Absolutely Lucy Read Free Page B

week.
    “Bobby,” Mrs. Quinn said, “Lucy needs to go to obedience school.”
    “She does what I tell her. Let’s go outside. I’ll show you.”
    Bobby and his mother went outside. Lucy was still busy digging.
    “Lucy, come. Come here, girl.”
    Lucy didn’t even look up.
    “Lucy,” Bobby called again.
    This time Lucy did lift her head. Then she went back to digging.
    Bobby went over to Lucy and picked her up. She squirmed.
    “Okay, try this.” Bobby put Lucy down on the ground. “Sit, Lucy. Sit.”
    Lucy looked at Bobby.
    “Sit.”
    Lucy lowered her tail down to the ground. She almost sat down. But she didn’t. Her tail started wagging. She jumped up. Then she ran around in a circle trying to catch her tail.
    “See what I mean?” Bobby’s mother asked. “Lucy needs to learn to sit. She needs to learn to stand quietly. She needs to learn how to obey.”
    “But it’s summer,” Bobby complained. “Nobody should have to go to school in the summer.”

    “The summer is a perfect time for a dog to go to school,” Mrs. Quinn said. “Obedience classes are starting in the park. I think we should sign up Lucy.”
    That night they talked about obedience school with Bobby’s father. He thought sending Lucy to school was a very good idea.
    “Maybe Lucy will learn to like her leash,” Mr. Quinn said.
    Lucy didn’t like being on her leash at all. Lucy liked to run free. Bobby didn’t think there was a school in the world that could make Lucy like her leash.
    “Who will take Lucy to this school?” Bobby asked.
    His parents looked at each other.
    “Why don’t you and I take her, Bobby?” his father asked.
    Bobby didn’t like this idea at all. It was bad enough Lucy had to go to school. He didn’t want to go to school, too. School meant new people to meet. New people he would have to talk to.
    “Can I think about it?” Bobby asked.
    “Yes, think about it, Bobby,” said his mother. “But don’t take too long. Lots of people want to sign their dogs up for obedience school.”
    The next day, Bobby and Lucy went to visit Mr. Davis. Bobby told Mr. Davis about obedience school.
    “But why don’t you want to go?” Mr. Davis asked.
    Bobby could feel his face get red. “Too many new people,” he mumbled.
    “Are you shy, Bobby?” Mr. Davis asked with surprise.
    “I guess,” Bobby said in a quiet voice.
    “Really? You don’t seem like a shy boy to me.”
    Now it was Bobby’s turn to be surprised. “I don’t?”
    “Not at all,” Mr. Davis said.
    Bobby was glad he didn’t seem like a shy boy to Mr. Davis.
    Mr. Davis poured some lemonade into Bobby’s glass.
    “Bobby, what about Lucy?” he asked.
    “What about her?”
    “Do you think she needs to go to obedience school?” Mr. Davis asked.
    Bobby had to be honest. “Yes.”
    “You are her owner,” Mr. Davis reminded him. “Don’t you think you should be with her at school?”
    “My dad could take her.”
    “Would that be the same?” Mr. Davis asked. “I think Lucy would like to have you there with her.”
    Lucy was sitting next to Bobby. She gave a long, low howl.
    Bobby had to laugh. “Yes. I guess she would.”
    “You never can tell, Bobby,” Mr. Davis said. “Maybe obedience school will be fun.”
    Fun? Bobby didn’t think so. But if Lucy had to go to obedience school, Bobby was going with her. Lucy needed him.

B ig dogs. Little dogs. Furry dogs. Sleek dogs. Mighty dogs and mutts. Dogs were walking, running, barking, and yapping all over the park.
    It was the first day of obedience school.
    Lucy trotted to the edge of the grass. Then she stopped and looked up at Bobby.
    “She’s never seen so many dogs,” Bobby said to his father.
    “I think there are only about ten dogs,” Mr. Quinn said. “It just seems like more because they are so noisy.”
    “How is Lucy going to learn to be obedient when all these dogs are so wild?” Bobby asked.
    “The dogs will learn to be obedient together,” Mr. Quinn said. But he