Dangerous Days of Daniel X

Chapter 39

BASICALLY, I WENT INTO HIDING for the rest of the day. Hiding and worrying.

When it was dark, I cut through a lot of backyards until I got to Phoebe’s house.

I wanted to talk to her about her sister and a few other monumentally troubling things, but mostly I just felt comfortable around Phoebe. She was my first human friend.

I stopped myself as I was about to ring her front doorbell. Hold up! It was past eleven at night. How was this going to work? Oh, hi, Mr. or Mrs. Cook. I’m Daniel, your daughter’s alien friend. Could I talk to her a sec?

I was trying to figure out something clever when I saw a light blink on in an upstairs bedroom toward the rear of the house. Then I caught a quick glimpse of Phoebe. So I jogged along the hedge-lined driveway.

I was down on my knees, searching for something to toss up at the window, when I heard a growl at the back of my neck. Not good! Not a sound I like to hear.

I turned and was suddenly face to jowl with somebody’s angry Rottweiler.

Emma, I thought, and concentrated fiercely. Emma! Help! Right this instant!

And there she was in all her glory. “Hey, Daniel,” Emma said, flipping a French braid over her shoulder. “What’s up?”

“Hello?” I whispered, pointing at the monstrous dog. “Dog! Teeth! Froth on chin!”

Emma immediately wrapped the massive thing in a playful headlock, making it coo like a newborn as she scratched under its sharklike jaw.

“This cutie?” she asked, wiping away the drool with her finger, then flicking it at me.

“You rule, Emma,” I said as I backed away from her and the Rot. “I owe you one.”

“I owe you. Thanks for thinking me here. I just love doggies.”