When the Ghost Dog Howls

  “Noooo!” Marnie wailed.

  She tugged at the tooth. She struggled to pull the cord off her neck.

  The cord caught in her hair. Finally, she jerked it loose. Then she jammed the tooth into my hand.

  “It’s Andy’s!” she cried to the dog. “It’s not mine! It’s his! I — I stole it from him!”

  The old hound gazed up at her without moving.

  “I stole it from him!” Marnie wailed. “Andy is the one who bought it. It’s his. REALLY!”

  A heavy silence fell over the garage.

  And then, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I burst out laughing.

  “I KNEW it!” I cried. “I knew you were a thief, Marnie!”

  Her mouth dropped open. Her eyes bulged. “Andy? Why are you laughing? Th-that dog —”

  “You’re busted, Marnie,” I said. I slapped her on the back. “I totally got you! That dog isn’t the Blue Kerlew Hound. That’s Jack, my new neighbor’s dog.”

  Marnie stared at the dog. “You — you planned this? You did this to scare me?”

  I nodded. “To scare the truth out of you,” I said.

  She shook her head. “Well … you really got me,” she admitted. “I was a little scared.”

  “A little scared?” I laughed again. I was totally enjoying myself.

  Talk about a plan working perfectly!

  She motioned with her head. “That dog — ?”

  “It’s the dog that’s been keeping me up for nights,” I said. “At first I thought it was the Blue Kerlew Hound. But then I realized it was my new neighbor’s dog, Jack. Jack isn’t used to this neighborhood. So he howls at night.

  “I went to see the new neighbor,” I continued. “Mr. Murphy. He said he was sorry about the hound dog howling every night. But when I saw the dog, it gave me the idea.”

  “To scare me?” Marnie said.

  “To spray it blue and scare you,” I said. “And to get you to admit you stole my wishing tooth.”

  Marnie’s cheeks turned bright red. “I admit it,” she said in a whisper. “Okay? Happy? I admit it.”

  I laughed. “You’re totally blushing. You’re actually embarrassed, aren’t you!”

  She lowered her eyes. “Yes. I’m embarrassed. It was crazy. Stealing that tooth necklace while you were out cold. Then saying it was mine all along.”

  She sighed. “I think I lost my mind. I’m sorry, Andy. Really. You must hate me. I’m so sorry.”

  I had to laugh again. I was so pleased with myself.

  I started over to Jack. “Good boy,” I said. But then I stopped.

  The blue hound took a step closer. The creature made a snuffling sound. Slowly, slowly, it raised its head. And …

  And …

  And … a shock of horror made my whole body jerk.

  “Hey!” I cried. “Hey! Wait! What’s going on here? That’s the WRONG DOG!”

  “Wrong dog?” Marnie cried. “Andy, what are you talking about?”

  My breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak!

  I kept my eyes on the growling hound.

  Not Jack. Definitely not Jack.

  I knew what I was staring at. But how could it be? How could I be staring at the real Blue Kerlew Hound?

  “I — I borrowed Mr. Murphy’s hound dog,” I stammered. “I sprayed him blue. I stuck twigs and mud on him. But … but …”

  Suddenly, another dog slunk into view at the garage door. Smaller. Cleaner. It was Jack. Looking forlorn. His head down. His whole body quivering.

  “Who’s that other dog?” Marnie pointed.

  “Th-that’s Jack,” I said, my voice trembling. “That’s the dog I borrowed. He’s too frightened to come in. Look. He’s totally scared … scared of the Blue Kerlew Hound. He knows this dog is evil.”

  Jack whimpered and hurried out of sight.

  The Blue Kerlew Hound bared its ugly jagged teeth and snarled at us.

  “This — this is all your fault,” Marnie stammered.

  “MY fault?” I cried. “YOU’RE the one who kept making all the wishes. I warned you that each wish brought the hound closer. But you didn’t believe me.”

  Marnie didn’t reply.

  White froth bubbled out of the evil dog’s open mouth. It lowered its head, preparing to attack.

  I pressed my back against the garage wall.

