Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen

Author:Gary Paulsen [Gary Paulsen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Dogs, Fiction:Young Adult
ISBN: 9780385738453
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Published: 2009-07-28T07:00:00+00:00

I saw in my mind the big guy with the yellow hard hat and the bigger guy with the nose ring from the construction site. And Ruby from Grandpa’s assisted-living facility and the old lady who’d given me her bingo money. And all the people in my living room and kitchen.

I ripped the list up, let the pieces drop into my wastepaper basket and went back downstairs to the party.

10

“What’s this?” I asked. Johanna had thrust a fistful of papers into my face.

Grandpa and I were in the backyard late one afternoon. He was “trying out the new hammock,” meaning he was sound asleep in the shade.

“These aren’t more additions to the binder, are they? Because—”

“No,” she interrupted me, “the university’s arboretum is offering a gardening seminar this weekend. I want you to register.”

“The what?”

She looked at the papers. “An arboretum is a living collection of primarily woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study.”

“A plant laboratory?

“Sure.”

“Never heard of it. Where is it?”

“Across town. If Matthew wants to go, I’ll drop you guys off Saturday morning and pick you up Sunday after breakfast. You get to sleep in the arboretum.”

“Uh, well, er … don’t you think we’re too old for … um, sleepovers?” I saw her fight back a smile. “The whole thing sounds kind of girly.”

“Think of it as camping. More manly, right?”

“Uh …”

Johanna pulled another brochure from her backpack and handed it to me. “See,” she said, “the program just screams Finn.”

I read aloud. “‘Spend a weekend sharing the wonders of nature. Designed especially for the serious gardener.’ Are you trying to tell me I need help with the garden? I got the stench under control and the mud dried out. Things have been going really well lately. And the front and side yards look good. Anyone would say so.”

“Not help so much as inspiration. You seemed a little dispirited by the stench and mud drama,” Johanna said.

Grandpa came over and kissed Johanna on the cheek. She handed him a brochure.

I read the schedule:

SATURDAY

9 a.m.—Check in, pick up tent, meet hiking buddies, stow gear

9:30 a.m.—Welcome

10 a.m.–12 noon—Two 1-hour breakout sessions (see options)

12 noon–1 p.m.—Lunch

1–5 p.m.—4-hour intensive session (see options)

5–6 p.m.—Prepare dinner

6 p.m.—Dinner

7:30 p.m.—Twilight hike

10 p.m.—Campfire snacks, storytelling competition

11:30 p.m.—Lights out

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