Wendy Orr - LOST! A Dog Called Bear

For Bear, and for all the other
dogs, from Puppy to Harry, who
have come into my life

W. O.

What Bear liked, almost more than anything else in the world, was riding in the back of the pickup truck. He liked racing from side to side to see everything going past, sniffing the wind as it flapped his jowls and ruffled his fur, and barking at dogs on the ground.

The other thing Bear liked almost more than anything else in the world was bossing sheep and making them go where he wanted.

But what he liked best of all, more than anything else in the world, was Loganbecause Logan was his boy.

What Logan liked, almost more than anything else in the world, was riding around the farm in the back of the pickup truck. He liked bouncing over the bumps, singing into the wind as it ruffled his hair, and watching Bear race from side to side. He liked the way his friends from town thought riding in the back with him was as cool as all the things he thought would be cool in town.

The other thing Logan liked, almost more than anything else in the world, was walking around the farm with his dad and watching Bear herd the sheep wherever they were supposed to go.

What he liked best of all, more than anything else in the world, was Bearbecause Bear was his dog.

But now Logans mother and father had sold the farm. His dad and Bear were going to work on a big ranch in the mountains, and Logan and his mom were moving to the city.

Logan felt like the turkeys wishbone being pulled apart after Thanksgiving dinner. What he wished was for everything to be the same way it always had been.

Your dad and I are still friends, said his mom. We just cant live together anymore.

It doesnt change how I feel about you, said his dad. I still love you as much as ever.

But what about Bear? asked Logan. Hows he supposed to understand?

Hell like it on the ranch, said his dad. Theyve got a couple of working dogs already. Bear will get along fine with them.

Hell hate it! shouted Logan. Hell miss mehe needs to come with me!

His dad didnt tell him off for shouting. He pulled Logan close and hugged him. Not as much as Ill miss you, he said. But maybe youre right. Maybe Bear should go with you.

The yard in our new house is very small, said Logans mom.

Ill walk him every day, said Logan. Bear will be all right, as long as he is with me.

What Hannah liked, almost more than anything else in the world, was going to the beach. She liked splashing through the waves with her friends and running on the sand, feeling the wind flip her ponytail as if it was as happy as she was.

But what Hannah liked more than anything was dogsand what she wanted, more than absolutely anything else in the world, was a dog of her own.

Our yards not big enough, said her mom.

Id walk it every day, said Hannah.

Dogs stink! said her dad.

Id give it a bath, said Hannah.

Youll forget to feed it, said her mom.

Id never forget, said Hannah.

The moving van came early in the morning. The moving men packed up all the boxes and furniture that Logan and his mom were taking to their new house. They left behind the boxes and furniture that Logans dad was taking to his new home.

Logan hugged his dad as tight as he could so that hed have to get in the car with them, and his dad hugged him back so tight that Logan felt like a quivery jelly inside. But his dad still said good-bye.

Then Logan and Bear got into the back seat of the station wagon, his mom got into the drivers seat, and they drove away. Bear stuck his head out the window and barked. Logan stuck his head out the other window and waved good-bye until he couldnt see his house or his dad anymore.

It was a hot, dry day, and the dust from the driveway drifted in the windows and made his mom sneeze.

Roll up your window, she said. Ill turn on the air conditioner.

I like the dust! said Logan.

He rolled the window up, but he left a good wide crack at the top to let a little more of the farms dirt blow in and go with them to the city.

Logan had been to the city before, but it had never been as far as it was today. The car had never been so hot, and Bear had never raced back and forth across the back seat so much. He stood on Logans bare legs with his sharp nails.

Ouch, Bear! shouted Logan.

Bear leaned against him and drooled down Logans neck.

Yuck, Bear! shouted Logan.

Bear licked Logans legs, and Logan shoved him away. It wasnt nearly as much fun riding in the car with Bear as it was in the back of the pickup. Maybe you should have gone with Dad, Bear, he snapped.

On the way to her friend Amys house, Hannah passed a sign that said RAINBOW STREET ANIMAL SHELTER , with an arrow pointing up a narrow street.

Could we go there? Hannah asked her mom every time they passed the sign.

It would just make you sad, said her mom. And you would want to bring home a dog.

I already want to bring home a dog, said Hannah. And I wouldnt be sad if I could.

But her mom always sighed, Oh, Hannah! and drove on past.

At lunchtime, Logan and his mom stopped at Terris Take Out. It was across the road from a wide white beach with rolling, crashing blue surf. Dogs werent allowed on this beach, so his mom parked in the shade, and Logan walked Bear around the parking lot.

Then they put Bear back in the car and rolled the window down so he could sniff the fresh air, and they went into Terris Take Out for lunch. Logan looked out at the ocean and for the first time since hed learned they were moving, a sparkle of hope flickered through his black thoughts.

Are we going to live near the beach? he asked, as they walked back to the car.

Pretty close, said his mom. Too far to walk, but a short drive.

Could I ride my bike?

When youre older, said his mom.

Logans sparkle of hope fizzled and died. He didnt want to be older in their new house. He didnt want to have a birthday without his dad. He wanted to pretend they were just going to the beach for this last weekend of summer vacation and would be back in their old home when school started again.