Bruce Gone Missing

Courtney G.

Maggie, a 14-year old girl, has just stepped out of her house to run to the store. Before she left, she checks for all the lights to be turned off , take all her dirty dishes to the kitchen, and makes sure she shuts the door all the way so her dog Bruce won’t get out. As she begins to walk, she remembers that she didn’t lock the door. She looks at her watch. “Four-forty-five,” she says to herself. The store would be closing at five because it was Sunday. She realizes she doesn’t have time to go back and lock the door.

When she gets home, she notices that the door is wide open. She goes through it and looks around; nothing missing. She hadn’t even thought it was a big deal that her dog is not where is sight.

The Next Day…

Maggie woke up and looked at her clock. It read 10:37. She jumped up quickly. Bruce hadn’t been there to wake her up like he always did. Where was he? Was he alright? Maybe he was sick. She ran downstairs as fast as she could and saw that Bruce wasn’t in his room. Her mom and dad had already gone to work, but Maggie and the other students had today and tomorrow off for parent-teacher conferences. Maggie ran outside in her pajamas and started calling to Bruce at the top of her lungs.

“Bruce!” she screamed. “Bruce, here Bruce!” She yelled this several times.

Susan, her neighbor who lived across the street, ran over quickly to see what happened.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I can’t find Bruce, he’s no where!” Maggie screamed.

“Hey, well ya know, I did see Joey go into your house the other day. He said he was looking for his school book,” replied Susan.

“Why would he come to my house looking for a book? I don’t have any of his books, and I live clear across town,” questioned Maggie.

“I don’t know,” said Susan.

“Have you seen anyone else around here lately?”

“Well yeah, Daisy, but she was just walking like she always does,” said Susan.

“Oh my gosh, yesterday at school she told me that I should start walking too, she said I need it. How rude was that?” asked Maggie.

“It sounds like she’s got it in for ya if ya ask me,” Susan retorted.

“Ya I know, I guess we could call them both over for questioning.”

An Hour Later…

“Okay, what did you want me for? I can’t afford to be seen with you two geeks for much longer,” Daisy bellow.

“Yeah, I have practice soon,” agreed Joey.

“Alright, alright. Calm down. Maggie’s dog Bruce is missing and we were just wanted to know if you would have had anything to do with it,” said Susan in a matter-of-factly way.

“Why would I take a stupid dog?” asked Joey.

“Yeah, dogs are dirty,” exclaimed Daisy.

“Okay, well, one of you guys did it, no one else could of,” yelled Susan nervously.

“Gezz Susan, why are you so jumpy?” asked Joey.

“Um yeah, like chill out okay?” said Daisy.

“Well I just want Bruce to be safe that’s all. Is that so wrong? I happen to like dogs too ya know,” Susan jumped back, “And I think that you are just trying to blame it all on me now, but you guys were the ones who were creeping around the house, not me!” said Susan said.

“Dude! Who said I was creeping? Why would I want to go into her house? I was walking,” retorted Daisy.

“Okay, fine,” Susan said, “ but someone had to do it, what about Joey, what we you doing going into Maggie’s house?

“I didn’t go into her house! What are you talking about?”

“Ya know, I’m starting to think it was you Susan!” Maggie yelled.

“Why would you think it was me? I…I….I…would never take your dog. I love Bruce enough to…,” she was cut off.

“…to take him from me?” Susan asked.

“Okay fine, fine, I took him. I just wanted him so bad. He’s such a good dog.