Bella Read Free Page B

about to let her move or go away. For the rest of the afternoon Lizzie held the puppy as Bella slept and woke, cried and ate, cried some more, slept some more, and ate some more.
    “You look exhausted,” Mom said when she came downstairs again to check on Lizzie and Bella.
    “She won’t let me leave her, even for a minute.” Lizzie felt that now-familiar ache in her throat, and her eyes filled with tears. “And I’m afraid she’s going to die if I’m not with her all the time. She’s so little. It feels like anything could happen.”
    Mom nodded. “I know exactly how you feel.” She sat down next to Lizzie on the couch. “Know why? Because that’s how I felt when I broughtyou home from the hospital the day after you were born.”
    Lizzie stared at her mom. “Really?”
    Mom smiled and pushed the hair back from Lizzie’s face. “Really. Your dad was much more confident, but I was a mess. I felt totally overwhelmed by the responsibility. I mean, here I was, practically alone with this tiny creature who would not survive without my care!”
    Lizzie leaned against her mom. “But I did survive.”
    “And it looks like Bella will, too,” Mom said. “Remember, you’re not alone in this. Dad and I will take care of her through the night so you can get your sleep. And I know Charles wants to help, too.”
    “I already figured out his job,” Lizzie said. “When he and Dad get home, Charles can help keep Buddy and the Bean away from Bella.Ms. Dobbins said we should keep them apart, and I’m afraid they might hurt her by mistake.”
    “Good thinking,” Mom said. “Now, do you want me to hold her for a while?”
    Lizzie shook her head. “That’s okay.” As tired as she was, Lizzie felt bonded to Bella in a way that was different from the bond she’d had with any other foster puppy. As long as she was awake, she wanted to be with Bella.

CHAPTER FIVE
    At her desk the next day, Lizzie could not stop yawning.
    “You look exhausted,” Maria whispered from her seat next to Lizzie’s.
    Lizzie gave her friend a weak smile. It had been nearly twenty-four hours since Mom had said exactly the same thing to her, and Lizzie felt as if she’d been awake every one of those hours. She
was
exhausted. Taking care of Bella was wearing her out. Mom and Dad were supposedly covering the night shifts with the puppy, but Lizzie could not help waking up every time she heard Bella cry. She had ended up helping out with feedings many times through the night.
    Lizzie had not told Maria about Bella. What if the puppy died? Maria did not need to hear such a sad thing on her birthday. It wasn’t easy to keep this big secret from her best friend, but it felt like the right thing to do.
    Now Mrs. Abeson stood up at the front of the classroom. “Time!” she called out. “You can put your notebooks away and get ready for recess. We’ll work some more on our Persuasive Essays tomorrow.”
    Lizzie put down her pen with a sigh. She was supposed to be writing a one-page paper that would convince people to agree with her point of view. When the essays were done, they were all going to have to read them aloud. The topic she’d chosen was “Why Dogs Make the Best Friends.” She had a long list of very good reasons, but truthfully the essay was boring. Who needed to be convinced about how great dogs were, anyway? Everybody knew that. Lizzie yawned again. Maybe she would have to try another topic.
    “Kiddos who want to go outside, may,” said Mrs. Abeson, glancing out the window at the gray, drizzly sky. “But if you’d rather stay in the classroom for recess today, that’s fine, too.”
    Lizzie definitely wanted to stay inside. She did not have the energy today for a wet, muddy game of kickball. Anyway, she wanted to give Maria her present. She reached into her desk and pulled out the socks, which were still in the store bag. “Happy birthday,” she said, handing them to Maria. “Sorry they’re not wrapped. I’ve been kind of