Free Princess Posey and the Next-Door Dog by Stephanie Greene Page A

Posey.
    â€œSure does,” said Gramps.
    â€œLadybug, ladybug, fly away home,” Posey said.
    Just like that, the ladybug opened its wings and lifted into the air.

    â€œI guess you told it a thing or two,” said Gramps. “Dig in.”
    Posey scooped up two handfuls of mulch. “I’ll make sure the roses are warm,” she said.
    â€œThat’s my girl,” Gramps said. “They will thank you for it, too.”

CHAPTER FOUR

    MISS LEE’S NEWS
    A t the end of school the next day, Miss Lee called, “Boys and girls. I have a special announcement.”
    A special announcement! Posey put down her pencil. Everyone around her did, too.
    â€œGuess what tomorrow is?” Miss Lee asked.
    â€œWednesday!” Luca shouted.
    Posey frowned. That Luca! He always forgot to raise his hand. Miss Lee usually reminded him. All she did now was smile.
    â€œThat’s right, Luca. It’s Wednesday,” she said. “But it’s also my birthday.”
    Miss Lee’s birthday! How exciting!
    â€œIt’s my turn to bring in birthday cupcakes,” Miss Lee said. “We’ll celebrate after lunch.”
    Everyone started to talk. The room buzzed like the inside of a beehive. Posey got in line with Ava and Nikki to wait for the bell.
    â€œI’m going to bring Miss Lee a present,” Nikki said.
    â€œMe too,” said Ava. “I’m going to bring her something very special!”
    â€œI’m going to bring her something very, very special!” said Nikki. “How about you, Posey?”
    Posey knew exactly what she was going to bring. Her present was going to be very, very, very special.

    â€œMine’s a secret,” she said.
    â€œMine is, too,” said Nikki.
    â€œMine, too!” said Ava.
    Posey could hardly wait to get home and work on her present. She could hardly wait for tomorrow.

CHAPTER FIVE

    THE VERY, VERY, VERY SPECIAL PRESENT
    â€œH urry, Danny, hurry!” Posey cried. She ran across the backyard.
    â€œHe’s coming as fast as he can,” her mom said. She held Danny’s hand to keep him from falling.
    Danny couldn’t walk by himself yet. All he did was stumble and fall, stumble and fall.
    Every time he fell on his bottom, he laughed. Most of the time Posey laughed with him.
    Today she wanted him to go faster.
    â€œSee, Mom?” Posey said. She waited for them in front of the roses. “One, two, three, four, five! Miss Lee will love them, won’t she?”
    â€œI’m sure she will,” said her mom.

    â€œLet’s leave this one.” Posey pointed to a tiny bud. It was still closed. “It hasn’t been born yet.”
    â€œMaybe we should cut them in the morning,” said her mom.
    â€œDanny might spill his cereal in the morning,” said Posey. “We might be late.”

    â€œOkay.”
    Her mom cut the roses. Posey carried them inside. She wrapped the stems in a wet paper towel.
    Then she wrapped foil around the paper towel and put the roses in the refrigerator.
    â€œI bet no one else gives Miss Lee such a special present,” she said. “She’ll be amazed, won’t she, Mom?”
    â€œShe’ll love them because you grew them,” said her mom.
    Posey could hardly wait to see Miss Lee’s face. She was going to smile and smile.
    She would know Posey liked her more than anyone.
    In her secret heart, Posey hoped Miss Lee would like her more than anyone, too.

CHAPTER SIX

    A NOT-SO-WONDERFUL SURPRISE
    P osey held her roses tight as she walked slowly down the blue hall. She didn’t skip even her tiny inside skip.
    Excitement butterflies were tickling the inside of her stomach.
    Miss Lee was going to be so happy. She was going to say, “Why, Posey! These are the most beautiful flowers I ever saw!”
    But that’s not what Miss Lee said.

    When Posey got to the door of their classroom, she heard Miss Lee say, “Why, Nikki! What