  Marnie shuddered again. “What are we going to do?”

  I stared down at the dirt and dead leaves clinging to the creature’s blue fur. From the graveyard … From the grave …

  The dog tensed its back, preparing to leap at us.

  “Give it to him, Marnie!” I shouted. “Quick! Give him the tooth! That’s what he came for! Give him the tooth — or else he’ll tear us to pieces!”

  “Andy — YOU have it!” she cried. “The tooth — you’re squeezing it in your hand!”

  I was so terrified, I didn’t even feel it.

  An ugly roar escaped the dog’s throat. He turned on me. His dark eyes suddenly glowed bright RED!

  He bent his back legs, preparing to leap.

  I squeezed the tooth in my hand. And shouted at the top of my lungs. “I WISH FOR THE HOUND TO DISAPPEAR!”

  Nothing happened.

  I squeezed the tooth so hard, it dug into my palm. I held my breath and stared at the growling beast.

  I shouted the wish again. “I wish for the hound to disappear!”

  Nothing happened.

  The evil hound stared up at us.

  The wishes made on his tooth didn’t work on him.

  The dog reared back — kicked off from the garage floor — and attacked.

  It leaped onto me, snarling and growling. I felt its putrid breath on my face. Then I felt its heavy paws wrap around my waist. So powerful. The dog heaved its weight against me — and I slammed hard against the wall.

  I couldn’t move. It had me pinned against the concrete. White slobber poured from its mouth as it opened its jaws — and slashed its deadly teeth at my face.

  I struggled to break free. But the huge hound had me trapped. It pressed its enormous paws down on me.

  The dog smelled like rotting meat. I could feel its hot drool as its gaping mouth prepared to close — to clamp its powerful fangs down on me.

  I still had the tooth wrapped in my hand.

  If I can’t make HIM disappear, I thought, maybe I can make US disappear! “I — I wish Marnie and I were invisible!” I choked out.

  Would this wish work?

  Yes!

  I knew the wish had been granted when the hound let out a yelp of surprise.

  The dog dropped to the floor. His red eyes swept rapidly from right to left, searching for us.

  I turned. I couldn’t see Marnie beside me.

  We were both invisible!

  “Run!” I screamed. “To the house! He can’t see us!”

  The dog uttered a puzzled whine.

  I took off, running hard.

  I hoped Marnie was running beside me.

  My heart pounded as I ran full speed down the driveway to the kitchen door.

  Would we be safe inside the house?

  I glanced back. The dog had started trotting toward the house. Did he figure out where we were? Could he hear us?

  Gasping for breath, I leaped onto the back stoop.

  Got to get inside … Got to get inside …

  I grasped the handle to the back door, and —

  — and my hand went right through it.

  “Huh?”

  I grabbed for the door handle again. No. I couldn’t feel it. My fingers went right through it.

  I grabbed at it again. Again.

  I couldn’t touch anything. I couldn’t move anything! This is not what I thought would happen if you were invisible.

  “Andy — hurry!” Marnie cried, right behind me on the stoop. “The dog smells us. He’s coming for us! Hurry! Open the door!”

  “I — I can’t!” I cried. “My hand is going right through th
e handle! We’re trapped out here! We can’t get inside!”

  “Look out!” Marnie screamed. “Here he COMES!”

  Sniffing the air, the hound came running toward the back stoop.

  I didn’t think. I just moved.

  I leaned my shoulder against the kitchen door and pushed.

  And I slipped right through the wooden door. Startled, I stumbled halfway across the kitchen.

  “Marnie!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Go through the door! You can dive right through the door!”

  “Why are you screaming?” she said. “I’m standing right next to you.”

  I took in a deep, shuddering breath. My heart pounded so hard, I felt dizzy. I tried to lean against the kitchen counter. But I couldn’t feel it. I sank halfway through it.

  “Did you hear that growl?” Marnie asked, close beside me. I didn’t have to see her to know how terrified she was. “It’s out there, Andy. And it knows we’re in here.”

  A terrifying thought made me feel even dizzier. “Do you think the hound can go through a solid door, too?”

