Read Cocoa for Free Online Page B

watched Dawna charge around the track on her snowshoes and add the pebbles to the snowman’s face. Then she ran up to him and he felt her tap his arm, the signal that it was his turn. At that moment, hisworries fell away and his body took over as he let his skis glide fast, faster, faster over the snow, carrying him straight down to the snowman. He came to a stop just at the right spot, plunged his hand into his pocket to pull out the carrot, and stuck it into the middle of the snowman’s face.
    “Yay!” he yelled, throwing his arms into the air. He had no idea if his team had won — that didn’t even matter. All that mattered was that they had finished, and that he had not embarrassed his team or himself by falling flat on his face.
    “Whoo-hoo! Charles!” He saw his family running toward him, all wearing their antlers. Lizzie could barely hold Cocoa back as she lunged forward, wearing her huge doggy grin.
     
    Oh, boy, oh, boy! Now I get to run!
     
    “Yes!” shouted Harry, as he and Dawna ran over to join Charles. “Great job, man!” He smackedCharles a big high five as Dawna knelt to throw her arms around Cocoa.
    In a happy daze, Charles glanced around at the crowd and saw Judge Thayer looking straight back at him. Well, not at him, exactly. The judge stared at Dawna and Cocoa, who were now wrestling happily on the snow. Charles had never seen someone look so happy and so sad at the same time.
    Charles nudged Dawna and pointed to the judge and Charlotte, who were now working their way toward them. Dawna nodded and tightened her hold on Cocoa. “I know you’ll be excited to see them,” she told the dog. “But you can’t jump up, okay?” Cocoa wagged her tail.
    She wagged even harder when she spotted her owners.
    “Good girl,” said Judge Thayer, leaning on his crutch and reaching out one long, thin hand to pet Cocoa’s head. He smiled at Charles. “She looksterrific. I can tell your family’s been taking good care of her.” Cocoa gazed up at the judge lovingly as he stroked her ears.
    “She’s a great dog,” Charles said.
    “You’re absolutely right about that,” said the judge. “But —”
    Just then, Dee’s voice came over the loudspeaker. “It’s time to light the bonfire and announce the winners of our relay race. Please, everyone, join us for hot cocoa and singing.”
    The Bean jumped up and down, his antlers bobbing. “Time to sing! Time to sing! Come on!” He grabbed Charles’s hand and started to drag him away. Charles looked back helplessly at the judge, who was leaning over again to pet Cocoa.
     
    Later, Charles stood near the hot, crackling bonfire listening to the Bean’s class sing, a hot mug of cocoa cupped in his hands. Mom came overand put her hands on his shoulders. “Congratulations,” she whispered into his ear. “I heard Dee announce that Rudolph’s Revenge won the race.”
    Charles beamed up at her.
    “I’ve invited everyone back to our house for Chinese food,” she told him. “Harry and Dee, Dawna, Judge Thayer and his wife. I’m going to stop by and pick up the food. Dad will bring you home in a little while.”
    “Yay!” said Charles. “Can you get me some House Special chow fun?”
     
    At home, Charles took Cocoa and Buddy out into the backyard for a good run before they all sat down to eat. Would this be one of the last times he got to throw the ball for Cocoa? As he watched Cocoa run and chase, he knew in his heart that this pup needed an owner who could keep up withher. The only problem was how to convince Judge and Charlotte Thayer of that.
    Charles threw the ball five more times, and Cocoa fetched it five times, racing ahead of Buddy. Then he headed back inside with both dogs. “Wait!” he said, as he opened the back door. Buddy waited. Cocoa did not. She charged into the house, straight for a group of people standing in the kitchen: Dawna and Harry, talking to the judge, who balanced on his crutches as he drank from a mug.
    “Oh, no!”