Cuddles

by Ellen Miles

  “And Cuddles barked and barked and barked,” added Poppy. “We have to help her.”

  Allie frowned. “I know. I can hear her from here,” she said. “Poor little puppy. I agree, I’d love to help her. But what can we do?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” said Lizzie. “Do you have Mrs. Bennett’s phone number? She never called me last night, so maybe I’ll just call her.”

  “I don’t have it, but I bet I can find it,” said Allie. “Come on in and have a glass of lemonade while I look it up. Misha is welcome, too.” She put down her watering can and headed for the house.

  “Don’t mind the mess,” Allie said as she led Lizzie into the kitchen. “I never seem to catch up.” She poured lemonade for all of them, then went straight to the laptop on the crowded counter and began tapping away. “It’s great that you want to help Cuddles,” she said as she typed.

  “It’s what I do,” Lizzie said. “I mean, it’s what my family does. We’re a foster family, and we love to take care of puppies who need help.”

  “Ohh, you’re so lucky!” said Poppy.

  Allie looked up at Lizzie and smiled. “That’s wonderful,” she said. “How long do they usually stay with you?”

  “Well, some are only with us for a few days,” said Lizzie. “But some stay longer. It depends on how long it takes to find the right forever family for each dog. We try to make the right match, like an energetic dog with an athletic person, or a mellow dog with someone who likes to stay in and take it easy.”

  “Isn’t it hard to give up the puppies?” Poppy asked. “Don’t you just want to keep them all?”

  Lizzie nodded. “Always. But we want them to have good homes, so that’s the main thing.”

  Poppy smiled. “Cool,” she said.

  Lizzie could have talked about fostering forever, but just then Allie interrupted the conversation. “Hey, guess what?” she said, closing her computer and picking up her phone. “I found Mrs. Bennett’s number — and I’m going to call her right now.”

  Allie tapped at her phone, then held it to her ear. After a moment, she let her arm fall to her side. For the first time since Lizzie had met her, she was not smiling. “No answer,” she said. “And no answering machine.”

  “But I’m almost positive someone’s home,” said Lizzie. She told Allie about seeing movement inside the house.

  “Well, then, let’s go back there right now,” said Allie. She looked around the kitchen and grabbed a box of cookies from a shelf. “We’ll pay Mrs. Bennett a neighborly visit.”

  Lizzie stood up. “Maybe I should take Misha home first, just to make things a little simpler.”

  “Good idea,” said Allie. “We’ll meet you out front after you drop him off.”

  Lizzie took Misha home and gave him a biscuit and a pat good-bye. “See you tomorrow,” she told him. “Be a good boy.”

  Misha gobbled the biscuit before she could take a step, then grinned at her and thumped his tail, asking for another.

  “Okay, one more,” said Lizzie, handing it over. Then she headed back out to meet Allie and Poppy.

  “What grade are you in?” she asked Poppy as they walked. She didn’t remember seeing Poppy at their school.

  Poppy looked at her mom and smiled. “Well, I’m in fourth grade for reading,” she said, “and third grade for math. And I guess I’m like an eighth grader when it comes to science, since I’m studying chemistry.”

  “Poppy is homeschooled,” explained Allie. “She works with an online program, and we also do a lot of outside activities.”

  “Like helping at the farm with the goats and working with Aunt Kate at the lab,” said Poppy. “My aunt’s a scientist,” she told Lizzie. “I help her with her experiments.”

  Allie laughed. “Well, mostly we wash bottles and help clean up, but it’s a fascinating environment.”

  “I want to be a scientist when I grow up, too,” said Poppy. “Or maybe an astronaut, or both. I’d like to be the first woman on Mars.”

  “Wow,” said Lizzie. She wanted to ask more, but she was distracted by Cuddles’s barking and yipping as they got close to the green house. Even from down the block, Lizzie could see her fuzzy little copper-colored ears popping up and down as she ran from one end of the porch to the other.

  Allie just shook her head. “Let’s go do something about this,” she said. She marched right up to the porch and knocked loudly at the door. Cuddles went wild, barking even more and scrabbling at the door.

  There was no answer.

  Allie looked at Lizzie. “I’m going onto the porch so I can knock on the front door,” she said. “Help me make sure the dog doesn’t get out.” She pushed open the screen door, quickly putting a foot inside to block Cuddles from escaping. Then she reached down and picked the tiny thing up. “Got her!” she said. “Come on in.”

