Elvis and the Underdogs by Jenny Lee Read Free Book Online

kicking in.
    â€œMom, I think you’re right. If I had a therapy dog, this definitely would not have happened.” There. That was definitely not a lie.
    â€œI knew it. Oh, this is all my fault. If I hadn’t been so stubborn. If I hadn’t worried about your allergies, the money, and my living room rug, we wouldn’t be here right now. I’m so sorry, baby. Can you ever forgive me?”
    This is normally where I correct her from calling me “baby.” But I let this one go. Yikes, this wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for. I assumed she’d be like “Great, we’re getting a dog. What should we name him or her?” I didn’t think she’d blame herself. I mean, in the grand scheme of all my ailments, a hurt arm is barely a blip on the radar. I probably have to wear it wrapped for only a few days, which I’m sure I could use to get me out of PE for at least a month.
    â€œMom, it’s not your fault. None of this is your fault. You’re the best mom in the whole world. I’d nominate you if I could, and you’d win, and then we could put your trophy on the mantel.”
    â€œNo, no, I’m not. You’re the best son in the world. I’m a terrible mother. Well, that’s not true, I’m an amazing mother, but sometimes even amazing mothers make mistakes. I should have gone with my gut. I knew the helmet was not going to end well, and I should have just listened to my inner voice.”
    â€œSo can we get a dog?”
    â€œWell, I’ve got to talk to your father first.”
    This is actually something my mom likes to say a lot, but in the whole history of my life on this planet, I have never once experienced my dad saying no to my mom about anything she wants. It’s not that Dad’s a big pushover. Well, he is, but he’s not a wimp about it. He just thinks my mom is supersmart and capable, and he knows that if she thinks it’s the right thing to do, then it probably is.
    My mom went to find Dr. Helen, while I waited for my name to be called. She told me to think about what kind of banana split I wanted, because right after the hospital we were heading over to SuperDuperScooper.
    â€œCan I have five cherries?”
    â€œDon’t push your luck. You can have two.”
    â€œThree?”
    â€œTwo.”
    â€œOkay, two it is. That’s all I really wanted anyway, Mom.” I was fine with two. I could have pushed her to get three, but now that I was getting my dog, the number of cherries didn’t matter so much.
    About five minutes passed, and I was busy finding hidden objects in a picture in an old Highlights magazine. I found everything almost immediately, and I couldn’t believe there was a time when I’d struggled to find everything. I heard him before I saw him. It was Dino’s booming voice, but this wasn’t the regular, happy Dino—this was something else entirely. I had never heard him talk like this before.
    â€œI’m telling you this is a waste of time,” he said.
    â€œShe’s my daughter, and I know what’s good for her.”
    â€œYeah, well, she’s my favorite niece, and I think I know a little more than you when it comes to this sort of thing.”
    â€œYou’re not even a doctor. You’re just a nurse.”
    I hadn’t looked up from my magazine, mainly because I was a chicken and there’s nothing I hate more than people yelling, but curiosity finally won out. What I saw was surprising, because I’m always used to Dino being the biggest guy in every room. The man arguing with Dino was even taller and wider than Dino. They looked like they were related. I remembered Dino telling me that he had a much older half brother. Maybe this was him.
    â€œYes, I am a nurse, a great nurse. You got a problem with that?”
    â€œDaddy, Uncle Dino, stop it right now!”
    Again, I heard and recognized the voice before I saw her. I saw two