Guide Dog Mystery Read Free Page A

felt independent. Whenever I want to go somewhere — to school or a store or a friend’s house — I always have to ask someone to help me.”
    “I can’t imagine not being able to just get on my bicycle and go wherever I want,” said Benny between bites of his grilled cheese sandwich.
    “It must be really hard,” Violet agreed.
    “I’ve seen blind people using canes,” said Henry, taking a sip of his milk. “Have you tried that?”
    “Yes, but it’s hard to get around. A guide dog gives you complete freedom. I start college in the fall, and for the first time in my life I want to really be on my own.” Anna smiled broadly as she thought about her future.
    “Your dog will be your best friend,” said Jessie.
    “Yes,” Anna said. But the children noticed her smile had faded a little.
    “What’s wrong?” asked Violet.
    “Oh, it’s nothing,” Anna said. She picked up her ham sandwich and then put it back down on her plate. “It’s just that . . . I’ve never had a pet before. I hope I’ll know what to do.”
    “Don’t worry,” Jessie said. “I’m sure they’ll teach you everything you need to know.”
    After lunch, the Aldens took Anna out to the kennel, where she’d been told to meet Jason.
    “This is Anna Chang,” Henry said when they spotted Jason.
    “Nice to meet you,” Jason said. “I’ll be teaching you how to work with your dog.”
    While Jason and Anna were talking, Benny thought he heard a rustling noise in the woods behind them. He walked over to see what it was. He wondered if one of the dogs had gotten out of the yard.
    Benny saw someone peering through the trees. The person was very tall and dressed in a dark suit. That’s odd, Benny thought. Why would someone be walking around in the woods behind the kennels? He started to wave, but as he lifted his arm, the person ducked behind a tree, as if he or she didn’t want to be seen.
    “Benny!” called Henry.
    “Henry, there’s someone — ” Benny began.
    “Come on!” Jessie cried. “Anna’s first lesson is starting.”
    Not wanting to miss anything, Benny forgot about the person in the woods and hurried over to the others.
    Jason was showing Anna the dog harness that he’d shown the children the day before. She felt the leather and held it the way Jason showed her. Then Jason held the bottom of the harness and they practiced for quite a while, with Anna giving the commands he had taught her, and Jason leading her back and forth on the grass.
    “Make sure your voice is firm,” Jason reminded her. “The dog needs to know that you’re the boss. Well, are you ready to meet your dog?”
    Anna nodded, a nervous look on her face. “I guess so.”
    “I’ll be right back,” Jason said. He slipped into the exercise yard and came back out a moment later with a dog on a leash. It was Ginger!
    “Here she is,” he told Anna. “Her name is Ginger. She’s a golden retriever with a reddish golden coat.”
    Anna reached out her hand and Ginger sniffed it. Then Anna cautiously put her hand on Ginger’s soft back and slowly began stroking her. A warm smile spread across Anna’s face.
    “I think you two should have a little time by yourselves, to get to know each other,” Jason said.

     
    “We’ll go stop by Mrs. Carter’s office and see if she has any work for us,” Jessie said.
    As they turned to say good-bye to Anna, they saw her sitting on the grass, speaking softly to Ginger. It looked as if she and the dog were going to get along just fine.
    “Am I glad you’re here!” Mrs. Carter told the children when they entered her office. “My secretary is on vacation, and I have to run to a meeting.” She quickly explained what she needed them to do: file papers, move stacks of folders, answer the phone. “I’ll be back in about an hour,” she said as she left.
    The children set to work sorting the papers on Mrs. Carter’s desk. When the phone rang, they took turns answering it and writing down the messages.
    After