  Lizzie wouldn’t have dared to walk right onto the screened porch, but if a grown-up was doing it, maybe it was okay. She and Poppy followed Allie through the door. Once they were all on the porch, Allie made sure the screen door was shut and put Cuddles down. Immediately, the little pup ran to each of them in turn, putting a paw up on their legs and panting happily as she wagged her fluffy tail.

  Company! I love company. I’ve been so lonely and bored.

  Lizzie’s heart melted as she watched the puppy greet Poppy, and she reached down to pet Cuddles’s soft, fluffy ears. “Hey there,” she said.

  Allie knocked sharply on the front door. “Hello?” she called. “Mrs. Bennett? We’ve come to pay a visit.”

  For a moment, Lizzie thought nobody was going to answer. There was no movement inside, no sound of footsteps. Then the door opened, just a crack at first, and then a little more. “Yes?” asked the frowning woman inside. “What do you want?”

  “I’m so sorry to intrude. We don’t really want anything — we’re just here to pay a visit,” said Allie. “And to bring you these.” She thrust the box of cookies forward. “I’m your neighbor Allie Bauer. I can’t believe we’ve never met. This is my daughter, Poppy. And this is our friend Lizzie Peterson. She’s a professional dog walker.”

  Mrs. Bennett sniffed. “The one who left advertisements here. I am not interested, thank you very much.”

  She began to shut the door, but Allie pushed the box of cookies toward her so it was in the way. “Please, we would just like to talk to you for a moment. It’s about your dog.”

  “Not my dog,” said Mrs. Bennett. “She’s my sister’s. Well, she was my sister’s, until Eleanor moved to Montreal and dumped her with me.” She folded her arms. “She made me promise not to let her out of my sight, but I don’t know how she thought I was supposed to take care of a dog when I work two jobs just to keep a roof over my head and food on the table.”

  “That’s why we’re here,” said Lizzie. “We want to help you with Cuddles.”

  “Can’t afford it,” said Mrs. Bennett. “Didn’t you hear what I just said?” This time she reached for the box of cookies before she began to close the door in their faces.

  “Wait!” said Lizzie. “I’ll do it for free. I’ll walk her and help train her, and if you need me to find a new home for her, I can do that, too.”

  Slowly, the door opened back up. “For free?” asked Mrs. Bennett, looking at Lizzie suspiciously.

  “Once she knew I wasn’t going to charge her anything, Mrs. Bennett turned out to be pretty nice,” Lizzie told Maria the next day as they walked toward Misha’s house. Lizzie had convinced Maria to come along with her on Daphne’s route so she could meet Cuddles, and she had been filling Maria in on the whole story.

  “Mrs. Bennett told us how her sister had a teddy bear named Cuddles when they were little,” Lizzie said. “That’s how Cuddles got her name.”

  “But then her sister had to give up the dog?” Maria asked.

  Lizzie nodded. “Mrs. Bennett promised she would take care of Cuddles,” she said. “She’s been feeling awful about how little time she has to spend with th
e dog. She was putting her out on the porch so Cuddles could at least run around a bit and see people going by. She meant well, even if it wasn’t really the best idea.”

  “It sure wasn’t,” said Maria. “One of Simba’s littermates jumped right through a screen door during a thunderstorm one night. She ran off and got lost for five whole days.”

  Simba was Maria’s mother’s guide dog. He was a laid-back yellow Lab whose entire focus was on doing his job — although Lizzie knew that he did enjoy belly rubs when he was off duty.

  “Well, it’s a good thing Cuddles hasn’t done that,” said Lizzie. “But it’s an even better thing that we’re going to be able to get her off that porch and take her for walks. I tried to convince Mrs. Bennett to let my family keep Cuddles until we can find another home, but she keeps saying how she promised her sister that she wouldn’t let Cuddles out of her sight. So guess I’ll sort of be fostering her without actually taking her to live with us.”

  “I bet Cuddles will be much happier when she gets some exercise and some company,” said Maria. “It sounds like that’s what she really needs.”

  The girls stopped to pick up Misha, and when they went outside again, Poppy was waiting for them.

  “Hi, Misha,” she called. “Hi, Lizzie! Can I come with you again today?”

