Debbi Michiko Florence - Truman the Dog

I held a dog treat in my hand. Ollie, sit! I said.

My happy dog wagged his tail and sat down.

Good boy! I said. I tossed the treat in the air. Ollie caught it in his mouth. He crunched and crunched, then he sniffed the floor for crumbs. He didnt want to miss one.

I think you got them all, Ollie! I said, giggling.

Kaita! Im home! a voice called. It was my mom.

Ollie and I ran to the kitchen. The tags on his collar jingled like little bells.

Mom had a pile of books on the table. She works at a bookstore. I love it because she gets me books about animals. When I grow up, I want to be a . Im going to be the best animal doctor ever!

Are those books for me? I asked.

Yes, she said. Theres a book about cats, a book about birds, a book about dogs, and a book just about , like our Ollie. She slid the books in front of me.

I gave her a big smile. Oh, thank you, Mom!

Yip! Yip! Yip! Ollie barked and ran to the back door.

That must be Dad! I said, running after Ollie.

Yip! Yip! Yip!

Dad walked in, bent down, and patted Ollies head. He got hugs from Mom and me.

Coming home to my family is my favorite thing, Dad said. Hey, I have some good news!

What is it? I asked.

Dad smiled, but he didnt say anything. He took off his jacket. He hung it on the hook. He put his backpack on the floor. He took off his shoes.

Dad! I said. Come on. What is it?

Yes, stop teasing us, Mom said with a smile.

OK, sit down at the table, and Ill tell you, he said.

We all sat down. Ollie curled up under my chair.

Dad grinned. I got a phone call from Happy Tails Rescue, he said.

I peeked under my chair. Thats where we got Ollie, I said.

We had Ollie from Happy Tails Rescue last year. The poor little dog had been found in a parking lot with no collar and no home. Happy Tails took him in. They rescue animals and help them find forever homes. I was so happy we became Ollies forever home.

What did Happy Tails Rescue say? Mom asked.

I wiggled in my chair.

They have a dog who needs a family, Dad said. He needs love and a place to stay until he finds a forever home. And were going to foster him!

Hooray! I said.

When? Mom asked.

The doorbell rang. Ollie barked. Yip! Yip! Yip!

Right now! Dad said, jumping out of his chair.

Mom and I followed him to the front door. Mom scooped up Ollie in her arms.

It was Joss, the awesome lady from Happy Tails Rescue. Hello, Takano family! she said. Thank you for agreeing to foster.

Ollie wagged his tail. I could tell he remembered Joss.

Hello, Ollie! Joss said, patting his head.

Where is the dog? I asked.

Truman is in my truck, Joss said.

Will Truman like Ollie? I asked.

Truman is friendly with other dogs, Joss said as we walked to her truck. He is an older dog. He is a very sweet Labrador mix.

What happened to his family? I asked.

Trumans family had to move far away. Sadly they couldnt take Truman with them, Joss said. We will find him a wonderful new home and family.

When we got to the truck, Joss opened the door and grabbed the leash. A black dog jumped out. He was bigger than Ollie. He stood close against Joss legs, like he was trying to hide.

He is beautiful, I said.

Truman looked at me and blinked. His tongue rolled out. His thick tail thumped against Joss.

Look at that. I think he likes you, Kaita, Joss said.

I liked Truman too!

Before Joss left she gave us a bag of Trumans toys. She gave us a too. We put the crate in my parents bedroom. Truman would sleep there. Ollie already slept with me in my room every night.

After dinner I worked on a puzzle with my parents. I like puzzles. They are fun to put together. Ollie curled up on my lap. Truman sat by the door.

He seems sad, I said. Maybe he wants to go home.

This is his home now, Dad said. It will take time for him to feel safe with us. He doesnt know us yet.

I dug into Trumans bag of toys and found a stuffed lamb. I tossed it. It landed at his feet with a plop.

Truman sniffed the toy a little but didnt move.

I got a tennis ball. I waved it in front of his face and rolled it past him. Get the ball, Truman! I said.

Truman watched the ball but didnt move.

Ollie did, though. He shot after the ball like a rocket. Yip! Yip! Yip!

Trumans ears went up. He wagged his tail and barked. Woof! Woof!

Ollie ran past him, and Truman followed right behind. And just like that, the two dogs became friends.

* * *

The next day Ollie and Truman played tag. Ollie chased Truman from the living room to the kitchen, up the hall, and into my room. Truman chased Ollie out of my room, down the hall, into the kitchen, and to the living room.

Back and forth the dogs ran. They barked nonstop.

Dad got a little upset. He was trying to talk on the phone for work.

Come on, you two! I said. Lets play quietly in my room.

Ollie, Truman, and I went to my room and sat on the floor. I pulled a bright-yellow rubber ducky from Trumans bag of toys. Truman wiggled and whined.

Want your ducky? I asked him.

Truman wagged his tail and licked my hand. I gave him the toy. He squeaked it a couple times.

Playing tag had made the dogs tired. I lifted Ollie onto my bed. He curled up. Truman wanted to get on my bed too, but I said no. Joss had told us to keep Truman off the furniture. His forever family might have a no furniture rule.

I got Trumans dog bed from his crate and put it on the floor.

You can take a nap over here, Truman, I said.

Truman sniffed his bed, snorting from end to end. When he had sniffed every inch, he stepped onto the bed. He turned in a circle three times, plopped down, and curled up tight. With a sigh he fell asleep.

Good dog, I said.

Ollie watched me tiptoe to the door. I put my finger to my lips. Shh! I whispered. He stood and pawed at the air. He wanted to be picked up. I walked back to my bed and got him, then closed the door behind us.

While Truman napped I sat at the kitchen table with my sketchbook. It already had lots of Ollie drawings in it: Ollie in his alligator costume, Ollie chasing a ball, Ollie lying on his back with a big, full belly

Now I started drawing Truman. I wanted a way to remember him after he found a forever home. I drew three pictures: one of him sitting, one of him with his rubber ducky, and one of him sleeping on his bed.

Yip! Yip! Yip! Ollie barked and ran to the back door.

Moms home! I said.

Mom walked into the kitchen with her book bag. Hello, Ollie! she said. Hi, Kaita! How is Truman doing?

Great! I said. He and Ollie played tag all morning. Truman took a nap. Hes in my room.