~June 13th 2017~

"Remember. I shortened your hours. You're staying too long there." Alice told me.

"I know, I know. 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. I got it. Got it." I told her. We arrived at the shelter.

"Bye!" I shouted, not waiting for her response. I jumped out of the car and ran towards the building. I opened the door, the bells above, ringing. Minho stood in the front room.

"We got a new dog." He said simply. I followed him into the doctor room. A small dog was hitting on a small dog bed. He had shades of gray and white all over him. His ears were black, and so were the end of his paws. He had black fur around his eyes. His fur was all shaggy.

"Ann said to name him." Minho said. "Little guy is so shaggy. Might just call him that Shaggy."

"Nah," I told Minho. "He needs a better name."

"And what you thinkin Chris." Minho said.

"Bandit." I said, ignoring the fact that he had gotten my name wrong.

"Bandit." Minho repeated.

"Bandit." I confirmed. I noticed that Bandit's back leg was wrapped up. "What happened to him?" I asked Minho.

"Tim said he probably got hit by a car." Minho told me. I petted Bandit's head softly. He looked up at me, his eyes broken with tears of the past. I knew those eyes. I saw them every time I looked in the mirror.

"Where is Jim anyway?" I asked plainly, not really caring.

"Goes around telling people about the shelter, around Michigan. Sometimes Indiana. He takes any of the extra pets from other shelters too." Minho informed me.

"Cool." I said, still not caring as much.

"Now move your butt. We've got pets to take care of and I'm not gunna do it on my own." Minho told me. "Now leave Finn alone and let's get moving."

"Finn?" I asked. "Didn't we just decide his name was Bandit."

"Well if you're Hunckberry, he's gotta be Finn. Hunckberry Finn." Minho said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I shrugged and followed him in the next room.

"How was your day?" Alice asked when she picked me up from the shelter.

"Not bad, we got a new dog at the shelter." I told her. I described Bandit to her. "So, I named him Bandit." I told her.

"That's cool, didn't you see Ann today. I don't want you there alone only with this Minho boy." Alice said.

"Yes, she was at the front desk as always." I told Alice. We traveled down the dusky roads and finally reached home.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. You got a letter from Melody." Alice told me.

"How could you forget something like that?" I almost yelled. I ran out of the car and into the house. I ran to the kitchen where Alice always put the mail. I looked through every paper. Bills, coupons, magazines, I threw those all to the side. A pink envelope stood out. I pulled it from the pile and read the sender's address.

From Melody Reed
Camp Keekee
1758 Napper Road
Blue River, MI 90013

Well, I guess it was from Melody. I tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter.

June 9th of 2017

Dear Dearest Kyle,

I've never realized how much of a wonderful, and amazing friend you were until this moment. I've tried making friends. I have. But all they talk about it drama, gossip, and their nails! I'm going to start to rip my hair out. Please tell my parents (since they haven't answered any of the demands that I get home), to get me out of here. If not we always have Plan B, we don't have to dress in black clothes. I got some gray once.

I hope you're doing better than I am, you have to be. I've hit rock bottom. I think I forgot one of my Percy Jackson books at your house. Take care of it! You're usually the one to forget things,  not me.

I hope you start to work at the pet shelter. I can really see you working with the animals. Dogs and cats. I don't think I would have time to do something like that, but you go for it.

Good Luck!
From, Melody

P.S I didn't know your middle name was James!

I folded back the letter and placed it back in the envelope. I went to my room. Project time. I looked at the plain wall I had, right next to the doorway. It was painted a blue now, but didn't have anything in the walls. I went to the garage and rummaged through the stuff. I pulled out a hammer, nails, and a bulletin board. I carried them both to my room. I started hammering the bulletin board in. Alice walked in the room.

"What's going on in here?" She asked.

"I'm putting up a bulletin board." I told her. I heard her take a deep breath in.

"Ok, just be carful." She reminded me.

"I will." I assured her. I put up the bulletin board and stuck the two letters I got from Melody in the board. I sat on my bed, happy with the work I need. I pulled out a paper and a pen. I started writing my reply.

June 13, 2016

Hey Melody!

Camp can't be that bad, you have to get along with someone, I'll still tell your parents though.

I started working at the pet shelter! We got a new dog in today, named Bandit. I know you would like him.

Miss You Here,
Kyle

P.S now you know my middle name is James.

I folded up the letter and write the addresses carefully and left it on the kitchen counter. I reminded myself to tell Melody's parents she wants to go home on Saturday too.

Melody is coming home soon I told myself. It won't be that long. You'll be fine.

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Author's Note

These chapters are longer than last book's chapters. So, I might not update every night on this book. Thanks for resign!

Written: Dec. 8th 2016
Word Count: 1032