Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus Read Online Free Page B

I’ll see some sights, starting with the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee — oh, Martha, I’ve been wanting to see the museum for eons now.”
    “Have you told the kids?”
    Harriet looked away from Martha. “I think I’ll wait until I’m on the way. They’ll get all worried and frantic — especially Henry. And I don’t want them to talk me out of it.”
    Martha clicked her tongue. “You’re a card, Harriet Beamer. A real card. But what about Humphrey. You can’t take him on the bus.”
    “I know. I’ll have to send him on the plane. He’s going to hate it but what can I do?”
    The day before Harriet’s scheduled departure, she brought Humphrey to the airport. It was a terrible thing to push him into a crate, but there was no other way to get a sixty-two-pound basset hound to California. She placed a brand-new rawhide bone and hisfavorite chew toy, a red rubber hydrant, into the cage. She also put a blue towel and note to Henry inside.
    “Now don’t you worry,” Harriet said when she locked the crate door. “You’ll be fine. I’m sorry they wouldn’t let me buy you a regular seat, but airlines have their rules.”
    Humphrey’s head drooped.
    “I know you must be scared.” She reached two fingers into the metal crate and touched Humphrey’s ear. “I love you so much.” Harriet’s heart broke into several pieces.
    The dog closed his eyes and opened them as though signaling that he understood.
    Harriet sniffed back tears. “Now Henry and Prudence will get you at the airport in Sacramento. I’ll get there as soon as I can but … but.” She turned her head away.
    Humphrey whimpered.
    “Oh dear, maybe … maybe I shouldn’t do this.”
    She wiped tears on her sleeve.
    “Excuse me, ma’am,” said a worker, “but I need to take the dog.”
    “Okay, but … but I can’t …”
    “Ma’am?”
    Harriet touched Humphrey’s snout. “I’ll see you soon. And please don’t worry about me.”
    Humphrey yowled but only a little.
    When she returned home that morning, Harriet phoned Henry to tell him when to expect Humphrey.
    “Okay, Mom,” Henry said. “Flight 1411 at 6:30. We’ll be there. And Mom, it will be good to see you.”
    “Oh, you won’t be seeing me,” Harriet said. “Not yet.”
    “But why? We’ll just pick you up at baggage claim and then go to wherever the animals —”
    “But I won’t be there, dear. I’m taking the bus.”
    There was a long pause until Henry finally said, “The bus? But … why?”
    “Because I want to see the country, dear.”
    “But Mom, that’s ridiculous. You can’t travel all that distance alone.”
    “I can too. I … just think that if I must come to California so you and Prudence can put me out to pasture —” she sniffed tears back. “Then fine, but I’m doing it my way. I’ll let you know when I get there.”
    “But … but which bus? When? And we’re not putting you out to pasture.”
    “Then what? I’m an old lady who can’t take care of herself anymore and … and has outlived her purpose, like an old plow horse.”
    “Mother, I’m sorry you feel that way, but —”
    “But I want to do this, Henry. Now, I’m not sure when I’ll get to Sleepy Valley —”
    “Grass Valley,” Henry said.
    “Whatever. Still sounds like a rest home. But I am going to take my time.”
    “You’re being silly, mother.”
    “I am not. Now I got to go. I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”
    Harriet ended her call, and a swarm of butterflies invaded her stomach. “Oh dear, I know he’s upset, but … but I just have to do it my way.”
    Later that evening Henry and Prudence arrived at the airport to get Humphrey. It was apparent to them that the plane ride had not been a pleasant one for Humphrey.
    “Look at him,” Henry said. “I didn’t think it was possible for that hound to look any more put-out, but just look at him.”
    Prudence looked at the dog. “He’s pitiful. Let’s get him home. I’m sure