Chapter 1
As the bell rang, Charlie, picked up his backpack and headed for the classroom door. This had not been a great day. The teacher had announced after lunch that the Cherokee Elementary School would be having a pet and hobby show the last Friday before Thanksgiving vacation. All the children in his class had been excitedly talking about their hobbies and which of their pets they would enter in the show.
Charlie had no hobbies and no pets. He had asked for a pet about a zillion times, but the answer was always the same. Turtles carry diseases, birds are too messy, and fish tanks have to be cleaned. But, maybe when you are older and can take responsibility for a pet, we will consider getting a dog as a family pet. But, Charlie felt he was older now and had promised to feed a dog and clean up after him everyday. But, nothing ever happened. Charlie still had no pet for the pet show. He walked sadly out of his classroom toward his bus.
Skyler was already on the bus and was saving a seat for Charlie, but when the driver finally closed the door, Charlie was nowhere to be seen. Skyler left her seat and told the bus driver that her brother was not on the bus, but the driver said he could not wait and that Charlie had probably had to stay after school. Skyler was scared and worried about her brother.
When the bus finally stopped on their street, Skyler got off the bus and sat down on the curb. She felt sick. What would she tell her mother? She felt responsible for her brother and was worried that something had happened to him.
Chapter 2
Charlie took the long way to the buses, crossing the playground, stopping for a drink of water and watching the older boys practicing football plays. By the time he got to the bus pickup, Bus 13 was nowhere in sight. Charlie didn't know what to do...should he go back to his classroom, or call his mom...? He thought for a minute and finally decided to walk home. He had never walked home before, but he knew exactly how to get home from school. He had ridden the bus back and forth for the last two years.
Leaving the school grounds was a little scary, but as he began to recognize streets and houses, he felt less afraid. As he crossed Mockingbird Street he saw the park up ahead, and standing on the grass was a big black dog. Charlie wasn't afraid of dogs he knew, but he had never seen this dog before.
As he got closer, the dog seemed friendly, but then suddenly he turned and chased another dog which had appeared from across the park. Charlie stood and watched as the two dogs ran and tumbled all over each other. In his mind he wondered who they belonged to. He didn't see anyone nearby.
All of a sudden Charlie realized that it was getting late and that his family might be worried about him. Forgetting about the dogs, he picked up his backpack and started running. At the corner he turned onto Invergarten and raced for home. When he got to his bus stop, he saw Skyler sitting on the curb and his mother's car with Jack in the carseat coming through the gate. He knew he was in trouble.
Skyler jumped up with tears in her eyes and shouted at him, "Where have you been? I was so worried and Mom is going to be mad at both of us.
Charlie hung his head and said,"I'm sorry Skyler. I missed the bus and decided to walk home.
But, I have a secret to tell you."
Just then, Mom got out of her car and said, "Why are you guys so late? And Skyler why are you crying?"
Skyler wiped her eyes and said," Oh, it's nothing, the bus was late leaving school and I was afraid you would be mad and worried about us. We're okay." Skyler looked at Charlie and with her eyes said, you owe me one. You almost got us into big trouble.
Chapter 3
When they got home, Charlie told Skyler about the dogs he had seen in the park, and promised to show them to her later in the day when the babysitter came. Jane, came three afternoons a week to help out while mom was working on a project in the office. When she walked in the door, Charlie rushed up to her and begged her to take Skyler, Jack and him to the park. Ten minutes later, they were on their way. Mom yelled from the office, "You guys be careful and be home in an hour."
As they approached the park, Jane headed for a park bench with her magazine and told Skyler to watch the kids and not to play out of her sight. Charlie saw the dogs and whispered for Jack and Skyler to get down behinds some bushes to watch the dogs playing. They noticed that a man was near and that when he called to the dogs, they run up to him.
Charlie's heart hurt as he watched the man playing with his dogs. He wanted a dog of his own....a dog that he could take to the Cherokee Pet and Hobby Show. As Charlie watched, he made up his mind. Mom and Dad had said that we could have a dog "one day." Well, I think that today is the day. I just have to convince them that I will be responsible. All the way home from the park, Charlie talked to Skyler about his plan and she agreed to help him convince their parents that she also would be responsible for a new dog.
Chapter 4
That night, Charlie and Skyler approached their parents who were sitting in the family room. Dad was reading a book to Jack and mom was relaxing after getting things ready for the
next day. As Dad finished reading to Jack, Charlie said, "Dad, Mom...Skyler and I have something we want to talk to you about." Their parents stopped and turned to listen.
Skyler said, "Today at school the principal announced that the last Friday before Thanksgiving that there would be a hobby and pet show at Cherokee."
Charlie chimed in and talked about all the pets that would be entered and why couldn't they get a dog.....you promised that when we were older we could.....and I'll take care of it everyday....and Skyler and I will do it together and help each other...and we will be responsible and .........
Dad and Mom looked at each other and then at Charlie and Skyler. "We have noticed that you are being more responsible," Dad said. You are making your bed each morning, you are being helpful without being asked, you are both doing well in school, and we think that now may be the time to bring a new member into our family." Mom smiled at her children and said, "Dad and I will talk about this tonight and then talk to you in the morning." Charlie, Jack, and Skyler were smiling from ear to ear.
The next morning at the breakfast table, Charlie and Skyler sat quietly as they ate their eggs and pancakes. They were too afraid to look at Mom or Dad. What if they said "no."
Finally, Mom turned to Dad and said, well Charles how shall we spend our Saturday? Dad turned to Charlie, and Skyler, and Jack and said, I think we will first stop by the Pet Shop. Charlie, Skyler and Jack started screaming, and jumping from one parent to the other.
Charlie turned to them and said, "You are the Best Parents ever and we love you."
