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Mrs. Baron, Wally and I have grown very fond of Samson. He may have been your dog at one time, but giving him up now would be like losing another family member.”
    Jesse’s grandmother’s face hardened. “I understand how you feel, Mrs. Morúa. But the fact is, the dog still belongs to Jesse. You have no idea what we’ve gone through trying to find him.” She pulled her checkbook and a pen out of her purse. “We had been offering a fifty-dollar reward to anyone who found Jesse’s dog, and the offer still stands. Plus, I’m willing to give you another fifty dollars for having taken care of the dog.”
    Wally’s mother dropped her hands and curled her lips in disgust. “Mrs. Baron, Samson is not for sale!”
    â€œWe didn’t come here to buy the dog, Mrs. Morúa,” Jesse’s grandmother said sternly. “We came to collect him. He belongs to us.”
    Again, the parrot began whistling the national anthem.
    â€œDo you have any proof that he’s yours?” Wally asked, jumping into the argument.
    â€œDo you have any proof that he’s yours?” Jesse joined in.
    Wally spun around and glared at him. “He lives here with us. I’d say that’s pretty good proof.”
    The parrot was now screeching its song.
    â€œStop it, Orpheus!” Wally shouted, but the parrot ignored her and continued belting out the patriotic tune.
    Jesse hadn’t anticipated any of this. He thought they would come over, get Duck and leave. His grandmother had told him she was going to offer the family a hundred dollars. Who would turn down a hundred bucks for returning a dog that didn’t belong to them in the first place?
    â€œI’ll give you a hundred and fifty,” Jesse’s grandmother said loudly, trying to make herself heard over the parrot’s noise. “I think that’s more than generous, considering that he’s Jesse’s dog.”
    â€œExcuse me.” Wally’s mother got up and draped a bath towel over the bird cage, which settled the parrot down, and it stopped whistling.
    Jesse gazed at the family photograph on the mantle. Then he looked down at Wally, who was squatted on the floor with her arms wrapped around Duck’s neck. As much as he would have liked to have gotten him back, he began to realize that Duck was no longer his dog. Besides, his grandparents already had Pollo and Gremlin. They didn’t need a third pet. And how would Pollo feel having another dog in the back yard with him? That’s where Duck would end up. Jesse’s grandparents didn’t believe in having a dog inside the house.
    â€œPlease be reasonable, Mrs. Morúa,” Jesse’s grandmother said when Wally’s mother returned. “We’re grateful that you found Jesse’s dog, but . . . ”
    â€œNo, Güela,” Jesse interrupted. “Duck’s not my dog anymore. He belongs to them now. I think he’ll be much happier living here.”
    Wally looked up and exclaimed, “Holy cats! Are you serious?”
    â€œYeah, you can have him.” Jesse hunched down and patted the dog on the head.
    â€œ Mijo , are you sure?” Jesse’s grandmother asked.
    â€œYeah, I’m sure.” Jesse took the dog by its snout. “You’re lucky to have a family who loves you so much, boy.”
    Mrs. Morúa sighed with relief. “Thank you, Jesse. You can’t imagine how much Samson means to Wally and me.”
    Jesse’s grandmother slipped her pen and checkbook back in her purse and rose from the couch.
    â€œYou’re more than welcome to come by anytime you want to see Samson,” Wally offered.
    â€œMaybe,” Jesse said, but as far as he was concerned, the deal was done. He didn’t plan to return to this house again.

CHAPTER SIX
    T hat evening, Jesse called his mother to tell her about Duck. He had tried to talk to his father about having found the dog, but he