Chapter 5: DiggerIt was only a two-minute walk to my house. After my encounter with Bruce, I was anxious not to meet any other party-goers returning home, so I encouraged a quick pace, which reduced Jake’s sniffing enterprises. But he was sensitive to my mood, and knew something was up.
We were on my own street when my fears were realized: a group of three teen-agers, two girls and a guy, on the far sidewalk, heading toward us. I glanced at Grendel and suppressed a squeal of fear; I simply couldn’t imagine them not spotting him—and reacting in a way that even contemplating made me shudder. The three were clearly on something—alcohol or some other drug—their exchanges mostly hushed giggles. As they approached, I saw that their intense self-focus had prevented them from looking over toward
