This was the best day of Maxine's life. She had a real live dog. (It also helped her to forget, at least for a few moments, that Wash was in the hospital.) Although the school officials frowned at the presence of the animal, all of them were reluctant to mention it to an overpowered five year old, deciding a letter home to Maxine's guardians might be the wiser course of action.
At recess Maxine was at the height of her school popularity. The children found a large stick on the ground and took turns throwing it, seeing who could throw it the farthest for Sam to fetch.
During lunch, because school lunches were terrible, Sam had plenty of offers from the children for the parts of their lunches they didn't want. With Sam around, everything was calmer, simpler. Having a dog was everything she ever imagined it to be.
It was when school ended Maxine realized there was a problem. On the bus she pet Sam nervously. "My dad never let me have a dog. But he isn't here. I bet Wash would say yes, but he's in the hospital so I'm staying with my other guardian Jo. She's really nice. I bet she'll let you stay because you're a dog now, and you need someone to stay with."