Pugsley Read Online Free Page B

Pest.
    “I don’t have a clue,” Maria said. “Simba was already pretty well-trained when we got him.”
    Simba, a big yellow Labrador retriever, was Maria’s mother’s guide dog. Maria’s mom was blind, but having Simba to help meant she could go just about anywhere and do just about anything that anybody else could do.
    When Simba was a tiny puppy he had lived with a family who helped him grow up and learn basic manners. Then he went to guide dog school to learn how to cross busy roads, move through a crowd, and — most important — lie very quietlyand patiently when he wasn’t needed. Simba had come to live with the Santiagos when he was about two years old, and by then he was a very, very good dog.
    “I can tell you one thing,” Lizzie said. “Pugsley will probably
never
be as well-behaved as Simba.” They were walking up the porch stairs at Lizzie’s house, and Lizzie could already hear Pugsley inside, barking his head off.
    Buddy never barked when Lizzie came home from school. He knew her footsteps and he would be waiting at the door. His tail would be wagging and he would have a silly doggy smile on his face. Lizzie had to admit that sometimes — usually, in fact — Buddy would jump up on her because he was so eager to say hello. But still, he would not be barking.
    “Argh!” Lizzie said, rolling her eyes at her friend. “Mr. Pest is driving me crazy!”
    The front door opened before Lizzie’s hand even reached the knob. “This dog is driving me crazy!”said her mother. She stood there holding Pugsley out at arm’s length. He was wearing his little red collar, and a matching red leash dangled from it. “Take him away for a few hours. Please! I need a break.”
    Lizzie scooped Pugsley into her arms and nuzzled the top of his head. He snorted. Then he sneezed. And he licked her chin. At least he wasn’t barking anymore. Lizzie knew better than to argue with her mother. After all, she was the one who had begged to foster Pugsley. “We’ll go down to the park for a little while,” she said. “Should we take Buddy along?”
    “To tell you the truth,” Mom said, “I think Buddy could use a Pugsley break, too.” She handed Maria some granola bars and a bottle of juice. “Here’s your after-school snack,” she said. “See you later!” She closed the door.
    Maria and Lizzie looked at each other. “Yikes!” said Maria.
    “Mom’s not usually like that,” Lizzie said. “It’s just —” She nodded down at Pugsley.
    “Are you kidding? Your mom is great!” Maria said. “I doubt
my
mom would put up with a dog like Pugsley for even one day.”
    Lizzie put Pugsley down, and they started to walk down the street. Pugsley pulled and tugged and lunged on the leash, dashing from one side to another so he could sniff every single smell he came across.
    What’s that? What’s that? What’s that? Check it out! Check it out! Check it out
!
    “He sure does have a lot of energy,” said Maria.
    “Think,” Lizzie said. “Think! We have to figure something out. Pugsley would be
miserable
at the shelter. Imagine that energy all bottled up!”
    She and Maria looked at Pugsley, imagininghim cooped up in a kennel. They both shook their heads.
    When they got to the fenced-in park, Lizzie let Pugsley off the leash so he could run around a little. She and Maria sat on the swings, watching him dash around in circles on the grass.
    “I remember when I was little, I used to come here all the time,” Lizzie said as she swung gently back and forth. “I would beg Dad to keep pushing me so I could go higher and higher.”
    “I was the same way!” Maria said. “Then I learned how to pump my feet so I didn’t need a push anymore.”
    “That was the best!” Lizzie said. “I could swing for hours in those days.”
    They looked at each other and smiled. Then Lizzie backed way up and pushed into the swing, letting it carry her forward in a high arc. The wind rushed through her hair. “Yahoo!” she