Barney by Ellen Miles

Barney by Ellen Miles

Author:Ellen Miles [Miles, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2020-07-14T16:00:00+00:00


What are you doing? It can’t be more important than playing with me.

Just as they started washing the apples, the Bean trotted into the kitchen. “Barney!” he called out. He barreled toward the puppy with open arms.

Lizzie was about to grab the Bean, but Barney took matters into his own paws. He put his ears back and scampered away as quickly as he could. He tucked his tail between his short legs and scooted right out of the kitchen.

“I don’t think Barney wants to play right now,” Mom said to the Bean. “Why don’t we go read a book?” She gave Lizzie a look, and Lizzie knew just what it meant: find that puppy a home, fast.

Soon after Mom and the Bean left, Barney returned. He walked over to the back door and sat down, barking.

“Do you want to go outside?” Lizzie asked. When she opened the door, the little dog bounded out and dashed around the yard, barking madly.

Lizzie had only peeled two apples when she heard Barney at the door. He scrabbled at the glass, wagging his little tail at high speed. He looked proud of himself.

“That was fast,” Lizzie said as she slid open the door. Barney bolted inside, leaving muddy paw prints with every step. “Slow down, Barney,” Lizzie called out. “I have to clean your paws.” She reached for the old towel they kept by the door.

“I can hold him,” Maria offered.

“Be careful,” Lizzie said. “You have to cradle him and support him the right way. Dachshunds can have back problems since their backs are so long.” She showed Maria how to hold Barney, then carefully went to work with the towel. Barney licked Maria’s hands while Lizzie wiped his feet. “You are such a good boy,” Lizzie told him as she cleaned him up. When she was done, she scratched him behind the ears. “There you go.”

When Maria put him down, Barney trotted into the living room and curled up for a nap next to Buddy.

“He’s a handful, but he sure is cute,” Maria said, watching him go. “I’ll bet you can find that sweetie a new home in no time.”

“He is pretty sweet,” Lizzie agreed as she went to put the towel back and make sure the sliding door was closed. “Oh, no!” she said, looking out the window.

The backyard was dotted with holes. No wonder his paws were muddy—Barney had been digging again. Lizzie sighed. She would have to fill in the holes after they’d finished the apple butter. Barney had been outside less than ten minutes. How could he dig all those holes in such a short time? That was one fast pup.

The apple butter was not fast. It was slow. Lizzie and Maria had to core and peel all the apples, and then they had to cook the apple slices at low heat with sugar and spices. “I think my arm’s about to fall off,” Lizzie said after ten minutes of constant stirring.

“I can take a turn,” Maria offered. Lizzie handed her the wooden spoon.



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