Buddy by Kate Klimo

Author:Kate Klimo [Klimo, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-97906-3
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2013-01-08T05:00:00+00:00

HIPPITY-HOP TO THE BARBERSHOP

One morning, Morris woke up and said, “My hair is getting as long and shaggy as yours, Buddy. I could use a good haircut today. Let’s go find Jack and see if he can help us.”

After Morris fed me, he strapped on my Working Harness and we went looking for Jack. He was usually somewhere in the big house. We went to the Lady Boss’s office first.

The Lady Boss was sitting at her desk, writing. I looked around the room, but Jack wasn’t there.

I sat in the doorway and Morris cleared his throat. “Is that you, Mrs. Eustis? Good morning.”

The Lady Boss looked up from her work. “Good morning, Mr. Frank. Good morning, Buddy.”

I thumped my tail once on the floor.

“Is Jack here?” Morris asked.

“No, he’s not,” she said. “He’s over in the kennels, working with some dogs. What can I do for you?”

“I need a haircut,” Morris said.

“I can see that,” the Lady Boss said with a smile.

Morris waited, then said, “Somebody needs to take me to town to the barbershop.”

The Lady Boss set down her pen on her desk. “Mr. Frank, no one needs to take you anywhere,” she said. “You can go to the barbershop on your own. You have got everything you need to be completely independent at the end of that harness.”

I looked up at Morris. I could see him working this out. Then a wide grin spread across his face. “Sure thing!” he said. “Come on, Buddy, you and me are going to town on our own. Forward.”

I must admit, it felt a little strange passing through the gates of Fortunate Fields without Jack. But it wasn’t as if I hadn’t made this trip many times before. We climbed the stone steps and waited for the cable car. When the cable car came, I led Morris up the steps, just like I always did.

“Good morning, Mr. Frank. Good morning, Buddy,” the cable car driver said.

“Good morning, Dieter,” Morris said.

“Is Jack coming?” Dieter asked.

“Not today,” said Morris, grinning. “Today we’re on our own.”

When we got to the village, Morris said, “I bet you’re wondering if I know the way to the barbershop, eh, girl? Don’t worry. We’ll just follow our noses until we pick up the scent of bay rum and hair oil, and then we’ll know we’re headed in the right direction.”

We passed the baker and the butcher and the greengrocer and the flower stall, sniffing all the way. Then Morris stopped and tapped his nose. I sniffed, too. It smelled sharp and spicy.

“The barbershop should be over there somewhere, Buddy,” he said, pointing to the right.

I led him a few paces. Morris stopped, so I stopped. The sharp, spicy scent was stronger.

We were standing in front of a shop with a big window and a striped pole in front. This must be the barbershop. Through the window I saw a man leaning back in a strange metal chair. He had a white sheet draped over his body and white foam all over his face.

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