Read Buddy for Free Online Page B

“Somebody’s interested in Tigger!” There was a yellow “ SOMEONE’S INTERESTED IN ME. TODAY MIGHT BE MY LUCKY DAY! ” sticker on Tigger’s picture.
    “Great,” said Maria. “Hey, let’s go visit the puppies.”
    Skipper and her pups were the only real dogs allowed at the party. Jerry Small had set up a pen for them in the corner near the bookstore’s cash register. He and Mary Thompson were visiting with the puppies when Lizzie and Maria walked up.
    “Who’s a little Cocoa Puff?” cooed Mary Thompson, reaching in to pet Cocoa.
    “Hey there, Mr. Buddy!” said Jerry, picking up the tan puppy. “You sure have grown,” he added,holding the squirming puppy close. “You’re a big boy now.”
    Cinnamon gave a short bark, asking for the same attention her brother and sister were getting.
    Pick me up! Pick me up! Cinnamon wanted a hug.
    Cocoa licked the nice lady’s hand. Yummy!
    Buddy felt safe in the big man’s arms — but where was Lizzie? And Charles? And their mom? He missed them all.
    Skipper watched her puppies proudly. They were growing up so well! It was good that they liked to be around people, since she couldn’t take care of them forever. Soon they would be on their own.
    “Hey, what’s this?” Maria asked.
    Lizzie’s face fell when she saw the red “ I’VE FOUND A HOME! ” stickers on the puppies’ pen. “All the puppies have been adopted?” she blurted. “No!” Somehow, she had never expected this. She knewher family was only fostering the puppies, but she still wasn’t prepared to see them go to their real homes.
    “I thought you’d be glad,” said Mary Thompson. “Glad for Cocoa and Cinnamon, and glad for me.” She picked up Cinnamon and cuddled both puppies together, next to her smiling round face.
    “You mean —?” Lizzie stared at her.
    Mary Thompson nodded. “I’m taking both these girls,” she said. “I fell in love with them. Plus, it’s time to write a sequel to
So Many Puppies.
Everybody always tells me how much they love that book. Now Cocoa and Cinnamon can star in another story!”
    “And I’m taking Buddy,” said Jerry Small. “A place called Lucky Dog Books needs a dog. This little guy will grow up here and be my mascot.”
    “Wow,” was all Lizzie could say. This was good news. No, it was
great
news. All three puppies had found excellent homes. So why did she feel like crying?

CHAPTER TEN
    “I don’t know why I feel so sad, when the party was so much fun,” Mom said.
    “I’m sad, too,” said Charles.
    “I know what you mean,” said Dad.
    “I sad!” said the Bean, with a loud wail.
    Lizzie sniffed and wiped her eyes.
    The Lucky Dog party was over and the Petersons were home alone for what seemed like the first time in weeks. The party had been a huge success. At least seven dogs had found homes!
    The puppies had found homes, too.
    Which was probably why the Petersons looked so miserable, even though they were pretending to celebrate with ginger ale and pizza.
    They sat in the kitchen, watching all threepuppies romp around together for one of the last times. They would be going to their new homes in a few days. Today was Saturday. On Wednesday, the puppies would get one last checkup from Dr. Gibson. “Unless something changes,” she had told Lizzie, “the pups should be ready to go to their new homes that day.”
    The puppies were being as funny as always. Cocoa was nosing toward the puppy dish, ready to climb inside. Cinnamon walked right over her sister in search of the puppies’ new favorite toy: a rubber chicken. Buddy let out a ferocious puppy growl as he pretended to fight for the chicken, tugging it away from Cinnamon. The boy puppy was still smaller than his sisters, but now he was strong and healthy.
    Ooh, look! Cocoa found a crumb of hidden food. Yummy!
    Cinnamon growled back at Buddy. Hey, give me that chicken!
    No, it’s mine! Buddy let his sister know that she couldn’t have the chicken all to herself. She couldn’t