Muttley by Ellen Miles

Author:Ellen Miles [ Miles, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-545-32462-5
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2010-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Welcome, Jimmy,” said Ms. Dobbins that afternoon, when Lizzie and Jimmy arrived at Caring Paws. “We are full to overflowing here these days, with lots of dogs and cats who need homes. We can use all the help we can get.” She barely stopped to smile at Jimmy and Lizzie as she unloaded giant bags of dog food from a truck. “For today, just do whatever Lizzie tells you to do. She knows the routine.”

Jimmy turned to Lizzie and gave her a salute. “At your service!” he said.

It was funny: now that she pretty much had permission to act bossy, Lizzie didn’t feel as if she needed to. After she’d given Jimmy a quick tour of the shelter, she suggested, “How about if we start by cleaning out the kitty-litter boxes? That’s the worst job of all, so I like to get it over with first.”

“Okay,” said Jimmy. “I’ve helped change my baby cousin’s diapers. That’s probably even worse. P.U.!” He held his nose and smiled at Lizzie.

Lizzie smiled back. Jimmy was definitely in a better mood now that he was at the shelter. And he wasn’t being too annoying. Actually, he wasn’t being annoying at all. Maybe he was only that way when he had to sit still, like in school. She led him into the cat room and showed him what to do. Jimmy didn’t make faces or say, “Ew,” the way Daphne probably would have. He just got to work.

When they were done, Lizzie and Jimmy took a moment to pay attention to the cats. Ms. Dobbins always said it was important to get them used to being around people. The kittens seemed to love Jimmy, and climbed all over his shoulders to lick his ears. The mama cats sat nearby to keep a watchful eye on their kittens as Jimmy petted each one, holding them as gently as if they were fine china. Even Tommy, the old gray tomcat, slunk down from his high perch and wrapped himself around Jimmy’s legs, purring loudly.

Lizzie stared. She had never seen Tommy do that before.

Next it was time to walk dogs. “I love taking the dogs out. It’s my absolute favorite chore here,” Lizzie told Jimmy as she opened the door to the dog room.

Jimmy’s eyes brightened when he heard the dogs start to bark. He laughed. “They’re happy to see us.” He had to yell to be heard over the racket. He began to walk up and down the aisles between the kennels, stopping at each kennel door to look at the dog inside.

Lizzie noticed something. All the dogs went on barking — except for whichever one Jimmy happened to be looking at. That dog — at the moment it was Fluffy, a little Pekingese — sat quietly and looked back at Jimmy with big, curious eyes. It was as if the dogs were waiting with interest to hear what Jimmy had to say.

And Jimmy was saying things to them. Things that Lizzie couldn’t quite hear. He spoke very quietly and gave each dog his full attention.

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