Karen's Gift Read online

  First I went to the Hsus’ house. Duke was very happy to see me again. His tail wagged so fast, I thought it was going to fly off of him!

  I took him for his walk around the block. But something happened that had not happened before. A squirrel crossed Duke’s path.

  “Woof!”

  Duke chased the squirrel to a tree. I held on tight to the leash and ran with him.

  We watched the squirrel race high up in the tree. When Duke saw that it was not coming down, he started sniffing the ground again. I hoped we would not see any more squirrels soon.

  We finished our walk around the block. But I did not take Duke home. I decided that he was a good advertisement. Since he looked very happy, I was sure he would help me get another dog-walking job in the neighborhood.

  “Come on, Duke. You are going to help me get another job,” I said.

  I walked him to the Kilbournes’ house. (Their dog, Astrid, is the mother of David Michael’s puppy, Shannon.)

  Dingdong! Woof! Woof! Woof!

  Mrs. Kilbourne came to the door.

  “Hi!” I said. “As you can see from this happy dog, I have started a dog-walking business. Do you need me to walk Astrid for you after school?”

  Mrs. Kilbourne laughed.

  “As a matter of fact, we were just talking about getting a dog walker,” said Mrs. Kilbourne.

  “You were?” I asked. I could not believe it!

  “We are all so busy during the week. We do not have enough time to walk Astrid for as long as she needs,” said Mrs. Kilbourne.

  “I can start on Friday,” I said. (Kristy had promised to take me shopping on Thursday.)

  “That would be fine,” said Mrs. Kilbourne.

  I told her my dog-walking rate. She said that was fine too. Yippee!

  That was so easy I decided to see if I could find another dog to walk.

  I went to Melody Korman’s house. Her family has a brand-new beagle puppy named Maggie. Mr. Korman said he would love to hire me as a dog-walker. That is because puppies have a lot of energy and need lots of walks.

  I was doing so well that I could not stop. Maybe I would get lucky again. I decided to try one more house. We had some new neighbors. I had met them twice, but I did not know if they had any pets. I knocked on their door. I heard barking. Yes!! They had two little terriers named Gracie and Garbo. For a two-dog walk, they were going to pay me one and a half times my regular rate.

  I decided I was an excellent business-woman. I had just started my business and already I had five dogs to walk. That seemed like plenty. If I needed more, I could sign them up later.

  I was sure I would be able to make enough money to buy excellent gifts for Mommy and Elizabeth by Mother’s Day.

  Window-shopping

  On Thursday, Kristy kept her promise and took me shopping downtown after I finished my dog-walking job.

  “Can you believe how many dogs I am going to be walking?” I said. “Maybe someday I will have a business with my friends. It will be just like your Baby-sitters Club. But my club will be the Dog-Walkers Club!”

  “You will have to be very organized and responsible,” said Kristy.

  “I know. I have been very responsible so far,” I replied.

  “Really? How many days have you been walking dogs?” asked Kristy.

  “Two!” I said.

  Kristy laughed. “I guess that is a good start. Do you have a work planner yet? And where do you keep your doggie bags?”

  “I do not have a planner. And I have been stuffing the doggie bags into my pocket,” I replied.

  “Come on. We can check out the stationery department at Bellair’s department store,” said Kristy. “They should have what you need.”

  Kristy was right. We found the perfect pocket planner and a pouch that was just right for holding doggie bags. I also bought a small box of colored pencils. That was my idea. I could use a different color pencil to write each dog’s name in my planning book.

  “Now you are thinking like an organized businesswoman,” said Kristy.

  I had to use my savings to buy everything. But I was not worried. I knew I would make the money back by the next week. Maybe I would have some left over to buy presents for other people. Maybe I could even buy a present for me.

  We went downstairs to do some browsing. I saw a beautiful sparkly bracelet that would look excellent on Elizabeth. I saw a scarf that I was sure Mommy would love.

