How to Steal a Dog

Georgina feels humiliated when Mr. White asks her to read her report on volcanoes. Because she was not able to access computers or the library, Georgina made up the information. While everyone, including Luanne, laughs at her, Mr. White is sympathetic and puts his hand on her shoulder.

Although Georgina has been doing badly in school, she prefers the school day to what comes after, as the former is more predictable. That day, the surprise is that her mother has been fired from her cleaning job for some unknown reason. Deeply depressed, Georgina’s mother ponders aloud what it would be like if she left the planet.

When the family arrives at the house that day, a new sign appears, reaffirming that it is private property. The door is also boarded up. Georgina is surprised to find that she is devastated, realizing that being able to spread out in a ramshackle house was preferable to being cramped up in a car. She is now more certain than ever about stealing the dog. 

When Georgina and her family have to sleep outside the Brushy Creek Lutheran Church, she remembers a happier time when she went to that church with her friend Racene Wickham and made May baskets.