Princess Read Free

Mom asked.
    “For example, I have one customer at Bowser’s Backyard who gives only bottled water to her golden retriever.” Aunt Amanda raised an eyebrow as she took another sip of lemonade.
    “Bottled water? For a dog?” Mom stared at her. “You’re
kidding.”
    “I’m not,” said Aunt Amanda. “What’s more, I follow her directions.”
    “Some dogs have very sensitive stomachs,” Lizzie said. “If they drink different water from what they’re used to, they can get an upset tummy.”
    “Absolutely correct,” said Aunt Amanda. “And since I’m usually caring for thirty dogs at once, I don’t have time to be cleaning up after one dog with an upset tummy, if you know what I mean.” She smiled. “But the thing about these people with lists is, usually the people have
made
the dog into a fussy, picky creature. If you only give your dog bottled water, that’s what your dog is going to get used to, and what it’s going to expect. It’s not the
dogs’
fault that they’re spoiled. It’s the people’s fault.”
    Mom nodded. “Well, Angela should be here any minute to drop off Princess. We’ll just have to wait and see what’s on
her
list. Hopefully it won’t be too complicated.”
    “Hopefully,” echoed Aunt Amanda, smiling into her glass of lemonade. “Anyway, I almost forgot what I came over for. I wanted to see if either of you” — she looked at Charles and Lizzie — “would like to help me out with a new activity I’m going to be doing with Bowser. It’s a program at the library called Reading With Rover.”
    “I’ve heard of that!” Lizzie said. “It’s where kids read to dogs, right?”
    “Exactly.” Aunt Amanda nodded. “The program pairs kids who don’t like reading, or who are having a hard time learning to read, with a dog and its owner. It seems that reading to a dog makes reading so much fun that the kids learn faster and end up doing better in school.”
    “That sounds wonderful,” said Mom.
    Aunt Amanda went on. “Bowser and I have just finished a training program, where we learned how to get kids motivated to read, and how to keep the dogs’ attention on the kids. Bowser did pretty well when we practiced that part. He gotrewarded with treats when he lay still to listen to me reading. Anyway, we’ll go on Saturdays, and tomorrow we have our first session with a reader. I’m excited! But I think I could use some help making sure that Bowser stays calm and focused at the library.”
    Charles was just about to say he would help. He loved dogs, and he loved to read. The program sounded like a lot of fun.
    But before he could say a thing, Lizzie spoke up. “I’ll do it!” she said, waving her hand as if she were at school, hoping to be called on. Then, suddenly, she frowned. “Oops. Did you say tomorrow?” She put her hand back down and frowned. “I can’t! Saturday’s the day I volunteer at Caring Paws. Phooey!”
    Lizzie worked one day a week at the local animal shelter, helping to take care of all the dogs and cats that were waiting to be adopted.
    “Awww, too bad,” Charles said cheerfully.“Guess I’ll do it instead!” Lizzie stuck out her tongue at him, but he didn’t care. He was going to get to help Aunt Amanda!
    Just then, the doorbell rang. “That must be Angela!” said Mom. They all got up and went to greet their new foster puppy.
    When Mom opened the door, Angela was standing there clutching a pink plastic dog carrier in the shape of a palace, complete with three pink flags flying from three tall towers. Charles thought Angela looked as if she might have been crying, but now she put on a big smile. “Her Majesty has arrived!” said Angela, holding up the carrier so they could see inside. “Here’s my wittle Pwincess!”
    Princess sat inside the carrier, nestled on a silky pink blanket. She was wearing another T-shirt, this one with I’M A PRINCESS spelled out in pink glitter. There was a matching pink bow in her hair and — Charles