Read Jack for Free Online Page B

had the best conversation!”
    Dad and Lizzie looked at each other. But Momjust kept rattling on as she moved from fridge to counter, making herself a sandwich.
    “It turns out he has two boxers, so he knew exactly what we are dealing with here. Anyway, we talked for a while and suddenly I understood everything so much better! All I have to do now is write it all down.” She picked up the plate with her sandwich on it, ready to go back to her computer. “I asked the guy if he wanted another boxer, but he turned me down. But that’s okay. Now that Jack is my lucky puppy, I don’t mind if we keep him a little longer.”
    “Uh, Mom?” Lizzie had been waving a hand at her mother for a while. “News flash! We found a home for Jack!”
    Mom put down her plate. “Really?”
    “Really,” said Lizzie. And she told her mom the whole story.
    An hour later, Dad pulled the van out of the Petersons’ driveway. Lizzie sat next to the Bean,who was dozing in his car seat. Charles and Sammy sat behind them, and Jack was in his crate in the very back. Buddy was staying home to keep Mom company.
    “Knock, knock,” Sammy said before they’d even turned the corner.
    Lizzie groaned. Was she going to have to listen to Sammy and her brother tell terrible jokes for the next two hours? She closed her eyes and pictured what it would be like to meet Kit Smithers. She had so many things to ask her about, and to tell her. Lizzie wanted to know when Kit had written her first book, and whether she had any brothers or sisters. She wanted to tell Kit about the horse story she and Maria planned to write together, about an Arabian colt who runs away from its cruel owner. And she definitely wanted to explain all about Jack and how to take care of him. Lizzie and Kit Smithers were going to have a lot to talk about.
    As they drove north, Lizzie watched the scenery change. Soon there were fewer stores and houses, and more fields and forests. Lizzie loved driving north. It reminded her of her family’s winter vacation to Vermont, where she had met and fostered Bear, the cutest, smartest husky puppy in the world. Sometimes Lizzie still wished she could have kept Bear for herself, but she knew he was happy in his new home — just like Jack was going to be.
    Finally, Dad turned down a bumpy, rutted dirt road with trees on either side, then drove up a long driveway to a log cabin that sat high on a hill, surrounded by tall trees. There was a smaller cabin next to it. Lizzie spotted a tall, lanky person chopping wood outside the smaller cabin. When the person looked up, Lizzie realized that it was Kit Smithers. She put down her ax and waved, smiling broadly as everyone piled out of the van. “Welcome, welcome!” she said. She lookedstraight at Lizzie. “Hello, Lizzie. I’d know that face anywhere.”
    Lizzie tried to say something, but no words came out. Her face felt hot. She ducked her head. She could not seem to say a single thing! She felt like jumping back in the van. Was this what it was like to be shy? Lizzie had never felt that way before. It was horrible!
    But Kit Smithers smiled around at everyone as Dad introduced himself, the Bean, Charles, and Sammy. “And here’s the guest of honor.” He opened up the back of the van to show Jack sitting up, all perky and happy in his crate.
    “Jack!” Kit Smithers unlatched the door of the crate and helped Jack jump out. “Welcome home, Jack!” She knelt down and opened her arms wide.
    With a jingle of tags, Jack shook himself, wriggling happily as he pranced over to lick Kit’s chin.
    Hello! I don’t know who you are, but I love you already!
    “He’s beautiful,” Kit said. “And once he’s used to the place, he can run around to his heart’s content. There are no other houses for miles, and plenty of room to roam. Or he can just snooze on the floor next to me while I write in my cabin. We’re going to be very happy together, aren’t we, Jack?”
    Lizzie and Charles smiled at each other.