The Friendship Bracelet

by Arlene Stewart

  “They’re just waking up from nap time,” explained Mrs. Mumford, a gray-haired woman who seemed very used to being in control. Actually, she reminded Olivia of Miss Ruth Ann. “Come, come, you can come over.” She waved to them while scooping up a little, sleepy-eyed pup.

  “This is a little girl,” she said, pointing to the woven pink band around the puppy’s neck. “My granddaughters love to make friendship bracelets, so they started making different-colored bands for the litters. That’s so we can tell who’s who. Now, this little one’s name is Millie. Would you like to hold her?” she asked, handing the pup to Zoe.

  Carefully, Zoe cradled the little dog in her arms. “She’s so soft!” she exclaimed.

  Dr. Lopez and Press leaned over to pet the puppy too. Olivia couldn’t help noticing that they were all beaming. Maybe this will be easier than Zoe realizes, she thought. Hope so.

  “And here is a little boy. We call him Carl,” said Mrs. Mumford, handing Zoe’s stepfather a puppy with a blue-and-white band. “He’s the biggest in the litter by far. We expect he’ll be a very big one.”

  “Really?” said Mr. MacNab with a big smile. He rubbed Carl’s wide forehead and said, “Here, Zoe, you hold this bruiser,” handing him over while Mrs. Mumford put Millie back in the enclosure.

  “Wow! Yep, Carl is a lot heavier,” laughed Zoe, taking the pup in her arms. “So you’re the big one, you’re the big one,” she said, putting her finger in his mouth and gently shaking his jaw.

  “How old are the puppies?” asked Olivia.

  “Eight weeks today,” the breeder replied.

  “Oh, Carl, today is your birthday!” cried Zoe. “Happy birthday, little baby. He’s so cute!” She gave him a hug.

  “How long do people have to wait on your list for a puppy, Mrs. Mumford?” asked Zoe’s mother.

  “Usually about ten months or more, Dr. Lopez,” she said.

  Dr. Lopez raised her eyebrows. “And yesterday you said that all of the puppies in this particular litter have long been spoken for. Well, Niña, you will have to be very patient if you want a golden,” she said.

  “Yes, Mama,” she replied, stroking Carl’s big puppy feet.

  Mrs. Mumford watched her and then said with a smile, “We always ask our families: Do you think you are ready for a dog like this? Goldens are wonderful but lively. They require work and care and lots of exercise.”

  “I’ll do that! I’ll exercise with the puppy,” Zoe piped up.

  “She plays soccer,” Press explained. “Zoe is very athletic.”

  “That’s good.” Mrs. Mumford nodded. “And you know, actually the summer is an ideal time to bring Puppy home and train him.”

  Olivia looked down at the enclosure. All the baby dogs were now awake and tumbling over one another. Poor Zoe, ten months will be one long wait, she thought.

  “Mrs. Mumford, may I pet the puppies?” she asked, kneeling down.

  “Certainly. Now Dr. Lopez mentioned that you already have a golden?” she asked Olivia.

  “Yes, Sullivan,” she said, looking up. “He’s almost two years old. We got him from a family in Connecticut who couldn’t keep him.”

  Mrs. Mumford scooped up a pup with a yellow band and handed it to Olivia. “You can sit on the floor and play with this little one, if you like. Her name is Molly.”

  Olivia couldn’t get over the resemblance to Sullivan.

  “Is your golden light colored like these?” Mrs. Mumford asked.

  The little pup was covering Olivia’s face with kisses. “Yes,” she managed to reply with a laugh.

  Mrs. Mumford looked thoughtful. “I know most of the breeders in the area. Do you mind my asking the name of the person who gave you your dog?”

  “It was a friend of my dad’s, Captain Burke. He’s a state police officer,” Olivia explained, putting little Molly on her lap.

  Mrs. Mumford was surprised. “Captain Burke! Why of course I know him and his family. They adopted a little boy from Trixie’s first litter. Let me check my records,” she said, opening her phone. “Yes, the puppy was part of a litter born two years ago this past June 21.”

  “June 21 is Sullivan’s birthday!” cried Olivia. “Wow! So he came from here.”

  Mrs. Mumford put away her phone. “I’m so sorry the Burkes couldn’t keep the puppy. They were a lovely family. But, of course, the dog has found a wonderful home with you,” she added.

  Olivia stroked Molly’s warm, plump belly. “Is Sullivan, our dog, related to this litter?” she asked.

