The Doggy in the Window

"Come on Arabella!" demanded her older sister, Alina as they hurried along the sidewalk on their way to school. "We're going to  be late." Alina hated the way Arabella was always dawdling on the way to school. One minute she was following Alina, the next minute she was off picking a flower or staring at the cars driving past or just standing still lost in a daydream. Alina looked around and Arabella was nowhere to be found. Finally, she spotted her little sister, she sighed  and trudged after her.

Arabella was actually on the neighbor's lawn peering longingly in the window.

"Arabella!" screamed Alina approaching her. "What are you doing?"

"Look!" exclaimed Arabella without bothering to turn around. She pointed to the window where a little white dog was pressed up against the glass. "Isn't he cute?" she cooed glancing longingly at the dog.

"Yeah, sure." replied Alina abruptly. "Let's go. We're going to be late for school." She dragged her sister away from the window and off toward school.

The next day, on the way to school, when they walked by the house where the dog had been, Arabella hurried over before Alina could stop her. "Oh, look!" she cried excitedly. "There he is again!" She pointed to the window where the little dog was frantically pawing at the glass as if he wanted to get out and join his new friend. "He likes me." declared Arabella contently. "I'm going to call him Quincy."

"How can you name a dog that you don't even own?" inquired Alina. She thought Quincy was a dumb name for a dog anyway.

Arabella just glared at her sister, but didn't reply.

"Anyway, it's time to go to school."  Alina added dragging her sister off toward the sidewalk.

After that every day on the way to school, Arabella would insist on stopping at the window and visiting the little dog. She talked about him all the time as if he really were her dog. "I wonder how Quincy is doing today." she would say or "I bet Quincy would like a nice juicy bone."

Then, one day, they stopped by the window and the little dog wasn't there. Arabella knocked gently on the window, but the little dog still didn't come.

"Stop that." Alina told her worriedly pulling her away from the window.  She was afraid a person would come to the window instead. They didn't know who lived in the house and what they were liked they could be mean or crazy or something. Besides, whoever they were she was sure they wouldn't want Arabella knocking on their window.

"Where's Quincy?" fretted Arabella. "He's always here to greet me in the mornings."

"I'm sure he'll be back tomorrow." Alina assured her in a more sympathetic voice.

The next day, the little dog wasn't back. He wasn't there the day after that nor the day after that either.

By now, even Alina was getting worried. She hoped nothing happened to the little dog. She would hate to have to break it to Arabella if it had.

Finally one day as they were passing the house, an elderly woman came out of the door. Before, Alina could stop her Arabella hurried over. "What happened to Quincy?!" she demanded to know.

"What?" asked the woman with a startled look on her face.

"I'm sorry, M'am." replied Alina rushing over. "We were wondering what happened to your dog. We used to see him when went by one the way to school every morning. My sister became kind of fond of him."

"You mean, Penny, my dog?" replied the woman suddenly understanding. "She went to live with my grandchildren because I couldn't take care of her anymore."

"Oh." replied Arabella softly. She was glad the little dog was going to be in a home with children to play with but she sure was going to miss Quincy. She meant Penny. It was so hard to get used to the fact that Quincy's name was Penny, and he was a she.

"Do your grandchildren visit a lot?" asked Arabella eagerly. Maybe, she could still Qu-Penny, when they come to visit.

The woman shook her head. "Not as often as I'd like." she replied. "They live in another state." She looked sad when she said it.

Suddenly, Arabella knew she wasn't the only one who would miss the little dog. "Don't you have somebody to help you take care of Penny so then you wouldn't have to give her away?"

"I live by myself." the woman replied.

"Aren't you lonely?" asked Arabella.

"Arabella!" screamed Alina trying to drag her way. Sometimes, Arabella could be so embarassing.

Arabella ignored her sister and waited for the woman to reply.

"Sometimes." admitted the woman. Arabella reminded her so much of her own granddaughter. It brought a tear to her eye.

"I bet you miss your grandchildren a lot, don't you." sympathized Arabella. "And, I'm sure they miss you too. My grandma lives far away too, and I know I miss her. I could come visit you sometimes when you are feeling lonely and missing your grandchildren."

"Arabella!" shrieked Alina in horror. This time Arabella had definitely gone too far.

The woman didn't seem horrified at all, however. In fact, she seemed quite pleased and smiled brightly at Arabella. "I'd like that." she said. "and you can visit me when you are missing your Grandma."