  “Sure,” said Lizzie. “This is my friend Maria. She’s coming, too.”

  Maria smiled at Poppy. “So, I hear you like dogs?” she asked as they walked together toward Cuddles’s house.

  “I love them!” said Poppy. Her whole face lit up. “I’m going to have a hundred dogs when I’m older.”

  Maria laughed. “You sound like Lizzie,” she said. “What’s your favorite breed?”

  “Well,” said Poppy, “I love Labs. But I also like German shepherds and golden retrievers, and huskies like Misha. And I always wanted to have a Great Dane.”

  This time Lizzie laughed. “You and I really are alike,” she said. “I love big dogs, too.”

  Maria told Poppy about Simba. “Maybe you can meet him someday,” she said.

  “And Buddy, too,” said Lizzie. “He’s not a huge dog, but he’s the best.”

  “I wouldn’t care what size or breed it was if I could have a dog of my own,” said Poppy. “Just a dog to snuggle with, and teach tricks to, and take for walks.”

  “You will, someday,” said Lizzie. She knew how hard it was to want a dog and not be able to have one. She had yearned for a dog for so many years before her family got Buddy. “Meanwhile, maybe you can help us with Cuddles.”

  Poppy’s face lit up again. “I can’t wait to take her out for a walk. She’s adorable and so cuddly!” she told Maria.

  “She is,” said Lizzie. “For a little dog, that is.” She grinned at Poppy.

  A few moments later, they were in front of the green house. Cuddles raced up and down the porch, barking and whining.

  “It’s okay, Cuddles,” said Lizzie. “We’re here to take you out.”

  “Oh, look at her!” said Maria when the little head popped up into view. “She’s even cuter than I pictured.”

  Lizzie handed Misha’s leash to Poppy. Then she opened the screen door carefully and stepped inside. Cuddles scampered toward her with a huge grin on her adorable little face.

  You’re here, you’re here! Hurray! Let’s have some fun.

  Cuddles pranced in figure eights around Lizzie’s ankles. Lizzie laughed. “Hold on there, little one,” she said. “Let me get your leash on.” Finally, she had to pick Cuddles up to calm the little dog. “Aww, what a darling,” she said as she nuzzled the soft fur around the puppy’s neck. Cuddles hardly weighed a thing. She settled immediately into Lizzie’s arms, looking up at her with her sweet brown eyes.

  “Okay, sweetie pie,” said Lizzie. “Let’s go say hi to everyone.” She put Cuddles down and led her outside. “Easy now,” she said. “Don’t scare her!”

  Poppy made a face. “I know,” she said. But Cuddles wasn’t scared. She ran straight to Poppy and let herself be hugged and kissed and cooed over while Maria patiently waited her turn. The little dog seemed thrilled to see them all: her tail wagged triple-time and she was so excited that she sneezed three times in a row.

  I’ve been so lonely! All I want is to be loved. And right now? I feel loved.

  “Ohh, she’s so soft!” said Maria when she knelt to pet Cuddles. “Aren’t you a darling?”

  “She’s just like a stuffie toy,” Lizzie said. “With those eyes, and that adorable fluffy fur.” She couldn’t get over how cute Cuddles was.

  Poppy just sat down on the sidewalk and let Cuddles climb into her lap. She didn’t say anything; she didn’t have to. The smile on her face said it all.

  Lizzie and Maria exchanged looks and smiles as they watched Poppy and Cuddles. It was obvious that Poppy really did love dogs — and that Cuddles loved kids. “How about that walk, then?” Lizzie finally asked.

  Poppy gave Cuddles one more hug and stood up. “Can I hold her leash?” she asked.

  “Sure,” Lizzie said. She handed it to Poppy. “It looks like Cuddles already knows how to walk nicely on a leash.”

  “Unlike Misha,” called Maria over her shoulder as the husky dragged her down the sidewalk.

  Cuddles didn’t pull on the leash. She wanted to take her time investigating her neighborhood. Lizzie and Poppy laughed as the fluffy pup zigged and zagged her way up the sidewalk, sniffing everything and wagging her little tail.

  What a wonderful world! So many things to see and smell!

  “She sure is happy to be off that porch,” said Lizzie.

  Poppy nodded. “She doesn’t deserve to be cooped up that way. How old do you think she is? I would guess around six months.”

