I awakened to a hysterical scream of my stepmother. My heart thumped hard against my chest. Had someone broken into the house? Jumping out of bed, I dashed out of the room and into the passageway where the scene unfolded.
Cynthia clutched a whimpering Bruno to her chest. My stepmother lunged at Bruno, but Cynthia scooted to the other end of the passageway.
"Mum, stop it," she cried.
"Get this filthy thing out of this house this instant!" my stepmother said. "Who brought it in anyway?"
"I did," Cynthia said. "He was going to die in the cold outside, so I brought him in. Mum, please, don't ask me to send him away. I've always wanted to have a dog."
"That is not happening!" my stepmother said. "Not under my roof. Do you know how dangerous these things are? Look how you're cradling that dirty creature."
"He isn't dirty," Cynthia said. "I had him shower."
"That's enough now!" my stepmother said. "Enough of this insanity."
"Mum, please-"
"Mum is right," I said. "It wouldn't be right to keep Bruno. His family must be looking for him. We have to return him after school."
"You, shut up!" Cynthia said. "You have absolutely no right to tell me what I can and can't do. Do you understand?"
She turned to look at her mum. "Mum-"
"Do as you wish," her mother said. "But if I get bored and something happens, don't blame me."
"Thank you, mum," Cynthia squealed. "Thank you so so much. I love you. I know, I just know it that you'll love Bruno, and maybe then you'll think about buying me my own pup."