"I'd like that too." replied Arabella. "My name is Arabella." she said putting out her hand.

"My name is Jane." replied the woman shaking it.

After that, Arabella visited Jane all the time. She was like another granddaughter to Jane, and Jane was like another grandmother to her. She even got to meet Jane's real grandchildren when they came to visit, and she liked them too. Sometimes, when they came they even brought Penny and Arabella got to see her.  She was always happy to see the little dog that had brought her and her surrogate grandmother together. She was convinced the little dog had done it on purpose. "You didn't want Jane to be lonely, did you? " she said to the little dog.

"That's crazy." replied Alina when Arabella told her she was convinced that Penny had purposely brought she and Jane together.

Arabella didn't care what Alina thought. She knew.

Cassidy's Story

Today's story is not only for my daughter but by my daughter.


Cassidy wanted to write a story. She only had one problem... she had no ideas. She sat in her chair and thought. She just could not think of anything. She decided to ask her oldest sibling and only brother Charles for advice. "Charles." She screamed running into his room

 "Cassidy". Charles said in a rather annoyed way. 'Next time you come in in my will you please knock? Anyway what do you need?"

"Fine, next time I'll knock." Cassidy said glaring at her big brother. Then, she started to grin a little. "I am writing a story, but I can't think of anything to write about." Cassidy stated starting to look sad again.

"Don't worry." Charles said excitedly. I have a great idea! How about there is a robot, and it is the only robot known to mankind. He lives with a boy or girl named Jack or Jackie. One day he finds a new robot and has to choose between the kid or the robot. How does that sound?"

"That's a great idea! In fact, it's the best idea I ever heard. I am so going to use that." Cassidy said  happily. Cassidy went back in her room and thought about Charles story idea. She didn't really like the idea. She just didn't want to hurt his feelings.

She sat in her room trying to think. Suddenly, she got an idea but not for the story. She would ask her big sister Abigail for advice. She would have a good  idea that Cassidy liked for sure. 'I should never have asked a boy he would have never said something I would like for my story.' Cassidy thought to herself.

"Knock Knock." Cassidy said as she leaned up to Abigail's door.

"Come in." Abigail answered.

 Cassidy cracked the door open a slight bit. She then slipped through and quickly shut the door. She didn't want Charles to hear. He couldn't fined out that Cassidy didn't really like his idea."Hey!" Cassidy said. "I am writing a story, and I don't know what to write about. I thought maybe you would have a good idea."

Abigail loved to be outside so naturally her story idea had to do with flowers. She thought that Cassidy's story should be about a girl named Mary who liked to make crowns of flowers.

Cassidy told her she loved it although on the inside she didn't really like it at all. She went back to her room to think some more. "I know I'll ask Izzy. Surely, she'll have an idea I like. Cassidy thought. Izzy was Cassidy's twin sister. Cassidy went downstairs to the living room. Izzy was there sitting on the couch. "Can you help me?" Cassidy asked.

"Sure." Izzy replied.

"Well, I'm writing a story, but I don't know what to write my story about." Cassidy said as she looked up at Izzy.

"You're in luck. I have a great idea! You should write about a little boy named Samuel and his sister Jacklyn, and the two of them go on tons of adventures." Izzy declared happily.

"Thanks for the idea." Cassidy said as she walked back to her room. She didn't really like that idea either. "I will try asking Mackenzie." Cassidy thought. Mackenzie was Cassidy's only younger sibling.

"Mackenzie. Can you help me?" Cassidy asked. Mackenzie nodded. "I am trying to write a story. What do you think it should be about?" Cassidy inquired.

"Write bout magical baby ponies." Mackenzie answered

"Good idea." Cassidy replied. She didn't really like that idea ether. Cassidy forgot Mackenzie was only two. How would she have an idea that was good for Cassidy's story?

Cassidy finally thought of an idea she liked. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't tell the others she didn't really like their ideas. She covered her face in her hands and started to cry.

"What's the matter sweetie?" Mommy asked sweetly as she walked over to Cassidy.

"I am writing a story, but I didn't know what to write about. So I asked Charles. Then, I asked Abigail. Next, I asked Izzy, and then, I asked Mackenzie. I told them all I loved their ideas, but I didn't really like any of them. Then, I finally thought of what I like for my story, but don't know how I can tell them." Cassidy said through her tears.

"Write about what you want to write about. They will understand." Mommy replied

"Thanks Mommy. Cassidy answered.

"You can write your story later though. Now, come down for dinner." Mommy said.