  “Oh, yes, our female dogs only have a litter every two years or so,” said Mrs. Mumford with a smile. “In fact, Sullivan has both the same parents as this litter—he’s their older brother.”

  “What! That’s amazing!” Olivia cried out. This was major! “Sullivan has brothers and sisters and Trixie is his mother? Oh, may I pet her?”

  “Of course,” replied Mrs. Mumford. With a smile, she reached for Molly as Olivia got to her feet.

  “Oh, this is totally super. I’m getting to meet Sullivan’s mother,” Olivia said, petting the mother dog’s head. “Trixie, your son Sullivan is a very good boy…most of the time!”

  Everyone laughed at that.

  Olivia asked, “Mrs. Mumford, may I take a photo for my parents?”

  “Usually, we don’t allow cameras in here,” said Mrs. Mumford, “but this is special. Why don’t you give me your phone, and I’ll take some photos of you with Trixie?”

  The cheerful living room fell silent as the breeder took a few quick pics. “Good girl,” said Olivia to Trixie when they were done.

  Zoe looked up from petting Carl to see her mother shooting Press a look. He nodded back. She thought, They’re hooked. Yay! Now we have to add our name to the list. That’s step number two.

  “Well, Mrs. Mumford, perhaps you will let us add our name to your waiting list?” Dr. Lopez asked the breeder.

  Mrs. Mumford smiled and said, “Here is the situation. I can see you would be a very good family for one of our puppies. Usually we have one or two interviews before placing a pup. But we had a last-minute cancellation just this morning, and if you are ready to accept a puppy into your home, there is one available.”

  “Seriously?” exclaimed Zoe, her eyes opening wide. We made it to step number three already?

  Carl was so relaxed he was snoozing on her shoulder. But he must have sensed Zoe’s excitement because at that moment, he lifted his head and gave her a tiny puppy kiss on her cheek. Zoe was so touched, she practically cried in front of everyone. Please let it be Carl, she prayed. Press already loves him. And Mama. And me.

  Dr. Lopez had never seen her strong, quiet daughter display so much emotion. She turned to Press.

  “May I ask which puppy is available?” he asked.

  Mrs. Mumford walked over to Zoe. “Yes, it’s this big fellow, Carl,” she said, petting the puppy’s head. “He’s a good fit for you. He loves company and attention. If you wish, you may take him home now. He’s had all his shots. Come into my office, and I’ll give you a list of supplies, care instructions, food for a few days, and a blanket. Or would you prefer to go shopping today and pick him up tomorrow?”

  “No! We’ll take him now!” cried Zoe, cuddling him close.

  “We have Sullivan’s puppy crate!” cried Olivia. “Carl can have it!”

  Zoe’s parents laughed. “Well, I guess that’s settled,” said her mother with a smile. “Although this is happening very fast.”

  Press was smiling too. “Yes, it is. But let’s go into your office, Mrs. Mumford, and go over everything. Zoe, maybe you should be thinking of names, or is Carl the right one?”

  “I love the name Carl,” she answered right away. “Carlos Santana Lopez MacNab, that’s who you are. Carl MacNab for short,” she told the puppy.

  “Carl it is,” said Press, heading out of
the room with Dr. Lopez and Mrs. Mumford. “We’ll be back soon. Take care of him.”

  “We will!” the girls promised.

  “Olivia, let’s sit on the floor with him. I think Carl wants to play,” said Zoe.

  Olivia plopped down beside her and reached out for Carl. “Wow, Zoe, I can’t believe you’re getting a puppy today.”

  “You can’t believe it?” replied Zoe. “I’m totally blown away!”

  “And he’s Sullivan’s brother!” pointed out Olivia. “Wait till I tell my mom and dad.”

  “Look, Olivia,” said Zoe, “Carl’s neck band is the same pattern and colors as the friendship bracelet you’re wearing.”

  Olivia looked down at the blue-and-white bracelet, the one her mom’s friend Dawn made for her. It was all seriously awesome!

  Chapter 18

  Austen’s older brother pulled up to Zoe’s house, and Austen jumped out of the passenger side of the truck. “See you later, Ryan,” he cried, slamming the door. “Tell Mom I’ll ask Uncle Press for a ride home.”

  Just by luck, Austen and Ryan were passing through Katonah on their way back from Klumpie’s Sports Equipment with Austen’s new sneakers when he got Zoe’s text: Brb in 30 with pup. Can u meet us?

  When he didn’t see Uncle Press’s car in the driveway, he headed to the front porch steps to wait.

