All Quotes

"Tessa: Dinner's ready. [She wears a vampire shade of lipstick that matches her recently dyed hair and a bored expression on her face]"

"Eva: It says "Do Not Disturb" on the door! Can't you at least knock? I'll be there in a sec."

"Tessa: You'll be there now, Eva."

"[Casting a concerned glance over her shoulder, Eva marches out of the bedroom, making sure to close the door. This will be one meal she'll eat in a rush. Anything to get back to Dodger as soon as possible]"

"[She is practically inhaling her food until her mum drops the first bomb]"

"Amy: Eva, Mr. Flynn called to say you closed the elevator on his dog's nose and didn't let them in on purpose."

"[Eva remembers the incident clearly. Poor Dodger would have had a fit in the knapsack if that bulldog has gotten within two feet of them. But of course, she can't warn her mother that. Her stepdad's sneezing across the table gives her a road out]"

"Eva: I had to, Mum! If that dumb dog has hair all over me, just think how hard it would have been for Tom's allergy."

"Tom: As that is, I've been sneezing all afternoon."

"Eva: You see?"

"[She gulps down the last bit of food and immediately asks her mother for seconds. Dodger needs to be fed]"

"Amy: Nice girl!"

"[The phone rings, and Tom responds it]"

"Tom: Eva. It's for you, Katie."

"[Eventually. Someone she can warn about Dodger. Eva can't wait to share her secret with her best friend. She takes the phone into the den for privacy]"

"Eva: Can you keep a secret? I mean, really swear to keep it? No, I don't have a crush on anybody. This is a real secret, Katie!"

"[But before she can blurt out the news, the second and even bigger bomb drops]"

"[From across the room, something catches her eye. It is Dodger, waving hello to her from behind the living-room couch. He has escaped from the bedroom]"

"Eva: Oh, my heavens! I have to go. I'll warn you tomorrow at school!"

"[She hangs up, but begins waving at Dodger. Shoo! Go back! Get out of range! For such an intelligent little guy, he simply isn't getting it. But before Eva can rush over, Tom bursts up between the den and the couch]"

"Tom: What are you doing here?"

"[Eva puts her arms down and grins. She hopes he can't warn how hesitant she is]"

"Eva: Why, what's wrong?"

"Eva: No, stank you."

"[Her stepfather takes the diaper into the kitchen and throws it in the trash, but begins permitting a bottle for Jack]"

"[Amy eyes Eva sternly]"

"Amy: If you can't even deal with a dirty diaper, how are you going to clean up after a dog?"

"Eva: Because I'd be doing it for my own puppy."

"[Tom comes back in and hands Amy the bottle. She offers it to Eva]"

"Amy: Here, do this for your own brother."

"Eva: Do I have to? I'm eating. He can hold it himself."

"Amy: But a dog can't feed himself. You'd "have to" do it twice a day."

"[Eva nods in agreement]"

"Eva: I know."

"Amy: Would you give up watching your favorite TV shows since the dog had to be walked?"

"[Eva hesitates. That is a rough one. She stares down at her plate, not knowing what to say]"

"Amy: Eva, listen..."

"[There is something in her mum's tone that gives Eva hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, plan B is working. Eva gives Amy her most responsible look, the one that says "I can do it, you just wait!"]"

"Amy: If you're so sure you can handle it, then convince us. Help out around here a little more, pick up after yourself......"

"[Bingo. Her mother is beginning to see her side of it. Perhaps there'll be a pet in the Gregory apartment after all]"

"Eva: And then if I––––"

"Tom: Amy, look! [He points to Jack, who is silently doing the hand motions of "Itsy Bitsy Spider"]"

"[The moment is shattered. Her mother rushes over to join Tom. Together, they kneel among the baby, singing]"

"[As they get to the part about the water spout, Eva pushes aside from the table, a frustrated lump in her throat]"

"Eva: Down came the rain, and washed the brother out!"

"[Speak about dropping a bombshell, Eva thinks, as Tom, Amy and Jack stop singing and stare at her in shock. No one understands. Eva runs to her room. She hooks the "No Jack Allowed" sign on the outside knob and closes inside]"

"[With curiosity, Tom turns around. There is nothing to see. Dodger has vanished]"

"[Trembling with frustration, Eva stands there for a few seconds, but collapses in a heap on the floor. Even though the door is closed, she can hear her mum and Tom singing the spider song to Jack. If she hears that dumb song one more time, she'll shriek. She claps her hands over her ears, she hums louder, but yet she can hear them]"

"[Then she hears the front door open and close. The singing has stopped. Eva takes her hands aside from his ears and listens. Her teenage cousin Tessa has come into the apartment and is greeting everyone. Personally, Eva often wonders what planet Tessa is from. All she ever spoke about is rock stars and shopping malls, and one hand is permanently glued to "Rolling Stone" magazine. But Tessa has one bright spot to her Queen Flake personality. As she baby-sits for Eva and Jack, she never drools over the little monster. Enough thinking about her baby brother. Eva throws herself onto her messy bed and begins dreaming about rottweilers]"

"[Later that night, her mum comes in to speak to her. Eva huddles under the covers, surrounded by her stuffed-animal collection. A cute stuffed monkey nestles close to her face]"