Free Shadow by Ellen Miles Page B

us.”
    Lizzie loved her dad’s macaroni and cheese, but that night she hardly tasted it as she wolfed it down.
    Charles didn’t even bother arguing about how many bites of broccoli he had to eat. He just finished what was on his plate without even seeming to notice.
    The Bean crawled around on the floor by theirfeet, the way he always did at mealtimes, pretending to be a dog. Every so often he would come over to Lizzie’s chair and put his chin on her knee, asking to be patted. “Good dog,” she said as she stroked his hair. The Bean liked that.
    â€œNice job on your broccoli, Charles,” Mom said. “You ate it all.”
    That reminded Charles of a joke.
Everything
reminded Charles of a joke. “Hey, why was six afraid of seven?” he asked.
    â€œWhy?” Dad asked. He always humored Charles.
    â€œBecause seven eight nine,” Charles said. “Get it? Seven ate nine!”
    He cracked up.
    Lizzie rolled her eyes. She’d heard that one a million times. “That joke is so old, the last time I heard it I fell off my dinosaur,” she said.
    Charles stuck his tongue out at her.
    â€œWell, I thought it was funny,” Dad said. “Seven eight nine. I’ll have to remember to tell that one down at the firehouse.”
    Mr. Peterson was a fireman, and Mrs. Peterson was a reporter for the local newspaper. Sometimes Mom wrote articles about big fires that Dad helped put out.
    â€œI think it’s your turn to clear the table, Charles,” Mom said when they were done eating.
    â€œI’ll help,” Lizzie said, jumping up. “He helped me set it.”
    Mom smiled. Lizzie knew how much Mom loved it when they helped out without being asked. She figured this was a good time to get on Mom’s good side, if there might be a puppy in the picture.
    Lizzie was loading the dishwasher when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it!” she yelled as she dashed past Charles. She threw the door open.
    â€œHello,” said Dr. Gibson.
    â€œOh!” said Lizzie, taking a deep breath. Cuddled in the vet’s arms was the cutest puppy she had ever seen. His coat was a shiny, silky black, and the pup looked back at Lizzie with intelligent, sparkling brown eyes. His forehead was wrinkledin the cutest way, as if he were worried about something. He was a serious little pup.
    The puppy liked the girl right away. He liked
everybody,
but especially people who smiled at him that way. Would she like him, too? As soon as he had a chance, he was going to lick her face all over.

“This is Shadow,” said Dr. Gibson. She didn’t seem to notice that Lizzie didn’t say hello or invite her in. “I know I shouldn’t have brought him over without asking first, but I just couldn’t stand to leave him home alone.”
    By then the rest of the family had crowded in behind Lizzie.
    â€œWow,” said Charles. “He’s so cute! How old is he?”
    â€œAww,” said Dad. “What a great little pup.”
    â€œUppy!” yelled the Bean, reaching up to try to pat the puppy.
    Even Mom, the cat lover, was impressed. “Would you look at him?” she asked. “Isn’t he something?”Then she seemed to remember her manners. “Come in, why don’t you, Dr. Gibson?”
    â€œCall me Katie, please,” said the doctor as she came inside. She smiled at Lizzie. “You look as if you’re itching to hold this puppy. Want to take him while I get my coat off?”
    Lizzie held out her arms, and the vet handed the puppy to her. His soft, warm weight made Lizzie sigh happily. And when he put one paw on either side of her neck in a sort of puppy hug, she felt as if her heart would burst. “Hello, Shadow,” she whispered into one of his silky ears. “Good boy.” The puppy nuzzled her cheek with his nose, then licked her face all over, which made her giggle.
    Then the puppy struggled to get down,