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Mom drops a spatula and some dipping forks into the sink. "We may have to move in with Grandpa for a while, just until we get back on our feet.""How long is a while?" Hannah asks. "School starts soon. I'm going to be head pirate in the fall musical. Mrs. Pratt said so when I saw her at the supermarket."Dad unplugs the chocolate warmer. "One of the reasons we need to go to Glens Falls is to look into school for you guys," he says."But what about the store?" I say.Dad sighs. "Business has dropped off since Kunkle Kandies came to town. We were hoping the Chocolate Expo would help us get back on our feet.""We can only keep this place open if it's making money," Mom adds."What about Cocoa?" I say. "Grandpa's building doesn't allow pets."Mom slides the registration folder for the Chocolate Expo into the trash and cups my face in her hands. "Try not to worry, Mason. Your father and I will figure something out."I look past Mom to the garbage can, and it looks like they've already figured out plenty. If that folder had a tongue, it would've been sticking it out at me.Cocoa makes a chuffing sound as though he wants me to pull the folder out. Then I realize he's trying to tell me his superpowerful ears hear someone coming up the walk.The door swings open and Miss Meredith stuffs her cell phone into her pocket. "Welcome to Towne Chocolate Shoppe," she says brightly. When she sees who it is, her smile vanishes and she pulls out her cell phone again.Grandpa Irving is standing there with a suitcase tucked under one arm, a bundle of rolled-up maps under the other, and a tattered tricorn hat on his head. His eyebrows look bushier than ever."Where are my two favorite grandkids?" he bellows in his big-belly voice."We're your only grandkids!" Hannah says like she does every time he says that.Grandpa looks around the store. "Sheesh, did Virginia's Second Regiment march through here or something?"Dad explains what happened while I go over and give Grandpa the strongest bear hug I can.He fake groans from my squeeze and bends down (this time giving a real old guy achy-back groan). Maps spill from under his arm. "Don't you worry about this," he says. "Everything is going to be just fine."But everything isn't going to be just fine. Towne Chocolate Shoppe, our family business, is going to close. Hannah and I will have to go to a new school, away from all our friends. And worst of all, Cocoa is going to live in some kennel somewhere with a bunch of dogs he doesn't even know.I look for Hannah so we can figure out what to do, but she's already stomped away.