  I noticed that Kristy liked some socks. Maybe I would buy them for her. (And for me too.) And there was a hat that would look nice on Nannie. (And on me too!)

  I imagined buying up the whole store.

  “We better head back,” said Kristy. “It is getting late.”

  When I got home, I filled in my planner using my neatest handwriting. Then I stuffed doggie bags into my pouch. I was ready for Friday’s dog-walking duty.

  At dinner my family made a plan for Mother’s Day. We decided to fix a brunch for Elizabeth and Nannie. Andrew and I would visit Mommy later in the day.

  “Remember, neither one of you is allowed to do any work next Sunday,” Daddy said to Nannie and Elizabeth. “It will be your day to sit back and relax.”

  “I will like that just fine,” said Nannie.

  “Me too,” said Elizabeth. “I cannot wait.”

  Poor Hank

  “Please pass the paste, Natalie,” I said.

  It was Friday. Mr. Mackey was helping us with our papier-mâché hands. I was about to dip my first strip of newspaper into a paste made of flour and water when Hank sat down beside me. Uh-oh.

  “Did you ask?” he whispered.

  I knew just what he was talking about, and I felt bad. I had completely forgotten to talk to Nannie about coming to the party.

  “I am sorry. I have not asked Nannie yet,” I replied.

  I was starting to wonder if this was such a good idea after all. Remembering to ask Nannie was one more job for me to do. And I was very busy these days. So was Nannie.

  I thought about telling Hank that he would have to ask someone else to the party. But when I looked at his face, I could not do it. I could tell this was really important to him. Poor Hank.

  Natalie stood up to get more newspaper.

  “I will ask Nannie. I promise,” I said.

  I took out my new pocket planner. I made a note to talk to Nannie.

  “Thank you,” said Hank.

  “You are welcome,” I replied.

  Hank looked relieved. That made me feel good. I decided to do even better.

  “If Nannie cannot come, I promise to find you someone else!” I said.

  Hank smiled and gave me another thumbs-up sign as Natalie returned. Then he dipped a paper strip into the bowl of paste. I smiled back and dipped a paper strip too. Natalie was faster than either of us. The top of her hand was already half covered.

  “This is so gooey!” she said.

  I put my first gooey strip across the top of my left hand.

  “I like it. It feels cool,” I said.

  Hank put a strip on his hand. Then another. And another. Then he curled his fingers and reached out to me.

  “I am a papier-mâché mummy!” he said.

  “We should make papier-mâché models of our whole bodies. Then we could have a happy Mummy’s Day party!” I said.

  Natalie, Hank, and I had a good time working on our art projects together. When the backs of our hands were covered with layers and layers of gooey strips, we walked around visiting other tables. Everyone in our class was waiting for their molds to dry partway. As soon as they were dry enough, we could take the molds off.

  Finally they were ready. We lined them up on the windowsills.

  “You all did very well today,” said Mr. Mackey. “Remember to put a name tag next to your model.”

  We made name tags. Then we cleaned ourselves and our classroom.

  “I will see you next week. Then you can start drawing on your hands,” said Mr. Mackey.

  Woof!
/>   After school on Friday I dropped off my school bag.

  It was my first five-dog working day.

  “Would you like a snack?” asked Nannie.

  “No, thank you,” I replied. “I will have a snack with Duke.”

  Duke was the first dog on my list. We went for our usual walk around the block.

  “Um, could you please walk faster and sniff less today?” I said to him. “I have a few other dogs to walk.”

  Duke is a smart dog. But he did not seem to understand me. He walked and sniffed as slowly as ever. (I was glad there were no squirrels.)

  When we returned to the Hsus’ house, I gave Duke his treat and gulped down a glass of milk with a cookie.

  “See you tomorrow,” I said. “Wait! I almost forgot.”

  I picked up an envelope waiting on the hall table with my name on it. Mrs. Hsu had said to take it on Friday. Today was my first payday. I put the envelope into my pouch.

  “Thank you, Duke,” I said.

