>>Pen
Val's eyes darted around the kitchen, his mind racing. His gaze fell on the empty plate and then on the crumbs scattered all over the counter. He suddenly snapped his fingers, his face lighting up with an idea.
"Okay, I've got a plan," Val said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "We'll blame it on a stray dog."
I blinked at him. "A dog?"
Dad tilted his head, skeptical. "How are we going to make that believable? And where are we even going to get a dog?"
"Leave that to me," Val replied. He quickly ran to the kitchen door, swinging it open. "I just need to grab one from outside. There are always some strays around here."
Before either Dad or I could protest or offer a better idea, Val was already out the door, sprinting down the garden path. I watched him go, my stomach tightening with anxiety. I wasn't sure how he was going to pull this off, but at this point, any plan was better than no plan.
Dad and I waited
