and muttered Can’t believe I’m doing this Dropping his hand he looked Jessie up and down Fine Fine irritating small person I will take you on Triumph surged through Jessie She’d done it She would get to meet not one not two but probably a dozen dogs Maybe more How many dogs did Wes walk It didn’t matter she would love them all and they would love her back They wouldn’t abandon her or give her that look like her very existence was too annoying for words Thank you thank you He held up his hand stopping her I’ll take you on but only on one condition Jessie swallowed Yes Wes smiled and suddenly Jessie was filled with a sense of foreboding like she’d just stepped in a deep sucking pool of mud He leaned toward her You’ll have to master the Rules of the Ruff Wh-what are those They are the code I live my life by You’ll learn to think like a dog to act like a dog to be a dog He straightened straightened Come back tomorrow morning Seven sharp Your training starts then He disappeared back into his house closing the door with a final-sounding click Jessie stared at that closed door her eyes tracing the peeling white paint Seven in the morning in the summer Did he have any idea how early that was She slowly walked down the three steps to the sidewalk and turned left Maybe Wes was just trying to discourage her Well it wouldn’t work She could get up early if she had to She could learn to be 4 HEIDI LANG
a dog too She would master these Rules of the Ruff if it was the last thing she did As she followed the sidewalk she pushed her bangs off her forehead glad she’d chopped her thick curly hair short before coming out here to Elmsborough Ohio for the summer It was almost ten in the morning now and the day’s heat had already begun to build She imagined the heat as a large soggy blanket that someone was holding just above her head Even though it wasn’t touching her yet she could feel the threat of it being dropped on her Jessie made another left Up ahead was Elm Park her favorite part of this whole place She loved how big it was so huge she couldn’t see the circular pond at the far end Most of the park was flat and grassy surrounded by a winding trail lined with the elm trees that gave it its name In the far corner stood a swing set and jungle gym that she and Ann used to play on back when they were kids Back when Ann was still fun Back when she was still Ann and not Ann-Marie Jessie scowled as she passed by the swings then decided she’d wasted enough time thinking about her stupid cousin Her soccer ball was still crammed under the bushes where she’d hidden it Jessie crouched low and dug it out then tossed it from hand to hand If she wanted to be a starter when school began she needed to keep her skills sharp It was hard though all her favorite drills required at least two people If only Ann would but no Jessie dropped the soccer ball enjoying the sound it made as it crushed the grass that crinkly noise so full of promise She rolled her shoulders and did a few quick 5 RULES of the RUFF
lunges and stretches Then she picked up the ball and started juggling with it She eased into it hitting the ball first with her feet working it up to her knees and then finally bouncing it up and off her head Not bad Jessie whirled around The ball fell from her head bouncing to the ground and rolling until it was stopped by a sneaker-clad foot Jessie’s eyes traced that foot up White sock Brown shin Black shorts A tall boy with huge brown eyes smiled down at her What do you want Jessie demanded His grin slipped a little Well I guess I was hoping you were looking for a partner A partner You know for soccer drills Soccer drills Jessie eyed him He looked like he was in good enough shape Still How do I know you don’t suck I mean I don’t want to be saddled with someone terrible I don’t suck Watch this He took off his faded baseball cap His thick black hair was even curlier than Jessie’s and he shoved it back from his face and stuffed his hat over it backward then scooped up her soccer ball He dropped it catching it on one outstretched foot and balancing it there Then he bounced it up and ducked under it catching it on the top of his head and balancing it there for a few seconds too He bounced it again catching it on his left shoulder then his right then his knees and thighs That took control serious control Jessie was impressed in spite of herself 6 HEIDI LANG
He grinned at her and finally let the ball drop down Pretty good right She scowled She didn’t like his cocky attitude Do you actually know how to play soccer or just a bunch of fancy tricks I know how to play He sounded hurt Oh yeah Well what position Center forward How many goals have you scored Total or per game Jessie thought about it for a second Per game My best game I scored eight with two assists That wasn’t bad Jessie decided she’d never tell him her own best record which was only five goals in a game with three assists Fine she said reluctantly I guess you can play with me Well how do I know you don’t suck Jessie noticed his incisors were a little longer and sharper than most people’s They dimpled his bottom lip when he smiled giving him a mischievous look like a fox I don’t suck she said And I don’t need to show off to prove it either We can play one-on-one and I’ll show you Confident I like it I’m Max by the way He stuck out his hand Jessie She shook it feeling strangely grown up He squinted at her a second like he was sizing her up then nodded All right let’s do this Max ended up winning but not by much Still Jessie hated to lose to anyone One more she said wiping 7 RULES of the RUFF
