Bella by Ellen Miles

Author:Ellen Miles [Miles, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-545-32459-5
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2011-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Oh, Bella.” Lizzie shook her head. “You just peed outside!” Lizzie knew Bella couldn’t help it. That was just how puppies were, sometimes. When they had to go, they had to go. But now Bella’s box was kind of gross. The newspaper lining was soggy, and after many, many pees and other messes the cardboard smelled stinky and was beginning to come apart. “I think it’s time for a new box,” Lizzie told the puppy.

She picked Bella up and tucked her carefully between two cushions on the couch, putting a pillow across the front so Bella could not climb out. “Hopefully you don’t have any more pee in you,” she said, as she petted the puppy’s head. Bella gazed up at her with innocent eyes.

Pee? Me?

“I’ll be right back,” Lizzie told Bella. “I’m just going to run into the garage to find a new box.”

The crying started before Lizzie was even out the door. Bella’s whimpers were so heartbreaking. Every time she cried, Lizzie knew she was crying for her brothers and mother.

Lizzie dashed into the garage and rummaged around for the right-sized box, big enough so Bella would have one area for sleeping and one area for making her messes — but not so big that it wasn’t cozy, too.

When she came back into the kitchen, the house was quiet. Bella was not crying anymore. Lizzie sighed with relief. Maybe Bella had fallen asleep on the couch, or maybe she was finally learning to be okay on her own. Either way, no crying was good news. Lizzie grabbed the chance to do what she had meant to do before: make herself a bowl of cereal and warm some formula. She bustled around the quiet kitchen as the sun’s rays began to find their way in through the windows.

Then she stopped moving, to listen. Bella was still silent. Five minutes alone without crying. That was practically a record for her. Could something be wrong? Fear clutched at Lizzie’s chest. She grabbed the bottle she’d warmed and ran into the living room.

“Oh, no!” She dashed to the couch. “Buddy, no! Bad boy.” Buddy was curled up next to Bella on the couch, one paw over the tiny puppy’s back as he licked her face.

Lizzie picked Buddy up and put him down on the floor. “You know you’re supposed to stay away from her,” she said sternly. Right away, Bella began to cry.

Lizzie sat down on the couch and took Bella in her arms. “It’s okay, little one,” she murmured. “The big doggy didn’t mean to scare you.” Bella’s cries slowed as she settled into Lizzie’s warm lap.

Buddy looked up at Lizzie, eyes wide and ears back, and lifted a paw.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be naughty.

Lizzie knew just what Buddy was trying to tell her. “I know you didn’t mean to be bad,” she said, reaching out to pat Buddy’s head. Buddy scooted closer and leaned against Lizzie’s knee, licking her hand as he gazed up at her. “You really are a sweetie,” Lizzie told him.

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