on her way home from school every day in the fall, halia walks past a blue house whose owner has an overly protective dog. it usually comes running up and barking ferociously at anyone walking near the wired fencing. over time, halia shows signs of fear at the sight of the house, even when the dog is not outside. however, as the owners begin to keep the dog inside every day during the cold winter months, halia gradually stops feeling scared at the sight of the house. one spring day on her way home from school, though, halia walks by the house and suddenly feels her heart flutter and her palms grow sweaty, even though the dog isn’t there.