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to him.
    â€œAnytime,” the man said out his car window.
    The kids raced to Dunkum’s house.
    Party time!

    In the kitchen, a row of ice-cream toppings lined the table.
    Jason was the first to be served. “Hey, look!” he said. “There’s a worm in my ice cream.” He held up something green and wiggly. He waved it at Carly Hunter.
    â€œEe-ew!” squealed Carly as Jason dropped the green Gummi Worm into his mouth.
    Dunkum and Eric ate two worms each. Just plain.
    Abby, Stacy, and Carly asked for waffle cones. Dunkum’s father scooped up chocolate ice cream for them. He pushed the ice cream into their cones. “Some worms for the ladies?” he asked, smiling.
    â€œNot for me, thanks,” Stacy replied.
    â€œHow about sprinkles?” Dunkum’s dad asked.
    The girls nodded. “Sprinkles are fine, thanks,” Abby said.
    â€œThey’re really chocolate-covered ants,you know. Fried and dried,” Dunkum teased.
    â€œDouble dabble yuck,” Abby said, giggling. She slid in beside Ellen at the table.
    Honey lay close to Ellen’s feet, taking a snooze. The dog seemed at home in Dunkum’s house. Ellen did, too.
    Ellen’s dad was out of the country with an overseas job. Dunkum didn’t mind at all. It was lots of fun having Ellen and Honey visit.
    Dunkum’s mom dished up some ice cream for Ellen. Honey’s nose twitched, and she opened one eye. “I think it’s time for Honey’s performance,” Dunkum said.
    Eric sat across the table. He wiped off his chocolate mustache with a napkin. “Go for it.”
    Ellen reached down and touched her dog’s head. “Honey, let’s play Lickety-split.”
    Dunkum made a drum-roll on the table.
    All the kids watched closely.
    Honey stood up. The tips of her ears stood at attention. She kept her eyes on Ellen. Only Ellen.
    â€œHey, check it out. The dog obeys better than I do,” Jason said, laughing.
    â€œHoney is real smart,” Dunkum said. “Just watch.”

THREE
    Dunkum scooped up some ice cream. He put it in a cone for Ellen. “One vanilla cone coming up,” he said.
    â€œWoof, woof!” Honey barked.
    Ellen smiled. “You like this trick, don’t you, girl?”
    Honey barked again.
    Dunkum handed the cone to Ellen. She held it in front of her and gave the command. “Honey, take two licks. But only two.”
    Honey’s tongue slurped the cone. Twice.
    All the kids clapped.
    â€œThat’s double dabble amazing!” Abby said. “Our dog would never do that.”
    â€œNope,” little Carly said. “Our dog would bite the cone right out of your hand!”
    â€œWait . . . there’s more,” Ellen said softly.
    Honey waited. Ears perked, tongue out.
    Ellen gave the command. “Honey, take three licks.”
    The kids counted, “1 . . . 2 . . . 3,” as Honey licked the cone.
    Eric slapped his forehead. “I don’t believe this!”
    â€œI not, either,” said Shawn, Abby’s Korean brother.
    â€œTell Honey to take twenty licks,” Jason shouted.
    â€œShe doesn’t know that number,” Ellensaid. “But she knows this .” Ellen held up the cone again.
    Honey looked up at the ice cream.
    â€œHoney,” Ellen whispered. “Lickety-split!”
    Carefully, Honey opened her mouth wide and held the cone in it. She carried the cone across the room without eating it.
    Then she stood on her hind legs and tossed the cone up . . . up into the air.
    Poof!
    In one gulp, the ice cream—cone and all—disappeared into the dog’s mouth.
    The kids shouted with delight, “Do it again!”
    Honey licked her chops and gave Ellen a kiss. Dunkum quickly made another cone.
    And Honey did the trick again.
    Soon, it was time for the Cul-de-sac Kids to go home. Dunkum followed his friends to the door.
    â€œThanks for the party,” Carly said. She waved while her