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loved snowmobiling, his father was an avid hunter, his parents--like mine---were happy together but his mother died some time ago and his father had never remarried. I told him I didn’t remember my mother but I could understand his close relationship with his dad.
    “A lot of kids are embarrassed by their parents or they pretend they are,” Reece said, his voice dripping with disapproval.
    I nodded in agreement. “It’s good you’re not that way. You know just as I do that the family dynamic can change anytime.” I suddenly felt weak since the pain of my dad’s death was still too near.
    I changed the subject.
    “Why did you get into cheerleading?”
    Reece smirked and looked down at the table. “For the girls of course!” He lifted his head to look at me and continued. “I never asked any of them out. I prefer to date outside the squad.”
    I looked away and giggled nervously, and knowingly. I wasn’t the cheerleader type and here I was socializing with one.
    We left the Pizzeria together and talked all the way to Anne’s house. When we were on the porch he put his hand on my back. “Would you like to go out again…I mean…just the two of us?”
    I think I paused a little too long because he started to look nervous. “You did offer to treat me, remember?”
    I flashed him a smile. “Of course; why don’t you call me?”
    He agreed and we gave each other a friendly hug goodbye. I backed away from him when he stopped me by gently holding my arms. I felt a sudden rush of panic. He looked into my eyes and paused--as if he were considering something. A sly smile began to form and without words he jumped onto the sidewalk. He was really smiling and took a few paces backwards before turning around, skipping forward and doing a round-off back hand-spring.
    “Show-off!” I teased.
    He winked, waved, and ran off.
    Laughing, I turned to go into the house.

Chapter 8
    After relaying the night’s details to Anne, who absorbed them with genuine interest, I tended to Pandora. I led her outside and sat on the back porch while she ran about. She was more eager to play than to take care of business. 
    “Silly dog,” I muttered.  I quietly laughed and drew my knees to my chest and rested my head on my arms. Pandora sensed my introspection , quit running and came over to me where she nudged my arm. I lifted my head and stroked her. “I can always count on you, can’t I?”
    Pandora perked up and her ears seemed to be searching for some noise that was beyond my own hearing. Suddenly she bolted towards the back fence and growled angrily. I had never seen that side of her before and was taken aback.
    “What’s gotten into you Panda?”
    I stood up and looked into the darkness, but didn’t see anything. Other than Pandora, the night was calm.
    “Silly dog,” I repeated. “Let’s go in.”
    After showering I pulled on my white t-shirt and began brushing my teeth. I motioned for Pandora to go into my room. As a matter of habit I went to the window and looked out, seeing nothing.  Pandora was next to me, watching as I had been, and seeing what I couldn’t. But I heard the howling – faint and far away. I returned to the bathroom to rinse my mouth out. I placed my toothbrush in its holder and spotted some of Anne’s nail polish and chose a pale pink. I entered my room and noticed that Pandora was alert, not having relaxed her stance. I rolled my eyes and plopped down on the bed. I began painting my toenails when Pandora let out another angry growl. Startled, I almost spilled polish on the comforter.
    “Knock it off Panda,” I scolded. She didn’t pay any attention to me.
    While I waited for the polish to dry I listened to Within Temptation and began to journal. In writing I could pour my heart out, something I was reluctant to do in person. After I wrote a short entry about my fun evening with Reece, I casually flipped through to read some back entries. My eyes settled on one I had written shortly before my