Prince for a Princess Read Free Page B

knew Prince liked their backyard, and it was much better than him being inside clawing at the front door.
    She grabbed his leash, which was clipped to the fence. “Come, Prince, we have to hurry!” she sang out as she opened the gate.
    He didn’t come. She looked around, but she didn’t see him.
    â€œPrince…where are you?”
    He was nowhere.
    â€œPrince, where are you!” she yelled.
    She had a bad feeling in her stomach. Where was he? Was he all right? She ran up the driveway to the street. She looked both ways. He was nowhere to be seen. She yelled his name, again and again.
    She grabbed her phone and dialed her husband’s number. “Prince is gone!” she said. “I put him in the yard…I was only away twenty-five minutes and now he’s gone!”
    She burst into tears.
    â€œIt’s going to be okay. We’ll find him,” Christina’s father said. “I’m coming home. He couldn’t have gone too far. We’ll find him. You go pick up Christina.”
    â€œChristina. What am I going to say to her when she sees Prince isn’t with me?”
    â€œI don’t know,” her husband said. “We’ll all look. We’ll look until we find him.”
    She hung up and hurried off toward the school. As she walked, she called out Prince’s name, looking in every direction. He couldn’t have gone far, unless he was running. He was a greyhound, after all. It wouldn’t take him long to get far away.
    â€œPrince!” she yelled. “Where are you, Prince?”
    She crossed the street. The school was ahead, but there was still no Prince in sight. What was she going to say to Christina? If anything had happened to Prince, it would break her heart. And then she saw him.
    Prince was standing at the schoolyard gate. He was surrounded by people waiting for their children to appear. It was as if he was waiting for his own child to appear.
    She called out his name, and Prince turned. He had a quizzical look on his face, as if he was saying, “Where were you? We were almost late!” She rushed up and threw her arms around the big dog.

    â€œSorry I was late,” she whispered into the dog’s ear. “I’m so glad to see you.”

Chapter Eleven
    Prince pressed his nose against the living-room window and stared outside. Cars passed, and now and then a person with a dog. Prince wasn’t interested in any of it.
    He trotted into the kitchen, his toenails clicking on the floor. Christina’s mother was sitting at the table, sipping her coffee and reading the paper. Prince pushed his head under her arm and lifted it.
    â€œHey!” she exclaimed as her coffee sloshed onto the paper.
    Prince pushed her arm up again. She put down her mug and patted him. It was hard to get mad when all he wanted was affection.
    â€œThey’ll be back soon,” she said as she rubbed him behind his ears.
    She was so happy to have him back. Even though it was hard, her parents had told Christina what had happened. They promised never to leave Prince alone in the backyard again. But there would still be times when he would have to be left alone at home.
    Prince’s ears perked up. Car doors slammed in the driveway. His paws skidded on the slick floor as he ran to the front door. He got there just as Christina opened it.
    â€œGood boy!” she said.
    Prince bounced up and down, ran to his bed, grabbed his favorite stuffed toy and brought it to her. He let out a big rooo . Christina rooed back at him.
    â€œWell?” her mother asked.
    Christina nodded. “Dad’s in the backyard. We thought that would be the best place for it to happen.”
    The three of them went out the back door. Christina’s father was waiting for them. In his arms was a small bundle.
    â€œPrince,” Christina said as she led him over to her father, “I’d like you to meet the newest member of our family. His name is