"Okay." Cassidy replied. As Cassidy walked down the stairs, she heard her siblings talking.

"I can't wait to hear Cassidy's story  about Samuel and his sister Jacklyn!" Izzy said excitedly.

"Samuel and Jacklyn?" said Charles with a puzzled expression on his face. "She is writing about a robot.

"No." Mackenzie said. She write bout magical baby ponies." Mackenzie said happily.

"No. She's writing about...." Abigail started to say, but she was interrupted by Cassidy.

"The truth is I didn't know what to write about so I asked each of you. I told you I loved all your ideas because I didn't want to hurt your feelings even though I didn't really like any of them. Also, I finally thought of what I actually want to write about, and that is a koala bear named Lyla. I am really sorry." Cassidy stated.

"It's fine." Abigail said. "We were all just trying to help, but it's your story write it about what you want not what one of us wants."

They all nodded in agreement.

After that day, Cassidy still asked her siblings for help with ideas for stories, but she never lied about liking their ideas.

Tukachinski The hamster

This story is not only for my daughter but by my daughter.



Tukachinski was a happy little hamster. He lived in a nice little cage. His owner was a sweet little girl named Luisa. Tukachinski was always with Luisa, but it wasn't always that way.

Tukachinski was born in a little pet store in Colorado. The store was called Pet-Mart. He lived there with his mom and his sixty five brothers and sisters. He was happy to live with his family. He loved them a lot. 

One day a man came up to Tukachinski's cage and took his mother. He then put her in another cage right next to Tukachinski's. Tukachinski trotted over and put his claws upon the bars of the cage trying to reach for his mother. That same day some people came to the store and when they left one of Tukachinski's brothers was gone too. Tukachnski wanted to go too. He wanted to know where they went and why they went. 

Every day, more and more of Tukachinski's family was taken away. First a brother; then a sister. Sometimes both. Sometimes two sisters orr two brothers but never Tukachinski. Tukachinski wondered why nobody wanted him. He missed having a family. He missed being loved and having somebody to love.

Everyday, Tukachinski would wake up and take a bite of food and a sip of water. Then, he would go to the side of his cage. It was as if he was saying hello to his mother. Then, he would spend the rest of the day sitting in the front hoping someone would see him and take him with them. 

One dark cold night, Tukachinski was woken up by the sound of more hamsters being put in his cage. Tukachinski didn't know these new hamsters. He hoped they would be as nice as his family was. Luckily they were. Tukachinski and the new hamsters hung out all day long. One of the new hamsters was one named Pip Squeak. Pip Squeak was a baby. He was a tiny runt and followed Tukachinski everywhere. Tukachinski didn't mind he loved Pip Squeak. Other than Tuckachinski and Pip Squeak, there were thirteen hamsters in that cage.

Once again, one by one the hamsters were adopted. All except Tukachinski and Pip squeak. who was still to young to be adopted. Tukachinski would not give up hope. He knew someday someone would come and take him with them.  

As the days went by, Tukachinski wanted a family more and more. Although he had Pip Squeak, it was not the same as having on owner and belonging to someone. He wanted to live somewhere where he could run around in a ball, somewhere where he could play outside of his cage once in a while. Sometimes, Tukachinski would feel like he was trapped in his cage not able to leave and no room to run around.

One bright August morning, just as Pet-Mart was opening Tukachinski was starting to wake up. As always people came and went, but nobody took Tukachinski.  The night was coming slowly, and Tukachiski was getting ready to go to sleep.

"Ten Minutes until closing! I repeat we are closing in ten minutes!" The loudspeaker announced.

"I'll be at the pet store another day." Tukachinski thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep. 

Just then, a little girl walked into the pet store. She was with her mom. She ran right up to Tukachinski's cage. "I want this one. I am going to call him Tukachinski." She declared happily as she pointed to Tukachinski.

Although Tukachinski was going to miss Pip Squeak, he was very excited to finally be getting his very own family. He knew someday Pip Squeak would get a family too. 

And, that is the story of how Tukachinski the Hamster got his name and met his family.

Sage vs the Sun

Today's story is not only for my daughter but by my daughter


  " Achoo!!!" sneezed Emilia for the millionth time that day.

 "Good morning sweetie." declared Mommy as she walked in with Emilia's little sister Sage. Mommy took out the griddle and started to make chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast

        

"Achoo!!!" Emilia sneezed again.

