Page 9 of Second Down Darling

Leaning on the doorframe, I wave behind me to the kennels. “I took everyone’s photo except Duke’s. I was afraid the sound of the shutter would freak himout.”

Merle shakes his head. “It’s his second day of not eating, Charlie. Not sure how long we can holdout.”

I chew the inside of my cheek, hesitant to ask the question. After a minute, I work up the courage. “How much would the vet charge to do the feeding tube?” My bank account is getting low, but I want tohelp.

Sheryl clicks her tongue. “Sweetheart, I know you don’t have any money. You can’t save every dog that comes through here. Plus, don’t you have your hands full withWinkie?”

It’s scary how well Sheryl knows me after I’ve volunteered here for only a year. Winkie is the one-eyed kitten I adopted lastfall.

“Winkie’s not a problem.” He finally stopped tearing up my clothes. And curtains. And bedding.Mostly.

Merle leans back in his chair. “Just because we save Duke in the short term doesn’t mean he’ll make it. He’ll have to want to get better.” His face darkens. “Wish I could beat the tar out of whoever did this tohim.”

My throat gets tight. I can’t let this happen. “What if I fostered him? What if I took him home and loved up on him? You know being around so many other dogs isstressful.”

Merle’s haggard eyes meet mine. “We’re supposed to stabilize the animals before we foster them in homes,Charlotte.”

“What does that matter if you’re just going to give him to Animal Control in a few days? I know what I’m signing up for.” Duke might not make it. I’m not good with confrontations, but the fear of this dog being euthanized forces me to dredge up the courage to fight Merle onthis.

He rubs the bridge of his nose. “For every instance of neglect, you need ten times more affection and care to offset the damage that’s been done. You’ve got school and your photography. You sure you’re up for thetask?”

I nod quickly. “My schedule this year is great. I have a break in the middle of the day and plenty of time to take Duke for walks.” I can’t believe I’m already asenior.

When Merle doesn’t say anything, I fold my hands like I’m praying. It’s a tactic straight out of my sister’s playbook, normally not something I’d attempt, but I’m desperate. “Please. I promise I won’t ask to do this again. I just can’t let him die withouttrying.”

“You’re still gonna do that calendar, though,right?”

“Absolutely.” With the tough economy last year, Second Chances lost several major donors, and they’ve been on the brink of closing their doors ever since. I suggested doing a calendar to raise funds, and since photography is the one area of my life where I excel, I want tohelp.

Now I just have to persuade a few athletes to take cute pics with some homelessanimals.

Sweat gathers under my arms at the thought of talking to so many people. This is why Dakota is our mother’s favorite. Kota is great at public speaking and knows how to ham it up for the cameras. Notme.

Despite being a photographer, I have a tendency to blink whenever I’m photographed. My shrink explained it’s psychosomatic and caused by stress. My mother rolled her eyes and declared that was a nice way of saying it’s all in myhead.

Yes, my mom took me to a psychiatrist to see if she could cure me of this “ailment” and turn me into another media sensation like mysister.

Newsflash: It didn’t work. As the dumb memes people made of me when I was littleindicate.

You can do this, Charlotte. You’re not a wallfloweranymore.

Fake it till you make it,right?

I clear my throat. “I’ll start coordinating the photoshoots thisweek.”

Since I never go on dates, I’ll have thetime.

Merle winks at me with a nod. “Then you got yourself a deal.” He points to the TV mounted on the wall, which is highlighting a Bronco game from last year. “Gonna have a hell of aseason.”

When he starts talking football, I usually duck out. Lone Star State’s team is one of the best in the country, so it’s a popular subject around here. I even went to a game with my friend Maggie, who just got engaged to one of the former players, but the topic bums me out, so I try to avoid footballaltogether.

Before I can return the conversation to taking Duke home with me, Merle smacks the table with a grin. “Coach Santos has built a helluva team this year. That transfer portal is a game-changer. We’re getting two new wide receivers,and…”

His voice fades as my pulseraces.

Jake’s a widereceiver.

It was his lifelong dream to play footballhere.

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