Mine for Keeps by Jean Little

Author:Jean Little [Little, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tundra Book Group
Published: 2023-04-04T00:00:00+00:00

12

Something Must Be Wrong with Piet

“Piet’s dog!” Sal exclaimed.

“Yes,” Elsje said, jumping to her feet, as though she wanted to get away from Sally and this new name in the talk between them. “Look, I will show you what Willem has learned.”

She stood just in front of Sal and ordered sharply, “Willem, kom hier.”

The little dog ran to her at once and sat down before her, his head lifted as though he were waiting for further instructions.

Elsje smiled and bent to stroke him lightly.

“Brave hond. Good dog,” she murmured, using both her languages. Then her voice rang out in a new command. “Willem, blijf daar.”

Sal looked to see what Willem would do, but this time, it was Elsje who acted. She swung on her heel and walked away from the dachshund. She strode with such energy that Sal could see her pigtails thumping up and down on her shoulder blades. Willem stayed absolutely still as though he had been glued to the spot where she had left him. “I told him ‘Stay there,’ Elsje explained in a swift aside to her audience. Sal clapped for Willem. The little dog did not even turn his head.

Elsje stood for a moment at the end of the Place; then, once again, ordered Willem to come to her. This time, when she came back toward Sal, the dog walked along at her left heel as though he were held there by an invisible leash. Elsje walked fast. Willem scurried along, keeping pace. She slowed down till she was barely moving. Willem crawled beside her, never getting one step ahead of her. At last, they halted in front of Sal.

“Willem, ga zitten.”

Willem sat neatly on his haunches. “Willem, ga liggen.”

Willem flattened out, his paws pointing straight in front of him, his dainty face raised to hers.

“Willem, blijf daar,” Elsje finished. She dropped down beside Sally while Willem lay patiently, waiting to be dismissed.

“How long will he stay there?” Sal breathed, her eyes wide with respect.

“Till I tell him he can go.”

Elsje began praising the little dog, rubbing him gently behind the ears and telling him he was wonderful. Then she let him go and, with a wag of his tail, he was off after Susie.

Sally was overwhelmed. In her mind, she suddenly saw a new Susie, who did all of these things! Susie walking sedately beside her, Susie sitting when told, Susie coming promptly when called… Why, if Susie were trained to behave like Willem, she, Sally, would be able to take her out on the leash without having to worry about being yanked off her feet.

Kent and Mindy took turns walking Susie now. The day after Dad had arranged for Sal to feed Susie herself, Melinda, as full of sweetness and good reasons as ever, had offered to walk the dog every day. The two girls had quarreled. When Mindy had said “You can’t!” Sal’s blood had boiled and she had suddenly hauled off and slapped her older sister. But this time, even Dad had said that Mindy was right.

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