 "Why does Emilia sneeze so much mommy?" asked Sage with a puzzled look on her face.

 "Because she has allergies,which makes her sneeze when she is around certain things" Mommy replied.

    

"Oh" Sage exclaimed as she started to eat her pancakes. When Sage and Emilia were done with there pancakes, they went outside together. Emilia just sat on the bench to relax although Sage went straight to play. "Achoo!!!" Sage sneezed while sitting out in the  sun. "OH NO!!!" Sage thought. "I must be allergic to the sun. "I need to go inside." Sage screamed as she ran passed Emilia and rushed inside. She went straight to her room and didn't look back. She stayed in her room until it was time for lunch.

"Do you want to go swimming with me Sage?" asked Emilia as she took her last bite of food. "We can go in an hour."

"No thanks I can't." Sage quickly replied.

"Why can't you? Emilia asked unknowingly.

"Um, I um have to clean my room." Sage said as she hurried off.

 "I don't think she has ever chosen to clean instead of going to the pool before." Emilia stated. "She hates cleaning."

Sage didn't really want to clean her room, but she knew she could not go outside. She didn't even really need to clean her room at that moment. Sage just sat on her bed all day. She didn't know what else to do.

"Sage dads home!"  Emilia called. Sage ran down the stairs.

" Daddy your home!" Sage said happily as she ran up and hugged her dad.

"Let's all go outside and have a nice picnic. The weather is beautiful" Daddy suggested.

"I can't go outside." Sage replied

"Why not?" Daddy asked.

"Because I'm allergic to the sun." Sage answered.

"Well, how do you know you are allergic to the sun?" Daddy replied looking very confused.

"I am allergic to the sun because Mommy said that when you are allergic to something it makes you sneeze. When I was sitting out in the sun I sneezed." Sage told Daddy

"That doesn't mean that every time you sneeze it is because you are allergic to something. Sometimes you just have to sneeze. " Daddy replied.

" Oh well, in that case, let's go on a picnic!" Sage declared. From that day. on Sage never thought she was allergic to something just because of one sneeze.

I'm Not Going To Do That Anymore

"Daddy?" Natasha Zeferelli said approaching her father one evening as he was relaxing and watching TV after a long day at the office. Her father did not take his eyes off the screen. Natasha hurried over to him and shook his arm. "Daddy?" she repeated.

"What?" asked her father in a somewhat annoyed tone briefly take his eyes off the screen.

"Do you think people should be able to do what makes them happy?"

"Sure." replied her father immediately turning back to the screen.

Natasha nudged him again. "Do you think people should do what makes them unhappy?" she asked not even waiting for him to turn around again.

"No." her father replied  still facing the TV. "Why should you do what makes you unhappy?"

"Oh, I was hoping you'd say that." replied Natasha excitedly. She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and then hurried out of the room. Her father just shook his head. He had a house full of women, and he would never understand any of them.

Natasha went upstairs and went into her room and took out some toys to play with. Just when she got the toys set up the way she wanted, her older sister, Celeste, poked her head in the doorway.

"Mom wants you to do your homework now." announced Celeste.

Natasha made no move to get up.

"I said Mom wants you to do your homework now." repeated Celeste.

"Oh. I heard you." replied Natasha. "I'm just not doing homework anymore."

Celeste just shook her head at her sister and went back to her room to do her own homework. If Natasha wanted to get herself in trouble for not listening that was Natasha's problem.

Natasha continued playing with her toys as her sister left the room.

A little while later, Mom called everyone down to dinner. Natasha, Celeste and their little sister, Mariah hurried into the kitchen and scrambled into their seats as their father ambled in from the living room. "Did you girls finish your homework?" Mom asked as she scooped pasta onto each of their plates.

"I did." declared Mariah. She was still young enough that she didn't get that much homework.

"I have just a little bit more." stated Celeste. "I'll finish it after dinner."

"What about you, Natasha?" Mommy asked when Natasha failed to reply.

"Oh, I'm not doing homework anymore." Natasha informed her.

"You finished it?" asked Mommy. Natasha shook her head. "You didn't get any?" asked Mommy.
Natasha shook her head again. Mommy gave Natasha a confused look.

"I'm not doing homework anymore." Natasha informed her.

"What?" replied her mother.

"Homework doesn't make me happy. I am not doing it anymore." explained Natasha.

Celeste starred at her younger sister as if she'd suddenly sprouted another head and Mariah clapped gleefully as their mother was shocked into silence at Natasha's pronouncement.

