We came up to the small, green, cement block building from the side, so I could see there were four cars in the front parking lot, and Dad’s truck was parked in back. This was good and bad. He was in the office, but there were lots of clients, which meant he was busy. We went in the back door so as not to bother clients and their pets. I sniffed the clinic smell of dogs, cats, medicine and air freshener, and listened to the yipping and the Easy Listening radio station. Some people don’t like the smells and noises, but I’ve been coming here all my life, so I’m used to it. We found Dad in an exam room, sewing up a cut on a golden retriever pup’s leg. I waved at Sue, his assistant. She was my babysitter when I was little, but now she was just my friend. She had a two year-old and I babysat for her sometimes. “Hi, Piper. Hi, Addie,” Dad said. “Be with you in a minute.” “Hey, Dad, we found a pony that’s being mistreated and we need you to help us.” “A pony? Where?”