  “M-maybe,” Marni stammered. “It’s a ghost, right? It can probably go through anything.”

  “What are we going to do?” I asked, my voice no stronger than a whisper.

  Silence.

  We were both thinking hard.

  From the backyard, I heard another low, menacing growl.

  I crossed the kitchen to the back window and peered out. The blue hound sat in the driveway, sniffing the air.

  “It’s waiting for us to come out,” I said. “We’re trapped in here.”

  “Maybe we can call for help,” Marnie said from the kitchen counter. “Call your parents. Or my parents. Maybe if someone else comes, the dog won’t want to show itself …”

  “… and it will run away.” I finished her thought for her. “Maybe,” I said. “It’s a plan, I guess.”

  Outside, the dog let out a long angry howl.

  I stepped up to the wall phone next to the kitchen table. “My dad has his cell,” I said. “I’ll try him first.”

  I reached for the phone. “Oh, nooooo,” I moaned.

  I grabbed at it again. “No. This isn’t happening.”

  “You can’t pick it up?” Marnie asked.

  “My hand goes right through it,” I said. “How could I forget? This is so weird. We can’t touch or pick up anything. No way we can call for help.”

  “Well, then make us visible again so we can call for help,” Marnie said. “Hurry — before that dog gets restless and comes charging in here.”

  “Yes. I’ll make a wish,” I said. “The tooth. I —”

  A wave of panic rolled over me. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t see straight!

  “Andy — what’s wrong?” Marnie asked.

  “The tooth,” I choked out. “I don’t have it. It must have fallen from my hand when I turned invisible.”

  A long silence. Then Marnie whispered, “You really don’t have it?”

  “It — it must have fallen to the garage floor,” I said. “It’s … in the garage!”

  “Well, you have to go get it!” Marnie screamed. “Go! Hurry!”

  “Me?” I cried. “Why do I have to do it?”

  “It’s your tooth!” Marnie cried.

  “HA!” I exclaimed. “Nice how you remember whose tooth it is when you want me to risk my LIFE!”

  “I’m sorry,” Marnie said. “Sorry I acted like such a jerk. But you have to go get the tooth, Andy. If you don’t, we’ll be invisible forever!”

  I took a few trembling steps to the kitchen door. The hound can’t see me, I told myself. But I have to walk right past him to get into the garage.

  “Just run,” Marnie said. “Run right past him. You can do it, Andy. You have to!”

  My legs were shaking so hard, I could barely walk. I took another deep breath.

  And pushed myself through the kitchen door. Onto the back stoop.

  As soon as I burst outside, the dog raised its head. It climbed to its feet.

  Alert. Suddenly very alert. It opened its jaws in a fierce growl.

  Then it lowered its head menacingly. And came trotting toward me, growling all the way.

  It can’t see me.

  The dog can’t see me.

  I kept repeating those words to myself over and over.

  I stepped off the stoop. Moving silently, carefully, I made my way across the grass toward the garage.

  Don’t make a sound, I told myself.

  Don’t make a sound. The dog can’t see you.

  The dog stopped suddenly. It was only a few feet from me now.

  I could smell it. Smell the sour aroma of the graveyard on its fur.

  And I knew it could smell me, too.

  It raised its head. Sniffed the air again. And STARED RIGHT AT ME.

  It can’t see me. It can’t see me.

  I took off running. I lowered my head and shoulders and rocketed toward the garage.

  My invisible sneakers didn’t make a sound as I stormed up the driveway. Into the shadows of the garage.

  I glanced back.

  The dog had turned. Its head was lowered again, and it was trotting in my direction.

  I let out a gasp. Was I going to be trapped in the garage with the evil hound?

  Squinting into the dim light of the garage, I saw the tooth. On the concrete floor.

  I dove for it.

  I could hear the dog pick up its steps behind me. It knew where I was.

  I grabbed the tooth.

  My hand went right through it.

  “Oh, noooo.”

  I tried to pinch it between my thumb and pointer finger. But I couldn’t touch it. I couldn’t pick up the tooth.