"I'm not going to do homework anymore either." announced Mariah excitedly jumping up out of her seat. "It doesn't make me happy either."

Mommy gave Mariah an angry look. "Of course, you're going to do your homework!" she insisted and so are you!" she added giving Natasha an even angrier look.

Celeste snickered under breath but immediately put a hand over her mouth to stop herself when Mommy gave her an angry look too.

"But Daddy said. I shouldn't do what doesn't make me happy." insisted Natasha.

Now Mommy gave him an angry look.

"Wait a minute!" protested Daddy. "You tricked me!" he said to Natasha accusingly. "You didn't tell me you were talking about homework."

"I wasn't just talking about homework." Natasha assured him. "I'm not going to school anymore and I am not going to go to bed at 8:00 and I am not going to ..."

"Why doesn't Natasha have to go to school anymore?" cut in Mariah.

"If you don't want to then don't." Natasha told her. "Do what makes you happy."

Mariah clapped her hands gleefully. "I am not going to take baths anymore and I am not going to go to bed and ..."

Celeste gave her father a look as if to say 'Look what you started.' She waited for Mom to start yelling at him. However, Mom was surprisingly calm. She didn't even look upset anymore.

"Is this doing whatever makes you happy? For everyone?" Mom inquired. "I mean grownups too?"

Natasha nodded happily excited that Mommy seemed to be getting into the spirit of things. This was really going to work! She wished she'd thought of it years ago.

"Okay, than." replied Mom. "I am not going to make dinner anymore. Why should I spend hours slaving over a hot stove when I can be doing something that makes me happy. I am not going to iron your favorite party dress anymore either. I've never really liked ironing. It doesn't make me happy.

"I'm not going to take you to the playground anymore I'd rather hang out with my friends." added Celeste. "

"And, I am not going to work anymore.'' replied their Dad. "It doesn't make me happy.

Natasha's eyes opened wide with worry. How would they live if Daddy didn't have a job and bring home any money anymore.  This wasn't going to work after all. "Okay." she replied glumly. "I'll do my homework after dinner." But it still wasn't going to make her happy.

Sabina Goes to School

When Sabina was 3, she started preschool. Her mother dropped her off at the school and she had the most terrified look on her face. Mommy smiled and gave her a reassuring hug. "Don't worry." she said. "You're going to be fine!" Sabina didn't think so. She didn't smile back.

Every day of that year, Sabina didn't look at her mother and didn't say goodbye. She just hurried into her classroom and didn't say a word. If Mommy even dared to say a word to Sabina, Sabina would burst into tears and cling to her.

It wasn't that Sabina didn't enjoy school. As soon as Mommy left, she was fine. She had fun there making art projects and playing on the playground. Although she was very quiet and never spoke to anyone, she had a lot of friends because the other kids liked her. It was just that she  had that little bit of separation anxiety which lingered the whole year.

The next year, when Sabina was 4. It got a little easier. She made two really good friends, and she talked to them and only them. Every day, she hugged and kissed Mommy at the door, and Mommy was the one who looked a little bit sad. "Don't worry, Mommy." she said. "I'm going to come home."

When Sabina was in Pre-K, she went into school without saying goodbye again. She wasn't sad anymore and she wasn't afraid. She was just so eager to get to school that she as soon as they got into the school she hurried into her classroom without bothering to say goodbye to Mommy.

Every day, after school if they had time, they would be allowed to play on the playground for a while. Sabina had so much fun every day, she and her best friend. Emmy would be the last kids left on the playground. They were so busy having fun that they would literally have to be dragged off when it was time to go home.

In Kindergarten, Sabina went to a new school. Everyone in her classroom was nice, and she made a lot of friends. Mommy volunteered at school and got to come in every Friday to help out in Sabina's classroom. "I love when you come to school with me." Sabina  told her happily.

"I love it too." Mommy replied.

At the end of the year, Sabina was sad. "I don't want to go to a new school." she told Mommy practically in tears.

"Don't worry." Mommy assured her. "You'll be fine."

And she was. Her teacher was young. It was her first year teaching so it was like she and the class were starting together. Sabina loved her. The girls in the class were nice, but some of the boys were a little wild.

The school year was fun. They got to do fun projects. They went to visit a farm. Mom still got to volunteer in the classroom but only once a month or so and only for an hour.

In second grade, they had Immigration day. Sabina got to pretend to be a Russian immigrant like one of her ancestors. They made butter for Thanksgiving. Mommy got to come in and help with that. They even got to to do a play right in their classroom. Sabina played a bird.

