Free Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary

frightened she is.”
    â€œWhy, Henry!” It was Mrs. Huggins. “What on earth is happening?”
    â€œHis dog chased that little girl up on the jungle gym and won’t let her come down,” explained one of the women, before Henry could open his mouth.
    Mrs. Huggins glanced at Ramona and then looked sympathetically at Henry. “He’s not a vicious dog,” she told the woman.
    â€œMom, he didn’t chase her. Honest,” said Henry.
    Then Mrs. Wisser, followed by Miss Mullen, the principal, pushed her way through the crowd of mothers. “There’s the dog,” Mrs. Wisser said, pointing at Ribsy.
    Miss Mullen! thought Henry. Now I suppose I’ll really catch it. Miss Mullen was nice, but when she said something she meant it.
    Miss Mullen was tall and gray-haired. When she spoke, other people listened. “Hello, Henry, what’s the trouble?” she asked pleasantly. The other women stopped talking.
    Feeling uneasy, Henry looked around at all the mothers. He licked his lips and began. “Well, it looks like my dog chased Ramona up the jungle gym, but he didn’t really.” Henry gulped and went on. “She took his bone away from him and put it in her lunch box and he just wants his bone back, is all.” Henry decided it was not necessary to tell about the ice cream cone.
    â€œThat’s right, Miss Mullen,” said Beezus, from the middle of the jungle gym.
    â€œI have a samwidge in my lunch box,” screamed Ramona.
    â€œBut the child was obviously frightened,” said Mrs. Wisser. “She was crying as if her little heart would break.”
    â€œShe was crying before she climbed up there,” said Beezus.
    â€œI’m sure Ribsy wouldn’t hurt anyone,” said Miss Mullen.
    Henry was surprised to learn that the principal knew his dog’s name.
    Miss Mullen smiled. “We all know Ribsy very well at Glenwood School,” she said. “He meets Henry under the fir tree every day after school. I’ve been watching him from my office window for a long time and he has never annoyed any of the children. In fact, he’s unusually good-natured.” Then Miss Mullen looked up at Ramona. “You may come down now,” she said, pleasantly but firmly.
    Ramona scowled but she climbed down.
    â€œNow give Ribsy his bone,” said Miss Mullen.
    Ramona looked sulky as she unfastened the lunch box and handed Ribsy his bone. He took it in his mouth and looked at Henry as if to say, “Can’t we go home now?”
    The crowd of mothers, some looking a little embarrassed, began to drift away.
    â€œThank you, Miss Mullen,” said Mrs. Huggins.
    â€œGee, thanks, Miss Mullen,” said Henry gratefully. “I didn’t know what I was going to do. They were going to send Ribsy to the pound.”
    Miss Mullen smiled. “That’s all right, Henry. I understand. I have three dogs of my own at home, you know.”
    â€œYou do?” Henry was astounded. Miss Mullen with three dogs! He had never thought of her as having any life outside Glenwood School at all. But three dogs!
    As the principal went back into the building, Beezus took a Kleenex out of her pocket and held it to Ramona’s nose. “Blow,” she said. Ramona blew.
    â€œIt really wasn’t Ribsy’s fault,” Beezus said to Mrs. Huggins.
    Henry’s mother smiled. “I understand.”
    Then Beezus handed her little sister the potato chips. “Here’s your P.T.A.,” she said crossly. “I hope you’re satisfied.”
    Mrs. Wisser, however, did not give up easily. “I know you’re fond of the dog,” she said to Mrs. Huggins, “but he really did frighten the child.” Then she squatted down on her heels so she could look into Ramona’s face. “Did the doggy frighten you, dear?” she asked.

    â€œNo,” said Ramona, staring at Mrs. Wisser. Then she squatted down on her