The Truth of Me Read Free Page A

the kitchen door and look out. The door is open, and I can see Maddy sitting on a wooden bench by the garden. Ellie sits at her feet.
    I stop drinking my juice and put the glass on the counter. I look again. Ellie sits, looking at Maddy. Ellie is surrounded by squirrels .
    â€œGood girl, Ellie,” says Maddy softly.
    I come out of the house, and Maddy hears me. She holds up her hand to stop me.
    â€œDown, Ellie,” says Maddy in a kind voice.
    Ellie lies down, her head on her paws. The squirrels scamper all around her, eating corn that Maddy has tossed there. One squirrel brushes against Ellie, but she doesn’t move. Maddy leans down and feeds Ellie a snack.
    I think about Lizzie saying that Maddy has “gifts.”
    I look up and see Henry standing quietly at the edge of the stone walk.
    We look at each other.
    Henry smiles.
    I smile, too.
    â€œHow did you do that?” I ask Maddy in the kitchen. “She doesn’t like squirrels at all.”
    â€œWell, some snacks,” says Maddy. “Ellie likes Henry’s stew. She likes the snacks more than she hates squirrels.”
    Ellie is prancing around proudly, as if she has done something special and heroic.
    She has in a way.
    â€œBut I feed her snacks, and she always keeps chasing squirrels. Only squirrels,” I point out.
    â€œWell, I am an alpha,” says Maddy.
    â€œI’ll say,” Henry says.
    â€œWhat is that?” I ask.
    â€œThe boss,” says Henry.
    â€œ Alpha also means ‘confidence,’” says Maddy.
    â€œI am the leader to Ellie because I am confident I can teach Ellie not to chase squirrels. And other things,” she says briskly.
    Henry raises his eyebrows.
    â€œShe is right, of course,” he says. “Maddy is confident.”
    â€œAnd Ellie likes to please people,” says Maddy.
    â€œCan I learn that?” I ask.
    â€œI don’t know,” says Maddy.
    â€œYes,” says Henry almost at the same time.
    Maddy looks surprised.
    â€œI may know Kiddo better than you do in some ways,” Henry says to Maddy.
    â€œReally?” says Maddy.
    She looks at Henry, then at me.
    â€œDo you two have secrets?”
    â€œNo,” says Henry. “Truths.”
    â€œTruths?” asks Maddy.
    I nod.
    â€œSmall truths,” I say.
    Maddy lifts her shoulders.
    â€œWell, then, we’ll have a go at it,” she says.
    â€œWhat does that mean?” I ask.
    â€œYou’ll see,” says Maddy mysteriously. “Now, who’s cooking tonight?”
    â€œWhat do you have in the pantry?” asks Henry.
    â€œCold cereal,” says Maddy.
    â€œOh, good grief,” says Henry. “I made spaghetti sauce this morning. I’ll get it.”
    Henry goes out the door.
    â€œDid you make meatballs, too?” calls Maddy.
    â€œYes, yes, yes!” Henry calls back.
    â€œMaddy?”
    â€œWhat, Robbie?”
    â€œYou have chicken in the refrigerator,” I say.
    â€œI know,” says Maddy, laughing. “I love Henry’s spaghetti and meatballs.”
    She takes down big blue plates from the cupboard and begins to set the table. She hands me the silverware.
    â€œHenry can roast the chicken tomorrow,” Maddy whispers to me.
    We look at each other over the table and begin to laugh. Ellie woofs at us happily and prances and dances, and we laugh more.
    I watch Maddy make Ellie sit before she gives her a snack. I watch the way Maddy holds up her hand so Ellie will lie down.
    Ellie likes following Maddy’s commands. She likes it .
    Maddy smiles at me, but she doesn’t know what I’m thinking.
    I tell her.
    â€œI’m going to be an alpha, too,” I say.
    I put three blue napkins down next to the blue plates.
    I look at Maddy.
    â€œI am.”

6

A Walk with Ellie
    â€œ I ’m going to weed the garden today,” says Maddy. “What are you going to do?”
    â€œTraining,” I say. “I’m