Excerpt: The Random Misadventures of Miguel and Tulio!

"Yeah," Miguel answered. "I'm still really surprised no one heard the window break and came running right then and there."
"Yeah, me, too," Tulio said honestly. "It's weird, it's as if we were the only ones who--"
"Shhh!" Miguel hissed suddenly. He had stopped in his tracks. They were now in the middle of one of the many narrow cobblestoned streets that formed a maze beyond the plaza.
Tulio froze and he felt his heart begin to speed up. "What is it?" he whispered frantically. "Is someone watching us?" For a brief second he thought of the dream he had had and imagined Maria appearing out of thin air in front of them. The thought should have made him laugh silently at himself but it only made him feel more tense.
"I don't know," Miguel whispered back. "I thought I saw something move out of the corner of my eye." Both boys stood stock still, straining their ears for any unusual sounds. All was silent.
After a few more seconds of listening, Tulio opened his mouth. "Miguel, let's go back to the or--Miguel, what are you doing?!"
Miguel had walked forward to the corner of the next small street and was now peering around it. He disappeared for a few seconds and then he let out a cry. "Tulio!"
Tulio's heart leaped into his throat as he felt sure that Miguel had been grabbed and was now crying out for help.
"Tulio, look!"
Tulio let out a gasp of relief as he realized that Miguel's voice sounded not terrified, but eager. He walked forward and turned the corner to join Miguel. "Don't do that--I nearly peed my pants!"
Miguel turned to him. "Wait, what?"
"The way you shouted my name like that...I thought you were being kidnapped!"
"Oh, sorry," Miguel replied distractedly and then pointed ahead of them. "Look!"
Tulio's eyes followed the direction of Miguel's finger and he started. "Whoa!"
Standing before the two boys were not one but two large dogs.