Favors for Friends, Haunted Houses, Professionals Summary and Analysis

In "Favor for Friends," Kimmel describes Zippy's relationship with a neighboring family. After the Scroggs move out of the Hodson house, the Hicks move in. Although the Hicks family consists of eight excellent children, Zippy's favorite is Andy—who is funny, tall, blond and sings like an angel. He also tells Zippy about the facts of life in a very graphic way. Andy asks Zippy to dogsit their dog Jiggers when the family goes on a week-long trip to Tennessee. Zippy is not sure how to dogsit and leaves Jiggers along with water and food, but is not able to find her later that evening or for the next several days. During those days, a smell begins to emanate from the Hicks' house. Though both Zippy and her dad recognize...