The timely arrival of their mother forced Kev's hand. Dog and boy heard the car door shut as Mrs. Webster exited the parked vehicle, bags of groceries in her hand.
"Mom!" Kev shouted and ran to meet her at the gate.
In the meantime, the squirrel forgotten for the moment, the sheepdog worked hard to detect any appetizing scents from the shopping bags.
"Mom, I've got to tell you something," Kev said.
"Well, first you can help with these bags," she answered, handing off a couple of the heavy bags to her youngest.
Kev took the bags and followed toward the back door.
He placed the bags onto the kitchen counter as his mother did the same. "Mom, it's about Jared!"
Slightly exasperated, she turned to Kev and asked, "What has your brother done now?"
At that very moment, the sheepdog began barking loudly just outside the open kitchen door.
Before Kev could explain the situation, Mrs. Webster turned and picked up the morning newspaper. Rolling it into a tube in her hands, she stepped onto the veranda and whacked the paper against an open palm. "Bad dog!" Mrs. Webster scolded. "You be quiet."
The sheepdog whimpered and retreated.
"Mom!" Kev protested. "Don't do that! It's Jared."
She turned back to Kev. "What about your brother?"
"Mom, Jared's turned into a dog," Kev said. "Well, not just a dog. He is Shaggy now and..."
"What are you talking about?" Mrs. Webster asked. "Where does that imagination of yours come from?"
Kev tried to think of a way to explain, but got interrupted by...