  I headed for the Kilbournes’ house. Mrs. Kilbourne put on Astrid’s leash and handed it to me. Astrid was not the fastest walker in the world either. But she did not stop to sniff as much as Duke had.

  While we walked, I thought about the envelope in my pouch and what I would buy with it. There was always that bracelet for Elizabeth and scarf for Mommy. But maybe I would find something even more exciting.

  Astrid did her business. I cleaned up and dropped her back at the Kilbournes’ house.

  The Kormans’ house was next. No one answered when I rang the bell. I followed my instructions and got the key from under the back-door mat.

  Maggie, the beagle puppy, was in her crate.

  “Come, Maggie,” I said. “It is time for your walk.”

  She was so excited that she made a puddle right there and then.

  “I wish you had waited,” I said. “But you will learn.”

  On her walk, Maggie went after everything that moved. She jumped after butterflies and raced after bugs.

  I was glad the Kormans were home when I returned. I did not like to leave Maggie all alone.

  My next stop was at Gracie and Garbo’s house.

  “Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!”

  They began barking as soon as I started up the walk to their house.

  Their owners, Mr. and Mrs. Henry, opened the door. The dogs’ leashes were already clipped to their collars.

  “They are excited about their walk,” said Mr. Henry.

  “If Gracie gets stubborn, just give her a little push,” said Mrs. Henry.

  We were halfway around the block when Gracie got stubborn. I pushed. It did not work. I pulled the leash a little. It did not work. Then a boy skated by us.

  “Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!”

  Gracie and Garbo both tried to take off after him. I was glad they were small dogs. They were much easier to hold on to than Duke was.

  Gracie forgot about being stubborn and we finished our walk.

  After I dropped Gracie and Garbo at their house, I checked my planner to make sure I was not forgetting any dogs. I had walked them all. But there was one thing I still needed to do. I needed to ask Nannie about the party.

  When I got home, I ran into David Michael.

  “You are a mess!” he said.

  I knew he was right. Baggies were popping out of my pouch. My T-shirt was hanging out of my jeans. My hands were covered with dirt. I was sure my face was too. But I did not care. I had had fun walking the dogs.

  “You are just jealous because I am making money,” I said to David Michael.

  Then I went to the kitchen, where Nannie was getting dinner ready. I told her about the party and Hank and asked if she could come.

  “I wish I could join you. But I already have plans for that day,” said Nannie. “Please tell Hank I am sorry.”

  I was disappointed, but not too worried. There was still time to find another guest for Hank. I would just have to think a little harder.

  Grrr!

  “Do not forget!” said Hannie. “Be at my house at four-thirty.”

  “I will try my best,” I replied.

  It was Monday. The kids in my class were excited about the after-school special that would be on television that afternoon. It was the first of a three-part mystery series. I am very good at solving mysteries. I wanted to be there to watch it with my friends. But I had dogs to walk first.

  I needed a plan to make my job go faster. In no time I thought of a very good one. The dogs I was walking are all friendly. I was sure they would get along with one another. So I decided to walk more than one dog at a time.

  I picked up Astrid first. She is big, like Duke. I would walk them together. We headed for Duke’s house.

  Woof! Woof! He barked when he heard us coming.

  “I brought you a friend, Duke!” I said.

  When we got inside, Astrid went straight for Duke’s food bowl.

  Grrr. Duke did not like that. I picked up the food bowl. Then I tried to put on Duke’s leash. But I could not catch him. He and Astrid were racing around the house. Duke may be old but he can move fast when he wants to.

  Crash! Oops. A candy dish was knocked off the coffee table. Luckily it did not break.

  “Duke, come!” I called. No Duke. I tried calling again. This time I made sure I had two treats in my hand.

  “Duke, come!”

  Duke smelled the treats and came running. Astrid was right behind him. I quickly put on Duke’s leash. Then I gave each dog a treat and took them outside.