  “That’s exactly what I would have said.” Lizzie grinned at Poppy. “I wonder if she’s full-grown yet or if she’ll get any bigger.”

  “Well, from what I read online last night,” said Poppy, “she probably won’t grow too much more. The whole idea with these dogs is that they’re supposed to stay pretty small.”

  Lizzie was impressed. “So you’ve really looked into these teddy bear dogs,” she said. She realized that she hadn’t even taken the time yet to look up the breed. Maybe she had finally met someone who was even more dog-crazy than she was.

  Poppy shrugged. “I was curious,” she said. “There’s always something to learn about dogs.” Then she laughed out loud as she pointed to Cuddles, who was standing on her hind legs to sniff at the yellow flowers covering a bush at the end of someone’s driveway. “Looks like someone else has a lot of curiosity, too.”

  “What else did you find out about teddy bear dogs?” Lizzie asked.

  “Well, they’re really sweet, and smart, and affectionate,” said Poppy. “They’re often a mix between a bichon frise and a Shih Tzu, so some people also call them Zuchon dogs.”

  “Cuddles looks more like she’s part poodle,” said Lizzie.

  Poppy nodded eagerly. “That’s what I thought, because of her coloring and her curly hair. Lots of teddy bear dogs do have poodle in them. And most of them are hypoallergenic, so even people like my mom who are allergic to dogs can have them.” She stopped talking and kicked at a stone on the sidewalk. “Not that I could ever talk my mom into having a dog. I’ve tried. Last time I asked, she told me that the more I bugged her about it, the less likely we were to get a dog. So now I don’t say a word.” She pretended to zip her lip.

  Lizzie felt bad for Poppy. Anyone could see how much this girl wanted a dog of her own. She decided to change the subject. “Hey, look at Cuddles,” she said. “Where did she learn how to do that?”

  Cuddles had found an old tennis ball, and she was pushing it along the sidewalk with her nose, like a soccer player moving the ball up the field. When she heard her name, she looked back at Lizzie and Poppy and gave them a happy grin.

  Life is full of interesting things. Isn’t it great?

  “Agh! She’s so adorable I can’t stand it!” said Po
ppy.

  “I know,” said Lizzie. “She’s one of those little dogs who make you understand why some people love little dogs.”

  Poppy laughed and gave Lizzie a high five. “Exactly,” she said.

  Misha dragged Maria back down the sidewalk toward Poppy and Lizzie. Maria handed Misha’s leash to Lizzie. “It’s your turn for this wacky dude,” she said. “He’s pulled me around long enough, and I have to go walk my own clients’ dogs now.” She bent down to give Cuddles one last kiss, then headed off.

  “Can I try walking Misha?” Poppy asked Lizzie. “I read about an idea that might help with the pulling.”

  Lizzie shrugged and traded leashes with Poppy. “Be my guest,” she said as she took Cuddles’s leash. If Poppy could teach a husky not to pull, she really had dog magic.

  Poppy started off down the sidewalk with Misha. Every time he started to pull, she stopped and turned the opposite way, then kept walking. That meant she was taking only a few steps at a time in any direction, but she didn’t seem frustrated. She wore a look of concentration as she worked with the big strong fluffy dog.

  “Hey, what’s going on here?”

  Lizzie turned to see Daphne walking down the sidewalk. She looked mad. “Misha is my responsibility,” she said when she’d stopped in front of them, hands on hips. “I’m not supposed to let just anyone walk him, especially a little kid.”

  Poppy frowned. “I’m not a little kid,” she said before Lizzie could say a word. “I’m almost eight. And I know how to walk dogs.”

  “Um, maybe I’d better take him,” Lizzie said quietly. Poppy handed over Misha’s leash, and Lizzie traded it for Cuddles’s.

  “What were you doing, anyway,” Daphne asked, “going back and forth like that? You’re getting Misha all mixed up.” She glared at Poppy.

  Poppy didn’t back down. “It’s a training technique I read about,” she said. “It’s a proven way to train dogs not to pull on the leash.”

  “Well, isn’t that interesting,” said Daphne. “Not.” She took Misha’s leash from Lizzie. “I’m back on duty,” she said. “My aunt left this morning, so I’ll take my route back, thank you very much.” Then she finally seemed to notice Cuddles. “What, you added another dog to my list? I can barely handle all my clients as it is.”