Moose by Ellen Miles

Author:Ellen Miles [Miles, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-545-32461-8
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2011-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Uh-oh,” Charles said to himself. He glanced up at the sky again and saw that the mountain of clouds overhead was just as big and just as black as the one he’d seen on the day he first met Moose. He knew what that meant. A thunderstorm. What would happen if Moose panicked while they were out here in the open?

“Okay, Moose.” Charles tugged on the leash and began to walk. “We have to get moving. We have to get back to the cabin.”

But Moose already knew something was up. His ears went back and Charles could see the whites of the big pup’s eyes as he stared straight ahead.

Moose sat down, dug in his front paws, and began to pant.

I’m not going anywhere. I’m too scared. I’m staying right here.

Charles tugged on the leash. He tugged harder. He leaned back and pulled as hard as he could, putting all his weight into it as if he were in a tug-of-war contest. But that big puppy Moose was like a statue. Charles could not make him budge.

Another raindrop hit Charles’s head, then another and another. This was terrible. They had to get back to the cabin before the storm broke loose. Charles tried to think. What would Aunt Amanda do? He pictured her the day before, when she had first let Moose out of the van. After she’d let him sniff for a while and roll in the grass, she had given him some commands. Moose had obeyed instantly. He had obeyed when she told him “down” after he saw the snake, too. Moose always obeyed right away — if you knew what to say.

And suddenly, Charles did know what to say. He remembered exactly how Aunt Amanda had told Moose what she wanted from him. Would it work again? It was certainly worth a try. Charles stood up straight and spoke in his firmest voice. “Come, Moose.”

Moose stood up and pranced right over to land in a perfect sit, facing Charles. “Wow. Good boy,” Charles said. For a second, he couldn’t believe it had worked—but it really had. Still, it was only a start. Next, he slapped his left thigh. “Heel, Moose,” he said.

Moose jumped up and spun around, landing in another perfect sit close to Charles’s left side. It was amazing how quick and precise he was for such a big dog. Charles smiled. “Good boy, Moose. Let’s go.” He took a step forward, just as he remembered Aunt Amanda doing, and Moose stepped forward at the exact same instant, sticking to Charles’s side like glue. He looked up at Charles as he stepped along.

Is this what you wanted?

“Oh, you’re such a good boy,” said Charles. It was like magic, the way Moose forgot all his fears when he had a job to do. Charles walked quickly with Moose at his side, making his way back up the trail toward the cabin. Back through the piney woods they went. Back toward the meadow and the stone wall and the little cozy cabin.

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