Free Prince for a Princess by Eric Walters Page A

just that little bit slower. When they retire, we have to find new homes for them.”
    It was amazing to see all the dogs together. There was no barking or snarling or fighting. The dogs ran and pranced and played with Christina. Some of them ran big circles together, as if they were racing.
    â€œIt’s wonderful to watch them run,” her mother said.
    Bert nodded. “It is. It’s like watching a painting in motion.”
    â€œWhy aren’t they barking?” her mother asked.
    â€œGreyhounds are pretty quiet. They’ll occasionally bark or growl like all dogs do, but mostly they just rooo .”
    â€œ Rooo ?” asked her mother.
    â€œIt’s the sound a greyhound makes when it’s happy. You’ll hear it soon enough,” Bert said.
    â€œThey’re all so beautiful. How does anybody ever choose one?” her father asked as Christina approached.
    Bert smiled. “Well, you don’t have to choose just one .”
    â€œYou mean we could have two or three?” Christina asked.
    â€œThree is a bit much, but people often end up with two. The dogs aren’t used to being alone,” Bert said.

    Her father put his hands in his pockets. “I don’t think our house is big enough to hold two greyhounds.”
    â€œOne is definitely enough!” her mother said.
    â€œSo I can have one?” Christina asked.
    Her parents nodded. Christina squealed.
    â€œPrincess, you go and play with the dogs and let us talk,” her father said.
    Christina raced over to the dogs. Her parents watched as she ran and played with them all.
    â€œThe first thing you have to know about racing greyhounds is that they have no experience being pets,” Bert said.
    â€œSo there are problems with them?” Christina’s mother asked.
    He laughed. “If you’re looking for a dog that doesn’t do anything wrong, go to a toy store and get your girl a stuffed one.”
    Christina’s parents grinned. Their daughter’s room was filled with stuffed dogs.

    â€œThese dogs have spent their entire lives in a kennel, so being in a home is new to them. There are things they need to be taught, things all of you have to be taught.”
    The greyhounds were so big and moved so fast, but they were gentle with Christina. It was amazing to see the little girl in the middle of them.
    â€œDo they need a lot of exercise?” Christina’s father asked.
    â€œThey love to run, but they love to sleep even more,” Bert said. “Greyhounds are the world’s fastest moving couch potatoes.”
    â€œThey’re a little big for our couch,” Christina’s mother said.
    Bert laughed. “Maybe you need bigger furniture. Or, at least, you will need to put a big doggie bed on the floor.” He smiled. “Although all bets are off as to where a dog will sleep when you leave him home alone. They do like comfy furniture.”
    â€œThere are so many of them. How will we choose the right dog?” Christina’s father asked.
    â€œYou don’t understand,” Bert said. “You don’t choose the dog. The dog chooses you.”
    Bert pointed. Christina was standing off to the side with a dog. He was white and brown and very big—maybe the biggest dog of them all. He was almost the same height as Christina. He looked into her eyes as she scratched him behind the ear.
    â€œI heard you call your daughter Princess,” Bert said.
    â€œHer name is Christina, but we call her Princess sometimes,” her father said.
    â€œWell, then it seems right that she and that dog belong together,” he said. “His name is Prince.”
    â€œA Prince for a Princess,” her mother said. “That does seem right.”
    Christina’s family was now a family of four.

Chapter Three
    Christina’s father parked in the driveway.
    â€œWe’re home, Prince, we’re home!” Christina said.
    She jumped out of the