A Bird in the House

At 15, Vanessa observes Peter Chorniuk delivering birch firewood. Vanessa talks with Mr. Chorniuk, who mentions that his dog, Natasha, has had puppies with a husky. He offers one to Vanessa, who is thrilled but anticipates resistance from her grandfather rather than her mother.

Grandfather Connor, in his late eighties and still formidable, initially refuses the puppy, mirroring his earlier contentious negotiation over the price of the birch with Mr. Chorniuk. However, he relents when Beth indicates it’s okay but insists the dog must stay in the basement. Vanessa and her younger brother Roddie play with the puppy, whom she names Nanuk, an Inuit name.

The local paperboy, 16-year-old Harvey Shinwell, who is known for his pale and spotty appearance, mistreats Nanuk by jabbing him in the face with a stick. He claims the dog is dangerous as he grins at Vanessa. Despite her anger and concern, Vanessa doesn’t mention the incident to her mother, wary of the additional strain the dog might already be placing on the household.

Months later, Vanessa catches Harvey luring Nanuk with a donut, only to harm him by throwing pepper into his eyes. Witnessing repeated cruelty, she harbors dark thoughts of retribution against Harvey. Nanuk—now eight months old and robust with a thick black coat, husky ears, and a wolf-like jaw—reacts aggressively toward Harvey.