Read Fenway and Hattie for Free Online Page B

smells nervous. Why isn’t she more excited? And more important, why isn’t she handing over the treats?
    Suddenly, I notice that One Human is striding toward us very purposefully. Like maybe she wants some treats, too. Well, she’s going to have a fight on her hands.
    Or maybe not. The One Human’s energy is friendly, yet her posture is telling me to stay on guard. A bad combination.
    She starts talking, and Hattie’s treating her like she’s Very Important. She says that mysterious word “train-ing,” too.
    Hattie grips the leash tighter, like she wants to keep her loyal dog close. There’s something puzzling about this One Human. Besides the fact that she smells like the same wonderful combination of dogs and treats as everything else in this place.
    All of a sudden, she turns and begins talking to everyone, like she’s in charge. And the humans all fall for it. They go quiet, staring at her with rapt attention. The dogs, not so much.
    Rocky digs his hind claws into the floor like he’s being dragged into the vet’s office.
    The roundest Beagle I’ve ever seen turns to me with noticeable effort. “Did I hear something about treats?”
    I bounce on my paws. “You bet!” I say. “Tons of them! I smelled them with my own nose.”
    â€œGood. I’m starving,” she says. “But there better not be any work involved. I don’t do work.”
    I gaze at her, bewildered. She tells me her name is Sadie.
    The One Human keeps on talking, the humans keep on listening, and the dogs have no idea what’s going on. Do the humans expect us to just hang out and wait patiently? It’s the very definition of impossible.
    All the dogs start barking at once. “I want to go home,” Rocky howls.
    Lance jumps on his human’s legs, nearly knocking him over. “Where are the treats?” he barks.
    â€œI hope I won’t be expected to run around or hop over anything,” says Sadie, sprawling out and yawning. “That’s not how I roll.”
    â€œHold on, you guys,” I say. “I have a good feeling about this.”
    Rocky stops howling and eyes me with suspicion. “Who died and made you Alpha Dog?”
    I sink down. “Nobody. I mean, let’s give it a chance.”
    â€œA chance?” Sadie says, nodding at the anxious-smelling humans standing next to her. “Honey, it’s obvious you haven’t been around very long.”
    The One Human says a magical word we all know.
    â€œTreats.”
    Every single ear perks up!
    I spring up, my tail going nuts. “See?” I tell the others.
    â€œIt’s about time,” Sadie says, struggling to push herself onto all fours.
    â€œHuh?” says Lance.
    Sure enough, the humans produce treats. But for some reason everybody’s focused on the One Human instead of the dogs.
    The dogs begin jumping and sniffing at the closed fists. Given the totally unfair height advantage, the humans win. For now.
    I turn to Hattie, who’s clutching a handful of tasty little nuggets. Her face is glowing with excitement. “Ready?” she asks.
    â€œI’m so ready! I’m so ready!” I bark, darting back and forth.
    She leans over and holds out her fist. “Fenway, sit.”
    I leap up as high as I can, my nose going crazy.
Mmmmm!
Those treats are in there all right! The meaty fragrance is undeniable. I nip and nip, but Hattie’s hand remains closed.
    Why aren’t those treats dropping into my mouth? Hattie’s excited face is unchanged. She speaks again. “Ready, Fenway? Sit. Sit. Sit!”
    â€œI’m so ready! I’m so ready!” I jump and jump, mytail going berserk. Come on! Why aren’t the treats coming?
    Hattie’s cheeks droop. So do her eyes.
    Is this some kind of game? It isn’t very fun. For either of us. Hattie seems almost as upset as I am.
    Fetch Man puts his hand on Hattie’s back.