Page 28 of Story of My Life
“I’ll admit. We’re not off to the greatest start,” I said, watching as Cam was immediately mauled by exuberant greetings from both dogs. “But I have a good feeling about this.”
“I’m glad one of us does,” Zoey said.
Cam stepped over the dogs and tried to take the ladder from the man. This led to a loud discussion with a lot of pointing. The bigger, bearlike dog took it upon himself to attempt to climb the ladder first, which led to both men shouting, “Melvin!”
“Haze. Babe. This is apocalyptic. We destroyed the town’s welcome sign and then got into a rumble with our national bird. You’ve got blood on your favorite sweater from some bird-fish wound. I count half a dozen occupied storefronts, and our driver is yelling at the general store guy like they’ve got some kind of decades-old feud.”
“Every good story needs conflict,” I insisted.
Cam beat out man and dog for ladder-climbing rights and with a scowl set it up next to the edge of the awning. The other man handed over a long plastic pipe, and our downtown hero used it to dislodge the fish head from the fabric. It landed on the concrete with a messythwap.
The bear dog pounced on the fish head.
“Damn it, Melvin,” the other man said, dragging the hulking dog backward by the collar. The smaller dog appeared to have fallen asleep in the sunshine in the middle of the sidewalk.
Cam climbed back down, folded up the ladder, and carried it over the sleeping dog and up the steps to the front door. All without saying a word to his audience.
“You wanna feed me some pudding now? Maybe gimme a sponge bath?” the man complained, still holding the dog when Campbell returned.
“If I told you a hundred times, I know Gage told you a thousand. Hell, even Levi probably said it once or twice, and you know how much he hates to open his mouth. Stay off the fucking ladder,” Cam said, drilling a finger into the man’s chest.
The bear dog barked jubilantly, waking the sleeping speed-bump dog. It jumped up and let loose an earsplitting howl.
“Shut up, Bentley!” both men snapped.
“Are we about to witness a fight?” Zoey asked, sounding a bit more chipper.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Cam. I’m not a goddamn toddler,” the older man said, shoving Campbell’s hand away. “I’m perfectly capable of doing all the shit you pains in the ass think I can’t.”
“One phone call, and your ass is back at home in the recliner,” Cam threatened.
The older man’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me. I see you up on that ladder and I’ll duct tape you to the chair myself,” Cam warned.
The other man scraped a hand over his beard. He looked toward the truck. “You gonna introduce me to your friends?”
“Nope.”
And with that, Cam stomped back to the truck.
“See ya for breakfast,” the man on the sidewalk called as Cam shifted into drive and hit the gas.
“Yeah.”
“Friend of yours?” I asked.
“No.”
“Archnemesis?” I tried again.
Campbell glared through the windshield. “He’s my dad.”
“You two seem close,” Zoey joked from the back seat.
“Cute dogs,” I said. “Do they belong to your dad, who you obviously have some long-standing feud with?”
“Never should’ve gotten out of bed this morning,” Cam muttered.
