Free Claudia and Mean Janine by Ann M. Martin Page B

most of the rest of the kids.
    David Michael, Buddy, and Charlotte began stalking Louie around the yard.
    â€œYou shouldn’t have taken his collar off so soon,” Charlotte pointed out.
    â€œI know,” said David Michael, “but we’ll get him.”
    And they did. The three of them ambushed him from behind a fir tree. Then they surrounded him, joined by Suzi and Margo, and hustled him over to the tub.
    â€œOkay, in you go, boy,” said Kristy. She and David Michael heaved him into the water. They looked as if they were used to doing so.
    SP-LASH!
A sort of tidal wave washed over one side, soaking Jamie and Claire, who laughed delightedly.
    Four kids pounced on poor Louie and began wetting him down. Nina dove for the soap and fell in the tub. After Dawn fished her out, the kidscrowded around, each wanting a turn to soap Louie. During all of this, the only sound Louie made was a pitiful whine when Kristy and David Michael tossed him in the water.
    When Louie was good and soapy, Mary Anne asked, “Is it time for the hose?”
    â€œI think so,” said Kristy. She helped Louie out of the tub. He stood, dripping, on the lawn, waiting for what was to come.
    â€œHe shrank!” cried Nina. “What happened? Oh, he
shrank!”
    â€œNo, he didn’t,” said Dawn patiently. “He’s just wet. You’ll see.”
    Mary Anne approached with the hose.
    â€œShouldn’t someone hold him?” asked Dawn.
    â€œNah,” said David Michael. “He knows the only way to get the soap off is to let us rinse him.”
    And at that moment, Louie streaked across the yard in a soapy flash. Nine children ran after him. (Jenny was cowering on a lawn chair, and little Eleanor was playing with her toes, unaware of what was going on.)
    â€œTackle him!” yelled Buddy.
    Nicky leaped for him, but Louie slipped out of his grasp. He was running around the McGills’ backyard in a big circle.
    â€œGo that way!” cried Charlotte, pointing.
    Half the kids turned around and ran in the other direction. Louie saw them coming.
He
turned around and ran into the rest of the kids.
    â€œGotcha!” said Margo. She, Nicky, Suzi, and Jamie fell on Louie in a slippery heap.
    â€œHold him!” shouted David Michael. “Here comes the water!” David Michael twisted the nozzle and a spray of water shot out. It scored a direct hit on Louie and the children.
    By the time Louie was rinsed off, dried off, and calmed down, he looked beautiful. (“He’s fat again,” said Nina, with relief.) But the kids were soaked, and so were their clothes.
    â€œThank goodness it’s a warm day,” said Stacey. “They can dry off in the sun while they beautify Louie.”
    When the morning was over, Louie was a canine masterpiece. Stacey had French-braided his fur. Charlotte had tied a ribbon at the end of each braid. Margo and Mallory had painted red nail polish on his claws. David Michael had run home long enough to find his plaid leash.
    The children inspected him critically. “Does he have any clothes?” asked Nicky, “A sweater or something?”
    â€œNo,” said Kristy, “But I think he’s dressed up enough. Now, if he can just stay this way until tomorrow …”
    The children began to go home. David Michael was the last to leave. He led Louie proudly out of the McGills’ yard on the plaid leash.
    It was then that Kristy turned to the other club members. “You don’t think Louie looks too much like a girl, do you?” she whispered.
    Nobody said a word.
    â€œOh, well,” Kristy went on. “If anybody asks tomorrow, I’ll just say his name is Louella. They’ll never know.”

Mimi’s therapy really helped her. Every day she learned more things. And just like a child, she learned the physical things—like sitting up, standing up, trying to walk—pretty quickly, but her speech was coming