Ziggy Read Free Page A

And since it’s a bathroom, we’re in and out of here all the time. That means the puppies get used to being around people.”
    “Socialization,” said Charles. “I know about that.” He knelt down to look into a box where fourtiny puppies lay squirming in a pile, mewing like little kittens. Their eyes were barely open, and their noses were flat, not pointy like the older dogs’ noses.
    “They’re only two weeks old, a little too young to handle,” said Rosie. “But if you come back in a couple of weeks, you can play with them all you want.”
    The puppies were cute, but Charles thought Ziggy was way cuter and much more interesting. He could hardly wait to take him home, introduce him to Buddy and the rest of the family, and play with him. He looked up at Aunt Amanda, and she must have seen the impatience in his eyes.
    “I think it’s time we left.” She put a hand on Rosie’s shoulder.
    Again, she got the job done. Five minutes later, Charles and his aunt zoomed back down the road with Ziggy safely penned in the crate in the back of Aunt Amanda’s van.

CHAPTER FOUR
    When they arrived at home, Charles made sure that Ziggy’s leash was securely clipped to his collar before he opened the crate. Then he lifted Ziggy out of the van, gave him a quick hug, and set him on the front walk. “This is your temporary home, Ziggy,” he said. “What do you think?”
    Ziggy ran from side to side as far as his leash would allow, sniffing everything in sight.
    “I see why Rosie named you Ziggy.” Charles laughed as he ran to keep up. “You like to zig and zag and zoom all over the place, don’t you?”
    “She was right about his curiosity, too,” said Aunt Amanda. “Look at him. He’s finding out everything he can about this new place.”
    Ziggy screeched to a halt and sniffed at a rosebush. His ears perked up and his tail stood straight out.
    Another dog lives here. He peed on this bush this morning.
    “I bet he smells Buddy,” said Charles. “That’s good. Now he won’t be surprised to find out that there’s another dog in the house.”
    Ziggy zoomed over to sniff at a red-and-white mitten the Bean had dropped on the front walk. His tail began to wag.
    A little person! I like little people.
    Aunt Amanda scooped up the mitten. “I guess he won’t be too surprised by the Bean, either,” she said.
    Mom and the Bean were waiting inside.
    “Doggy!” cried the Bean the second Charles and Ziggy walked in.
    Charles thought it was kind of amazing how little kids always knew that a dog was a dog. Tiny pointy-nosed Ziggy did not look one bit like Maggie, the huge drooly Saint Bernard puppy the Petersons had once fostered. But the Bean had known right away that they were both doggies.
    “No touching,” Mom reminded the Bean. “Stand very still and let the doggy sniff you.” She stood right behind the Bean, her hands on his shoulders, while Charles let Ziggy go closer. Ziggy snuffled and sniffed at the Bean.
    Yup, you’re one of the good ones. Nice and quiet. Not the kind who will bug me or tease me.
    Then the puppy licked the Bean’s hand. “Mommy,” the Bean said, giggling, “The ‘uppy kissed me!”
    “That’s good,” said Mom. “He likes you.” Then she knelt down to say hello to Ziggy. “I put Buddy out in the backyard,” she told Charles. “I figured Ziggy should meet us one by one. Dad and Lizzie won’t be home for a couple of hours.” She petted Ziggy’s head. “Hi, cutie,” she said. “Look at those soulful eyes.”
    It took no time at all for Ziggy to get used to the Bean and Mom, the house, and even Buddy. After Aunt Amanda left, Charles took Ziggy outside to introduce the two puppies. They got along right away. They sniffed at each other for a few seconds, then took off on a mad chase around the yard. Charles noticed that Ziggy checked out every inch of the fence as he zoomed by. They made three complete circles before they stopped to sniff each other again. Charles was surprised