Its not like we were doing anything as a family anyway. My parents both have to work at the hospital all weekend, and my little sister and brother are spending time with our cousins in New Jersey. Thats where I was supposed to go, too. But its Dr. Macs turn on the weekend emergency rotation, and we are short-staffed at Dr. Macs Place. My parents really understand what that means for a hospitaleven one where most of the patients have four legs!

My parents work with humans. I work with animals. We all do at Dr. Macs Place. Dr. Mac is Dr. J. J. MacKenzie, the veterinarian owner of the animal clinic. Dr. Gabe is our other vet. Then there is a whole gang of us, the Vet Volunteers, who help in every way we can. Theres Maggie MacKenzie and Zoe HopkinsDr. Macs granddaughters who also happen to live with her. And theres David Hutchinson and Brenna Lake, the twins Josh and Jules Darrow, and me, Sunita Patel.

Unfortunately, not many of us are available this weekend. Jules and Josh went back to Pittsburgh, where they used to live, to visit friends, and David is on his annual camping trip in the Adirondacks. And at the last minute, Zoe decided to fly out to see her mother on the West Coast. So Maggie and Iand maybe Brennawill hold down the fort with Dr. Mac and Dr. Gabe this Fourth of July weekend.

I lean across the front seat and give my mother a hug when she drops me off in front of the clinic.

Text me before you go to bed, Sunita, my mother says, squeezing my arm gently. And your father and I will do the same. Lets all check in both nights.

I will, I say. And tell Jasmine and Harshil I said hi, I add quickly. I will miss my brother and sister, but mostly Im just excited about my weekend with Maggie. I know were going to have a great timeplus, I have some good news to share with her.

I scoot across the seat and pull my sleeping bag and backpack with me. Maggie is at the car door as I open it.

Hi, Dr. Patel! Thanks for loaning us Sunita, she says, grabbing my sleeping bag from me.

You girls have fun. I hope the clinic is fairly calm this weekend. My mother smiles at Maggie.

We dont have well-patient appointments, but you never know what might happen when youre on call. Gran is already preparing for the fireworks freak-outs, Maggie says, trying to balance the rolled sleeping bag on her head.

Fireworks freak-outs? my mother asks.

Lots of dogs and some cats get scared when they hear fireworks, Maggie explains. Just like they do in a thunderstorm. Sometimes we have extra cases come in. The animals try to hide from the noise. Sometimes they fall or get stuck and injured. Since we have two nights of fireworks this year, theres double the potential for trouble.

I never thought about that. Poor things. My mother looks at me. She doesnt think Im still scared of thunderstorms and fireworks, does she? Because I am not!

Maggie takes the sleeping bag off her head and motions to the couple of cars in the parking lot. We have two dogs and a cat in there right now that have a history of fireworks trauma. Gran is getting them set up with sedatives so theyre dozy and wont freak out.

Prevention of injury is always a smart plan, Mother says.

We wave as she drives off. Im practically skipping as we head inside to stow my stuff in Maggies bedroom.

Whoa, Sunita! Youre acting like one of those puppies that we had in the clinic a few weeks ago! Maggie comments.

I laugh. No one has ever compared me to a puppy before. But I cant help myself. This is going to be so much fun. Im really looking forward to staying up late, chatting, and being with just Maggie. Maggies cousin, Zoe, is fun, and I really do like herand all the Vet Volunteersa lot. I consider them my closest friends. But when were in a group, it can be hard to do anything but just go along with everyone. Thats why tonight is a special treatI have Maggie all to myself. Ive packed a new notepad and pen so we can make a very special list. Ive also brought a wildcat documentary DVD to watch. Maggie and I both love animal shows on TV, and we often exchange animal documentaries. If Zoe is around, she rolls her eyes at us and flips through her celebrity magazines when we start talking about documentaries weve seen. But tonight, since its just Maggie and me, we wont have to worry about her. Well probably eat popcorn, watch the DVD, and tell each other secrets, just like they do in my favorite books. At least, thats what I think well do. I dont exactly have a secret, but I do have great newsand we will need the special notepad and pen for it.

Zoe took her dog, Sneakers, with her on this trip, so their house seems quieter. I pet their cat, Socrates, as I walk by. He rubs his head against my wrist and then lies down so Ill scratch his belly. His big orange belly is fluffy-soft and jiggly. Socrates sighs, and I know hed prefer me to stay right here and pet him all evening. But Maggie and I have other things to do. Later, baby, I tell him. Sherlock, their basset hound, is snoring beneath the kitchen table, so I resist giving him a pat. Instead, we grab apples from the kitchen and walk back through the house into the connected clinic. Dr. Gabe is talking with Dr. Mac outside the exam room.