Prince for a Princess Read Free Page A

in countries all over the world. Some people think that dogs should never be made to race. They believe it’s cruel. One problem is that when the dogs can’t race anymore, they need a good home and people to care for them. That’s how we got Prince. He was a race dog who got too old to race. Now he’s a part of our family. Every year there are thousands of dogs just like Prince that need new homes. I told you greyhounds have big hearts. Well, their hearts are big enough to hold any boy or girl who wants a dog to love. Thank you.”

Chapter Nine
    After school, Christina’s mother was waiting for her at the schoolyard gate. Christina and Prince bounded down the school’s front steps.
    â€œHow did your speech go?” she asked.
    â€œMrs. Martin said my speech was very good.”
    â€œIn that case, maybe we should stop for an ice cream cone to celebrate,” her mother said.
    â€œDo you think it was good enough for two scoops?” Christina asked.
    â€œGood enough for two scoops and a dog treat,” her mother said. She patted her pocket to show there was something special in it for Prince.
    The three of them set off. They walked slowly so Prince could stop and smell things along the way. Kids gave Prince a pat or said his name as they passed. Everybody liked Prince. And he liked them too.
    â€œWas Prince nervous about being in front of the class?” her mother asked.
    â€œI think a little, but just at first,” she said. “He knew I was there to take care of him.”
    Her mother nodded. She knew it wasn’t only Christina who took care of Prince. Prince took care of Christina too. “It’s important to know you have people to take care of you. And was he well behaved?”
    â€œHe’s always well behaved.”
    â€œIt would be hard to argue with that.” Walking hand in hand, they turned off the street and cut through an alley that ran behind a row of houses. Suddenly a growling, snarling big dog charged at them from the other side of a fence. Christina and her mother screamed and jumped back. But Prince jumped toward the fence! He growled and snarled and let out a deep, loud bark that startled them and sent the other dog running.

    â€œHe barked!” Christina said.
    â€œHe did more than that. He was defending us from the other dog,” her mother said. “Did you see the way he tried to protect us? He really is a good dog.”
    â€œNo,” Christina said. “He isn’t a good dog. He’s the best dog.”
    The three of them set off to get their ice cream and a dog treat.
    â€œMom, do you think I could get a triple scoop?”
    â€œA triple scoop would be bigger than you.”
    â€œPlease.”
    â€œAre you sure you can eat that much ice cream?” her mother asked.
    â€œWell…I was planning on sharing some of it.”
    â€œI think I’m going to get my own cone,” her mother said.
    â€œI wasn’t going to share it with you, Mom. What flavor do you think a greyhound would like?”
    â€œStrawberry, for sure.”
    â€œBut that’s my favorite,” Christina said.
    â€œI have a feeling your favorite is going to be his favorite too. So three scoops of strawberry it is.” She paused and looked at Prince. “He is awfully big. Maybe we better make that four scoops of strawberry.”

Chapter Ten
    Christina’s mother pulled the car into the driveway and quickly got out. It was three fifteen in the afternoon. She had only ten minutes until she had to meet Christina outside the school. If she and Prince walked quickly, they could make it. He wouldn’t have time to smell every bush on the way, but she was sure Christina would make up for it on the way back.
    She left the groceries in the car and entered the backyard. Before she left for the market she had put Prince in the backyard. There was plenty of shade, and she had left a big bowl of water for him. She