Dog Days

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Stephen and Isaac are stuck at home on a hot summer day and getting on each other's nerves. Lily, the family dog, has run off. Together they set out on an adventure to find her that quickly becomes boring and repetitive, like everything else this day. Until they discover Lily. She's lying near the woods, unable to walk. The day is suddenly serious, and the boys don't really know what to do. They can't carry her back, so they have to go get the tractor and trailer. Stephen doesn't want to leave the dog alone, so Isaac runs back, leaving Stephen and Lily alone. Stephen waits and waits, then discovers a much larger wound on Lily's back. He is terrified. He shouts for Isaac, but Isaac still won't come. Stephen is too afraid to leave, to run, to do anything. He buries his face in Lily's fur. Then he thinks he hears Isaac screaming. He grabs the bow and notches it clumsily, not really sure how to use it. Lily lies helpless. He doesn't want to abandon her. He hears his name again: it's definitely Isaac. He's screaming. Stephen breaks into a run. He finds Isaac. He's fine, calm and annoyed, by the tractor, which is stuck in mud. They scramble to get the tractor out. Back at home, Isaac calls their mom. Stephen sits in the back of the trailer with Lily. The sun beats down on him. He's exhausted.