The Monsters of Millwood County
You look out your bedroom window at the neighbor's dog; a lovely mutt named Zatch. You assume your neighbor meant to name him Zack or Butch but ended up blending the two when he was writing it down. Not that the crotchety old man would admit it. Zatch was a mix between a Bulldog and a Chow, resulting in an odd looking orange pup with a scrunched up face and a heart of gold.
Although the neighbor hated how much more popular his dog was than him, he wasn't in the shape to give it the exercise it needed, so he begrudgingly let the kids play with him if they promised to keep the dog from getting hurt. Only one kid ever broke that promise; Donny, the Weird Kid. It was an accident that Tom didn't like to think about.
Heading downstairs and out the back door, Tom grabbed his backpack packed with the usual essentials (a book, a flashlight, spare batteries, the keys to his house, money for lunch, and a game boy and charger). His backyard was fairly barren, with only an old swingset and a large oak tree, as well as his dad's grill set-up and some lawn furniture. He squeezed between the hole in the backyard fence.
The neighbor's backyard was overgrown and tangled all over, with a dead tree and rusted lawn equipment. In the center was the doghouse, where Zatch lay asleep.
Although the neighbor hated how much more popular his dog was than him, he wasn't in the shape to give it the exercise it needed, so he begrudgingly let the kids play with him if they promised to keep the dog from getting hurt. Only one kid ever broke that promise; Donny, the Weird Kid. It was an accident that Tom didn't like to think about.
Heading downstairs and out the back door, Tom grabbed his backpack packed with the usual essentials (a book, a flashlight, spare batteries, the keys to his house, money for lunch, and a game boy and charger). His backyard was fairly barren, with only an old swingset and a large oak tree, as well as his dad's grill set-up and some lawn furniture. He squeezed between the hole in the backyard fence.
The neighbor's backyard was overgrown and tangled all over, with a dead tree and rusted lawn equipment. In the center was the doghouse, where Zatch lay asleep.