“There’s Charlie,” Willie said thoughtfully. “He’s past ten. I believe he could handle the errands of Uncle Scrivens, the baker, and the weaver.”
“Besides,” said the professor, “I believe that there is going to be more pleasure and less serious work in Puddling Center from now on. Listen, Willie!” He held up a hand, and Willie listened.
From the other side of the square came the sound of the barrel organ and the shuffle of dancing feet.
“They’re waltzing!” Willie exclaimed. “The Puddling Center people are waltzing!”
“Exactly,” said Professor Petit, with a broad and pleasant smile. “It’s what they’ve been secretly longing to do for years.”
“Tip taught the children to waltz,” marveled Willie, “and the children have taught their parents!”
“I believe that your brother Charlie will have a lot of fun in Puddling Center, Willie,” said Professor Petit. He paused and a wistful expression came into his eyes. “Perhaps you, Willie—perhaps you will even prefer to remain in Puddling Center yourself. You haven’t said what you thought of my plan for your future.”
“Oh, no!” cried Willie. “I want to go with you and the dogs, Professor! I would like that more than anything else in the world. I’ll make myself useful and learn all I can. I didn’t answer you before because my heart was too full for words. I really could not speak!”
Sancho came and laid one paw affectionately upon Willie’s knee.
“How are you, my friend?” he said. Willie laughed outright with pure pleasure.
“Very well, thank you, my friend,” replied Willie. “I never felt better in all my life!”
The other dogs came and stood about Willie and wagged their tails. Grushenka tossed up her ball and Liddy stood on her hind legs. Prince rolled over and Tip sat up to beg. Even the pony looked up from his buttercups and uttered a neigh of approval.
At that moment the stew boiled over, and Professor Petit said brisky: “Time to eat now, friends. The future will take care of itself.”
FURTHER READING
NANCY PEARL
If you enjoyed The Highly Trained Dogs of Professor Petit, you might like these books as well:
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
Hurry Home, Candy by Meindert DeJong
The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor
The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
The Case of Jack the Nipper and sequels by H. L. Stephens
A Dog on Barkham Street by Mary Stolz
A Dog Called Kitty by Bill Wallace
ABOUT
AUTHOR
Carol Ryrie Brink (1895–1981) was an American author of more than thirty books for children and adults. She is widely known for her novel, Caddie Woodlawn, which won the 1936 Newbery Medal, the award given to the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children in a given year. Carol grew up in Idaho and later attended the University of Idaho. She transferred to the University of California, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1918. She married that same year and settled with her husband in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they lived for more than forty years and had two children. Brink’s first novel, Anything Can Happen on the River, was published in 1934. Three of Brink’s children’s books are included in the Book Crush Rediscoveries series: Family Grandstand (1952), Family Sabbatical (1956), and The Highly Trained Dogs of Professor Petit (1953).
The Highly Trained Dogs of Professor Petit (Nancy Pearl's Book Crush Rediscoveries) Page 9