  I looked at my watch. Boo. I was trying to save time by walking two dogs at once. But it had taken much longer to get them out of the house than I had thought it would.

  “We need to walk fast,” I told the dogs. “I have an after-school special to watch.”

  Duke and Astrid were not walking fast. They were not walking at all. They were rolling around on the ground playing. And getting dirty. And making me late!

  I gave a quick pull on their leashes, but they did not even notice. If I had brought treats, they might have listened to me. But I did not have any. I called and called. They acted like they did not even hear me.

  I had to wait until they were tired of playing. Then I walked them around the block.

  Sniff. Sniff. They both sniffed a lot. Then it was time to pick up after Duke. Then I picked up after Astrid. More playing. More sniffing. More playing. More sniffing.

  “Please come home. Please?” I said. “It is almost four o’clock, and I still have three dogs to walk.”

  It took a long time. But finally I had taken each of them home.

  My next dog team was Maggie, Gracie, and Garbo. I hoped I could get them to move a little faster than Astrid and Duke. I could not.

  I picked up Gracie and Garbo first. We were halfway down the street when Gracie started her imitation of a tree. She would not move.

  “Please,” I said. “Please? Please!”

  I wished again that I had dog biscuits with me. Maybe that would have made her move. But I did not have any. I decided the only way to get her to move was to move her myself. I was glad she was not very big. I picked her up and did not put her down till we reached Maggie’s house.

  Maggie was so excited to have company that she made puddles all the way down the Kormans’ sidewalk. Then she jumped on Garbo’s head.

  Grrr. Garbo did not like that. And when Garbo growled, Maggie dropped down and rolled over onto her back.

  “Maggie, get up,” I said.

  She stayed where she was until Gracie yipped at her.

  Maggie was up. But she would not walk. None of the dogs would. They wanted to play, just like Astrid and Duke.

  I looked at my watch. Four-thirty. Hannie and Nancy were sitting in front of the TV. And I still had three dogs to walk and take back home. I was going to miss the TV special and an afternoon with my friends. Grrr.

  It was no use hurrying the dogs. I decided that they might as well have a good time, even though I could not. At least I wo
uld be making money for my trouble. I would be making enough money to buy two excellent gifts for Mommy and Elizabeth. Maybe I would buy them each a beautiful china dog. They would be pretty to look at. And china dogs do not have to be walked!

  Disappointing News

  After dinner, Mommy called. She asked how I was. I told her about my day of dog-walking. (I had told her that I had a new job. But I had not told her I was going to use the money I earned to buy her a present.) I also told her about missing the show.

  “I am sorry you did not get to watch the after-school special with your friends,” said Mommy. “But I am sure it will be repeated. If I see it listed, I will let you know.”

  “Thank you,” I replied.

  “Karen, I have a good-news reason and a bad-news reason for calling,” said Mommy. “The good news is that a famous jewelry designer is coming to visit the crafts center.”

  “That is great. What is the bad news?” I asked.

  “The bad news is that he is coming the day of your class party,” said Mommy. “I am so sorry, but I will have to miss it.”

  “Miss it? How can my own mother miss the Mother’s Day party?” I said.

  “Karen, this work appointment is very important. Are all the other working mothers taking the day off for the party?” asked Mommy.

  “No,” I replied.

  “I would have been happy to come if it were a regular workday,” said Mommy. “But this is my only chance to meet this designer.”

  This was turning out to be a very hard day. But I understood why Mommy could not come to the party. She works at the Stoneybrook Crafts Center making jewelry. She needs to be discovered by a famous jewelry designer.

  “I understand,” I said.

  “Thank you, Karen,” said Mommy. “Maybe you could ask Elizabeth.”

  “You are right. I will ask her right now!” I replied.

  “I hope she says yes,” said Mommy. “I love you and I will talk to you soon.”

  I was sorry Mommy could not come. But it would be fun to have Elizabeth at the party. I found her in her room, reading a magazine.

  “May I come in?” I asked. “I want to invite you to a party!”