Say Good-bye by Laurie Halse Anderson

Author:Laurie Halse Anderson [Anderson, Laurie Halse]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101562895
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2008-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Sherlock, sit!” Maggie commands.

The basset hound’s rear end hits the ground.

Maggie turns toward me, a smug smile on her freckled face, a challenge in her gray eyes.

Something inside of me ignites. It’s Saturday morning, and we’re out in the yard. Maggie’s been told by Gran to give me some extra help with my dog training.

But she’d better watch out, because I’m mad at the world. Mad that a wonderful dog like Yum-Yum has to get sick.

I’m determined now to train Sneakers. And I know I need help. But I think my red-haired cousin is using this opportunity to show off instead.

Okay, so she grew up with animals and I didn’t. So she’s been able to watch Gran work in the clinic all these years. So she’s ahead of me when it comes to understanding animals.

But there’s one thing Maggie doesn’t realize about me that she’s about to learn: I’m very competitive. At the private school I went to in Manhattan, I got straight A’s and was known as “the girl to beat.” Mom raised me to shine, and I worked hard never to disappoint her.

So if Maggie wants to play that game with me, all I can say to her is, Hope you’re not a sore loser.

“Okay. We can do that.” I turn to Sneakers. “Okay, sweetie pie,” I coax. “Let’s show ‘em. Sit, now. Come on. Do it!”

Sneakers just stands there, wagging his tail, looking up at me like he’s totally confused.

I can feel Maggie staring at me, and my face grows hot. Frustrated, I speak to Sneakers more sternly. “Sit! Sit!” I say.

Sneakers chases a squirrel up into a tree.

Maggie snickers. I ignore her. I stride over to the tree to retrieve my pooch.

“Sherlock,” Maggie continues like a command sergeant in the U.S. Marines. “Lie down.” She makes a motion with her hand.

Sherlock’s short legs slide out in front of him till he’s lying on the ground.

I get Sneakers’ attention and say, “Lie down!” Sneakers sits.

I shove my hair behind my ear and get down on my knees. “Come on, Sneak. Please?” I whisper. “You’re making me look bad here.” More loudly, I say, “Lie down!” I tug at his front paws, trying to make him lie flat.

Sneakers yips and tries to pull away.

Maggie clucks her tongue. Then she gives Sherlock another order. “Stay.” She holds her hand out like a traffic cop telling cars to stop.

Then she walks away.

I can’t believe it—Sherlock stays exactly where he is. Like his bottom’s glued to the ground!

Then, very quietly, Maggie says, “Come!”

Sherlock bounds across the grass, his long ears flopping.

“Good dog!” Maggie cries, giving Sherlock a hug. “You’re the best dog in the world!”

If I were a dog, I’d be growling at them. But I won’t give up. I face my puppy sternly. “Stay,” I say as I begin to back away.

Sneakers gets up.

“No, sit!”

Sneakers heads toward me.

“No, no!” I shout.

Sneakers runs off across the yard.

“Come back here!” I cry as I chase after him.

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