smells.”
“But — but — but —” The Bean looked as if he might start screaming any minute.
“I’m not telling you to wash it.” Lizzie held up her hands. “That’s your choice. But you know, every puppy needs a bath
once
in a while!”
CHAPTER NINE
The next day was Monday, and Lizzie and Charles had to go to school. Lizzie could hardly
stand
to miss one minute with Noodle. Before she left, she kissed and hugged him so much that Buddy got jealous and came over to put his paws up on her knee. He wanted attention, too.
“Of course I’ll kiss you, too, Buddy,” Lizzie said, kneeling down. “I’ll always love you best of all. But” — she bent down to whisper into his soft brown ear — “wouldn’t you love to have a little brother?”
All day in school, Lizzie daydreamed about what it would be like if Noodle could live with the Petersons forever. When her parents first agreed that Buddy could stay, it had been like a dreamcome true. Having a dog of their own was the best thing that had ever happened to Charles and Lizzie and the Bean. So — what about having
two
dogs? Lizzie could hardly even imagine how much fun
that
would be.
So far, none of the phone calls they had made had turned up Noodle’s people. Maybe the Petersons would never find out who they were! Or, better yet, Lizzie pictured this: They
would
find them, but the people would say they just really couldn’t take care of a dog. They would ask if the Petersons knew anyone who wanted to adopt Noodle. “Well,” Mom would say, “I never thought we could handle one dog, much less two, but — we’d
love
to have Noodle!”
By the time school ended, Lizzie had practically convinced herself that Noodle was already hers — or at least that he would soon be hers forever. But she had figured out that it would probably be best if she
did
find his people, just so she would know for
sure
that he really needed a home. Shehad a plan, too! During math period, when she should have been practicing fractions, she had been thinking dreamily about the day before at the lake, when she had found Noodle’s collar.
Suddenly, she had remembered that she had seen paw prints in the snow near the tree. There was still enough snow on the ground that maybe, just maybe, she could find
more
paw prints — and follow them to find out where Noodle had come from!
On the way home after school, Lizzie admitted to Charles that she was hoping they could keep Noodle forever.
“But even if you find Noodle’s owners and they don’t want him, do you really think Mom would let us have another dog?” Charles asked as he and Lizzie arrived at their front door.
“I bet I could talk her into it,” Lizzie said as she pushed the door open. “Hi, we’re home!” she yelled. “Buddy! Noodle!”
The two puppies came galloping into the fronthall, with the Bean running after them. Both puppies were barking, and the Bean was squealing with laughter. Noodle ran right up to Lizzie and Charles.
Yay! You’re home! Time to play! If only my people were here to play with us, too, then this place would be perfect!
Charles let Noodle lick his cheek. Then he made a funny face. “Um, what’s that yucky smell?” he asked, wrinkling his nose.
Lizzie didn’t say a word. She just pointed to the Bean and his matted Fur.
“Oh,” said Charles. “Right.” He leaned away from his little brother. Buddy and Noodle were edging away from the Bean, too.
The Bean frowned. Lizzie saw him sniff the arm of his Fur. Maybe, just maybe, he was almost ready to give in and let the stinky sweater be washed.
Lizzie’s mom came out of the kitchen. “Lizzie, I called the police station again,” she said.
Lizzie felt her insides go all mushy. “You did?” she asked. “Did they hear anything about any missing puppies?”
Mom shook her head. “Sergeant Martin was supposed to be back today, but he called in sick. The officer who answered said he didn’t think anyone had called about a
“But — but — but —” The Bean looked as if he might start screaming any minute.
“I’m not telling you to wash it.” Lizzie held up her hands. “That’s your choice. But you know, every puppy needs a bath
once
in a while!”
CHAPTER NINE
The next day was Monday, and Lizzie and Charles had to go to school. Lizzie could hardly
stand
to miss one minute with Noodle. Before she left, she kissed and hugged him so much that Buddy got jealous and came over to put his paws up on her knee. He wanted attention, too.
“Of course I’ll kiss you, too, Buddy,” Lizzie said, kneeling down. “I’ll always love you best of all. But” — she bent down to whisper into his soft brown ear — “wouldn’t you love to have a little brother?”
All day in school, Lizzie daydreamed about what it would be like if Noodle could live with the Petersons forever. When her parents first agreed that Buddy could stay, it had been like a dreamcome true. Having a dog of their own was the best thing that had ever happened to Charles and Lizzie and the Bean. So — what about having
two
dogs? Lizzie could hardly even imagine how much fun
that
would be.
So far, none of the phone calls they had made had turned up Noodle’s people. Maybe the Petersons would never find out who they were! Or, better yet, Lizzie pictured this: They
would
find them, but the people would say they just really couldn’t take care of a dog. They would ask if the Petersons knew anyone who wanted to adopt Noodle. “Well,” Mom would say, “I never thought we could handle one dog, much less two, but — we’d
love
to have Noodle!”
By the time school ended, Lizzie had practically convinced herself that Noodle was already hers — or at least that he would soon be hers forever. But she had figured out that it would probably be best if she
did
find his people, just so she would know for
sure
that he really needed a home. Shehad a plan, too! During math period, when she should have been practicing fractions, she had been thinking dreamily about the day before at the lake, when she had found Noodle’s collar.
Suddenly, she had remembered that she had seen paw prints in the snow near the tree. There was still enough snow on the ground that maybe, just maybe, she could find
more
paw prints — and follow them to find out where Noodle had come from!
On the way home after school, Lizzie admitted to Charles that she was hoping they could keep Noodle forever.
“But even if you find Noodle’s owners and they don’t want him, do you really think Mom would let us have another dog?” Charles asked as he and Lizzie arrived at their front door.
“I bet I could talk her into it,” Lizzie said as she pushed the door open. “Hi, we’re home!” she yelled. “Buddy! Noodle!”
The two puppies came galloping into the fronthall, with the Bean running after them. Both puppies were barking, and the Bean was squealing with laughter. Noodle ran right up to Lizzie and Charles.
Yay! You’re home! Time to play! If only my people were here to play with us, too, then this place would be perfect!
Charles let Noodle lick his cheek. Then he made a funny face. “Um, what’s that yucky smell?” he asked, wrinkling his nose.
Lizzie didn’t say a word. She just pointed to the Bean and his matted Fur.
“Oh,” said Charles. “Right.” He leaned away from his little brother. Buddy and Noodle were edging away from the Bean, too.
The Bean frowned. Lizzie saw him sniff the arm of his Fur. Maybe, just maybe, he was almost ready to give in and let the stinky sweater be washed.
Lizzie’s mom came out of the kitchen. “Lizzie, I called the police station again,” she said.
Lizzie felt her insides go all mushy. “You did?” she asked. “Did they hear anything about any missing puppies?”
Mom shook her head. “Sergeant Martin was supposed to be back today, but he called in sick. The officer who answered said he didn’t think anyone had called about a
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