  I heard a raging snarl. The dog thundered into the garage.

  It bared its long fangs. White drool dripped from his mouth. The hound knew it had me … had me trapped.

  My legs were shaking too hard to hold me. I dropped to my knees.

  My knee landed on the tooth. I couldn’t feel it. But maybe if I was covering it … maybe …

  “I wish Marnie and I were visible again!” I screamed.

  Startled by my cry, the hound stopped.

  And, yes! Yes! There I was! I saw my legs … my knees. I saw my arms. I shook my hands rapidly in the air.

  I was back.

  Back in time to be torn to pieces by the furious ghost dog!

  “No!” I cried.

  I picked up the tooth. I jumped to my feet. “I know why you came back!” I told it. “You came back for this.”

  I waved the tooth in front of me.

  “The sorcerer didn’t return it,” I said. “And so you tore him apart. But I’m going to return it. I’m giving you back your tooth!”

  I pulled my arm back — and heaved the tooth as hard as I could.

  I watched it sail out of the garage … over the driveway. The tooth and its cord flew to the front, nearly to the street.

  “Go get it!” I shouted to the dog. “It’s all yours!”

  With a final growl, the dog spun away from me. It lowered its head and raced down the driveway to get its prize.

  I hunched over with my hands on my knees and struggled to catch my breath. When I looked up, I saw Marnie poke her head out the kitchen door.

  “Is it gone?” she called. “Andy, we’re visible again! Did you wish that dog away? Is it really gone?”

  I nodded. “I … gave it back the tooth,” I choked out.

  I gazed down the driveway. I didn’t see the hound. “I think it’s gone,” I said. “I think it’s gone for good!”

  Marnie and I both cheered. Marnie hurried over to me. We cheered again, did a victory dance, and touched knuckles.

  Then I gasped. A blue dog walked out slowly from the side of the garage.

  It took me a few seconds to remember it was Jack. Poor, frightened Jack.

  I started over to him. “It’s okay, Jack. That bad dog is gone,” I said.

&
nbsp; I heard a shout. I turned and saw a man jogging up the driveway.

  “Mr. Murphy!” I called. “You’re back!”

  He trotted up to Marnie and me. “How’s it going?” he asked. “How is my buddy Jack?”

  I pointed. “He’s right there. Thanks for letting him visit,” I said.

  Mr. Murphy took a few steps toward the hound. Then he stopped.

  His mouth dropped open. He turned to me.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “I’ll tell you what’s wrong,” he said. “This isn’t my dog!”

  A shock of fear made my heart skip a beat.

  “Oh, no!” I gasped. Did the wrong dog run away?

  Is the evil ghost dog standing here?

  “This can’t be my dog!” Mr. Murphy laughed. “My dog is brown,” he said. “This dog is BLUE!”

  He wrapped his arms around the dog’s neck. It licked his face.

  I let out a long sigh of relief. Mr. Murphy was joking. The dog was Jack after all.

  “I — I can explain,” I stammered.

  “We were making a video for school,” Marnie chimed in. “About a weird dog.”

  “I sprayed him blue, Mr. Murphy,” I said. “It will come right out. Marnie and I will give him a bath. Then we’ll bring him home to you.”

  Mr. Murphy scratched his head. “You turned Jack blue? What kind of video were you making?” he asked. “A horror video?”

  “Uh … yes,” I said. “A very realistic horror video.”

  * * *

  Marnie and I pulled a big metal tub from the garage. We plopped Jack inside it with lots of sudsy water. I used the garden hose to spray the blue color off his fur.

  Marnie said good-bye and headed for home. I dried Jack off and returned him to Mr. Murphy.

  I walked home with a big smile on my face. Now life would return to normal. I decided I love normal!

  Late that night, I lay in bed, still awake. I guess it was hard to calm down after such a terrifying day.

  I was just closing my eyes when I heard the first dog howl.

  I sat straight up in bed. A gasp escaped my throat.

  Another long howl. So nearby. Like right outside my window.

  I scolded myself for getting scared. That had to be Jack. Jack across the street, up to his old tricks.