Joe tied Jared's leash to a post outside the shop. "Be a good dog while I get my drink," Joe said and patted him on the head.
Jared felt his damn tongue loll out of his head and watched Joe enter the busy coffee shop.
That's when he saw the man in the shorts and high school jacket walk toward him. He was even wearing that damn red whistle around his neck. Jared watched as he saw his baseball coach, Dan Harris, walk toward him. He was a big, burly man in his late 30s. He had that former athlete's form that had begun the process of middle age spread.
As the coach walked past Jared toward the shop entrance, Joe emerged. "Coach Harris!"
The coach needed a moment, but then remembered Joe from a few years ago. "How's it going, son?"
"Just getting a quick drink," Joe said. "I am walking the Webster's dog."
The coach looked down at the tethered sheepdog. "I was just over there looking for Jared," the coach said. "You know him?"
Joe took a sip of his drink. "Nah, not really," he said. "I see him around, but his parents hired me."
"Well, I wanted to talk to him about some baseball scholarships," the coach said. "I figured I'd see him at school today, but I never did find him."
Jared listened. Why hadn't the coach seen him? Had Shaggy gone to school, posing as him, as had been the plan?
Jared whimpered, getting the attention of both his coach and his walker. It was somewhat embarrassing to be a dog in front of his coach, but at least the man had no clue that Jared was actually right in front of him.
"What is it, Shaggy?" Joe asked.
"Well, I will let you get your dog sorted out," the coach said and ducked inside the coffee shop. Jared watched him go with a frustrated whimper.
Joe unfastened the leash. "Don't know why you're acting so strange today, boy, but let's get you home."
Jared agreed with that sentiment. He needed to get home and see how Shaggy's day at school had gone...if he had even reached school! He was also curious about the scholarships. His dad was really pushing him to try out for every single scholarship available. He really hoped that, with Shaggy's help, they could find the collar and get back into their own bodies.