In third grade, Sabina met her best friend, Maryann. The two of them were inseparable. Their teacher was young and fun, and they got to do a lot of cool things. They had Wild West Day, and they went to visit the zoo. Mommy came in and helped out with Wild West Day.

"Maryann is going to be in my class again next year!" Sabina excitedly told Mommy just before the next school year.

Mommy smiled. "I'm happy for you, baby." she replied.

That year, they went to the Aquarium. They got to have kindergarten buddies. It was the first year Mommy never had a chance to volunteer in the classroom.

Time passed quickly and before they knew it, Sabina was in 5th grade. Her last year in her elementary school. The next year she would be in middle school.

In 5th grade, she and Maryann were together again for the third year in a row. They mostly stuck to themselves. Girls were starting to form tight buddieships now.

That year in school, Sabina helped out in one of the younger classrooms every morning. She had a first grade buddy who turned out to be the same girl who was her kindergarten buddy the year before. They went to the beach on a class trip, and Sabina even got selected for a special trip to a sculpture park.

The year went by quickly. Before, they knew it, it was the end of the year. They didn't really graduate but they moved on. Sabina was excited for another summer. She never really liked going to school even though sometimes they did fun things there, and she loved being with Maryann everyday. There was no guarantee she and Maryann would be together or even see each other the next year in a big new school. Sabina was a little anxious about the next year but she was happy.

Mommy was a little bit sad though. Her baby was growing up so quickly. It seemed like just yesterday, Sabina was clinging to her at the door of the preschool, and now Sabina would be going into middle school. Now, she was the one who didn't want to let go of Sabina. She hugged Sabina tightly as if doing so would make her stay a little girl just a little big longer.  "I love you, baby." she said.

"I love you too, Mom." replied Sabina.

Petula the Puppy?

Bright and early one morning, Petula Sheehan's mother entered her room and opened her curtains. "Good morning, sweetie." she greeted her daughter cheerfully.

Petula sat up in bed looked right into her mother's eyes and said "Woof!"

Petula's mother laughed. "Nice puppy." she said. She patted Petula on the head. "Get dressed and come on down to breakfast." she commanded.

A little while later, when Petula came downstairs and sat down at the table, her mother asked what she wanted for breakfast. Petula said ""Woof!"

"Okay, very funny." replied her mother. "What do you really want for breakfast?"

"Woof." repeated Petula.

"Oh you're a puppy, huh?"

Petula nodded.

"Well, puppies don't eat at the table." replied her mother. Petula obediently slid out of her chair onto the floor and said. "Woof."

""Enough playing get back off the floor,  and eat your breakfast." declared Mommy. She gestured for Petula to get back in her seat.

Petula did get back in her seat, but didn't say a word.  Mommy scooped eggs onto Petula's  plate. Petula leaned really close to them and sniffed them. Then, she proceeded to eat them like a dog without using a fork or a spoon or even her hands.

"Petula!" exclaimed Mommy horrified when she noticed what Petula was doing. When Petula continued to eat like a dog, Mommy took her plate away, but by then Petula had enough and she just hurried away from the table.

Mommy sighed. She hoped Petula would tire of pretending to be a dog soon.

However, all afternoon Petula crawled around on her hands and knees and chased balls and bugs and barked.When Daddy came home, she greeted him with a bark.

"Did you meet our puppy, Petula?" asked Mommy. Daddy smiled but Mommy didn't smile back. She was tired of having a puppy, she wanted to have a little girl again.

Petula crawled over to Daddy and sniffed him. He playing along and patted her on the head. "Good puppy." he said.

Petula smiled and wagged her imaginary tail.

At dinner time, Petula quickly swallowed bites of her dinner when Mommy and Daddy weren't looking. At bath time, she splashed her arms around like she had paws until there was almost as much water on the floor as in the tub, and Mommy made her get out. Then, she shook herself out instead of toweling down.

"Petula!" exclaimed Mommy in anger as Petula got her all wet.

At bedtime, Petula insisted on having her tummy rubbed and being patted on the head. Then, she curled up like a puppy and went to sleep.

Then, next morning, when Petula's mother went into her room to wake her up, she seriously hoped that Petula was done playing dog.  "Petula?" she said quietly gently shaking Petula awake.

Petula opened he eyes and look right at her mother. "Meow." she said. Petula's mother sighed.