Free Absolutely Lucy by Ilene Cooper, Amanda Harvey (illustrator) Page A

Bobby,” Jenny said, “I know what your mommy and daddy are giving you for your birthday.”
    Bobby caught the ball. “You do?”
    Jenny nodded.
    “Tell me. What am I getting?”
    Jenny put her hands over her mouth. She tried to keep the surprise inside. But she was so excited, the words burst out anyway.
    “An eagle!”
    “An eagle?” Bobby was shocked. “I’m getting an eagle?”
    Jenny nodded her head hard. “I heard Mommy telling Daddy.”
    “But an eagle is a bird,” Bobby said. “A big bird.”
    Jenny nodded again. “Mommy said it would be nice for you to have a pet.”
    Bobby plunked himself down on the driveway. A pet? He had a pet once. A turtle. It crawled behind the washing machine. Bobby never saw it again.
    He didn’t do a very good job of taking care of the turtle. How could he take care of an eagle?
    Bobby had read about eagles in school. The eagle was the symbol of the United States because it was strong and proud. Maybe his parents wanted him to be strong and proud, too.
    Jenny tugged at Bobby’s shirt. “What’s the matter? You don’t like eagles?”
    “I like them okay.” He thought about his small room. “But they are so big.”
    “It’s a baby eagle,” Jenny told him.
    “How do you know that?”
    “Mommy saw it. She said it was cute and small. And soft.”
    Well, that sounded like a baby eagle. But baby eagles grow. Didn’t his parents know that?
    Brian and Ryan arrived with their parents. They let Bobby play a game of three-way catch with them. They were being nice because it was his birthday.
    “Do you know what I’m getting for my birthday?” Bobby asked.
    Brian and Ryan looked at each other. “We’re not supposed to tell,” Ryan said.
    “It’s a surprise,” Brian said.
    “I don’t like surprises.”
    “Okay, we’re giving you a book,” Brian said.
    “About dinosaurs,” Ryan added.
    “Have you heard anything about a bird?” Bobby asked.
    “You mean, like a parakeet?” Ryan asked.
    “Not exactly.”
    The twins hadn’t heard anything about a bird.
    The yard was set up with tables for a cookout. Bobby’s dad was grilling. Bobby decided to pretend that he didn’t know there was an eagle in his future.
    Mrs. Quinn called everyone to come and eat. Bobby had one hot dog and one hamburger and lots of chips. He didn’t think he had room for cake. Then his father carried out a big square cake. It had chocolate frosting and the words Happy Birthday Bobby.
    Bobby ate two pieces of cake, one with ice cream.
    Finally, Bobby’s father said, “It’s time to open the presents.”
    Bobby felt his stomach go up and down. Maybe it was all that food. Or maybe it was the thought of getting an eagle. He tried to practice making a surprised face. A happy, surprised face.
    “Are you all right, Bobby?” his father asked. “You look so strange.”
    “No, no, Dad. I’m okay.”
    “Then let’s open presents,” Mr. Quinn said.

    Bobby got lots of nice presents. There was the dinosaur book from Brian and Ryan. His grandparents in Florida sent a check. Jenny’s family gave him a paint set.
    Bobby’s mother smiled. “Now it’s time for your special present,” she said.
    His father said, “Close your eyes.”
    Bobby was glad to close his eyes. It would be easier to look surprised when he opened them.
    “Okay, Bobby,” his father called, “you can look!”
    Bobby opened his eyes. He didn’t have to pretend to be surprised. Or happy. In his father’s arms was a puppy. The cutest, squirmiest little dog Bobby had ever seen.
    Bobby reached out for the puppy. “It’s … It’s …”
    “It’s a beagle,” his father finished for him. “A five-month-old beagle puppy.”
    Bobby took the puppy. He whispered in the dog’s ear. “You’re not an eagle. You’re a beagle.”
    He turned the puppy around and looked her in the eyes. “Absolutely the prettiest beagle in the whole world!”

“W hen are you going to name your dog?” Bobby’s mother asked.
    Bobby