How to Steal a Dog

Georgina's family is destabilized when her father leaves, triggering eviction from their apartment in Darby. With dwindling income, they end up living in their car and slipping into poverty as Georgina struggles with school and social life. She keeps the hardship to herself, not sharing the truth with others.

Georgina tells her best friend Luanne about the family crisis and asks her to keep it secret. She hides the full extent of the situation from most people while trying to cope with declining opportunities. Luanne's role becomes part of the web of secrets surrounding the plan to change their fortunes.

Desperation pushes Georgina to devise a plan: steal a missing dog, return it for a reward, and use the money to improve their situation. She creates unofficial dog-theft rules in a notebook to guide herself and Toby. The plan marks a dangerous pivot from their earlier hiding of poverty.

Georgina and Toby roam the neighborhood and identify Willy, a dog who fits the criteria she outlined. They assess whether Willy is a viable target and how the theft might unfold. The discovery sets the plan into motion.

Georgina's mother secures an abandoned house as a temporary home, giving the family hope. The dwelling is so dilapidated that it nearly makes Georgina abandon the plan, yet the state of the house reinforces her resolve. The building is later boarded up, confirming the owner’s unwillingness to live there.

Georgina and Toby steal Willy and hide him at the abandoned house, pulling off the theft with limited obstacles. Georgina starts to feel guilt about the action and suspects that something’s not right. A traveler named Mookie grows suspicious of the dog’s connection to Georgina.

Georgina befriends Carmella and learns that the girl is from a lower middle-class background. The house and street actually belonged to Carmella’s deceased grandfather, who left Willy behind. Carmella also contemplates borrowing money from relatives to offer a larger reward, deepening Georgina’s guilt.

Georgina decides to do the right thing and returns Willy without taking any reward. She confesses to Carmella about the theft, and Carmella forgives her, strengthening their friendship. Mookie reveals that he knew Willy was stolen all along by finding the dog’s collar, leaving Georgina puzzled by his friendliness.

Three days pass before Georgina’s mother announces they will live with a mutual friend, Louise. Georgina is excited to leave the car life behind and envisions a more secure future. The move marks a renewal of stability for the family.

Georgina updates her rulebook to reflect a new moral stance, noting that stealing a dog isn’t a good idea. The revision shows her growth as she moves past desperation toward empathy. The notebook closes this chapter with a note of caution and hope.

The story ends with Georgina smelling the night air and declaring that it doesn’t stink, signaling relief from car life and a shift toward a brighter future. She looks forward to life in the house and to making better choices. The closing moment underscores hopeful optimism.