  Getting a puppy is so cool, thought Austen, although he could barely remember when they got Kobe, their giant chocolate Lab, who was almost eight now. It was hard for him to imagine that huge one-hundred-pound bruiser as a puppy.

  As the sun moved farther west, leafy oak trees started to shade the deep front porch. Austen brushed back the mop of blond curls from his face, stretched out his long legs, and relaxed. His day had gone by fast, but then, they always did when he was helping at the community garden. This morning was the first session of the compost workshop, and the staff had been surprised by how big the turnout was, so he had been busy.

  Just hope I’m not too stinky, he thought, brushing off his cargo shorts again.

  He’d stayed about an extra hour, but it was OK. His family’s place, Horizon Farm in North Salem, was an easy bike ride to the garden. But the town center in Katonah was about eight miles away, too far by bike his mom said. Besides, the main roads were too busy.

  Yesterday Olivia said that dude Ethan wanted to start this THREADS club, he thought. That won’t work for me if we always have to meet way down here in the village. Still, it sounds like it could be cool.

  It’s funny how much time he’d been spending in Katonah’s town center that summer, since Cousin Zoe and Aunt Camila had moved in along with Press. Before that, he didn’t actually get to see too much of Zoe. She had lived so far away and had always been moving to different parts of Colorado. Now, when middle school started in September, he’d be seeing even more of Zoe—and her new friend Olivia.

  A Jeep stopped at the curb and a girl about his age with super-long blond hair opened the front passenger door. “Wait here, Anna,” she barked at the driver and then turned toward the house. Instantly, she stopped. One glimpse at Austen, with his golden curls, light-aqua T-shirt, and long tanned legs and, like a dimmer switch, her scowl became a big, bright smile.

  “Oh, hi. I thought I left my lip gloss here,” she said coming closer. “Is Zoe home?”

  “No, they’re all out,” he answered.

  She flicked a long, blond tress over her shoulder and said sweetly, “Really? Well, who are you?”

  “Her cousin,” replied Austen, thinking, She’s a little pushy.

  “OMG!” she said with a squeal. “Zoe told me about you. We were supposed to play tennis.” Then Elin looked down. “OMG!” she cried again. “We have matching friendship bracelets. We’re twins! Look!” She pointed to her ankle and his. They were both wearing a dark-blue, light-green, and orange Mega Diamond XXOO.

  “Zoe gave me this,” she gushed. “Is that how you got yours?”

  The lady in the Jeep beeped impatiently and shouted out the window, “Elin, you come now. Your mother is waiting.”

  “Oh, that’s just Anna, our au pair. Don’t mind her,” Elin said with a wave of her hand. “I’m Elin, that’s spelled E-L-I-N,” she told him.

  Just then, Press’s SUV turned into the driveway. They were back with the puppy! Austen jumped up and called out, “Hey, welcome home,” and then ran over.

  Elin looked surprised that he would just take off like that, but Anna started beeping again, so she got back into the Jeep and they drove away.

  Press pulled the car to a very gentle stop, and then Austen opened the door to the backseat. The sleepy pup was cuddled on Zoe’s lap. “Wow! He is so little!” Austen said, leaning in. “Oh, hey. Hi, Olivia,” he added.

  “This is Carl,” Zoe announced in an excited voice. “Say hello to your cousin Austen,” she told the puppy.

  “Carl! Great name!” Austen laughed. “Can I hold him?” He took Carl in his arms and said, “Hey, big buddy. Hello.”

  Zoe’s mother looked over with a smile. “Why not take Carl into the backyard, Niña? It’s fenced in, but keep him very close,” she suggested. “We’ll be with you in a minute. Press and I need to go over the shopping list.”

  Zoe and Olivia slowly walked to the backyard with Austen. Olivia noticed that he was not going to let go of the pup and smiled to herself. Good with animals, she thought. Nice quality.

  When they were almost at the back gate, Zoe asked him, “Was that Elin Pierson out front?”

  “Who?” Austen replied.

  “Girl with long, blond hair?” she added, trying to get the gate latch open.

  “Oh, yeah, that girl. I think that was her name, spelled E-L-I-N?”

  Olivia smiled in relief. Guess Austen wasn’t another instant conquest for the most popular girl in fifth grade, she thought. She reached out to help unlatch the gate, as it always gave people trouble, and they headed to the lawn area.

  Back out in the driveway, Press was checking out the long list of puppy supplies. “Food, bowls, brush, leash, collar—this is like having a baby!”

  Dr. Lopez laughed. “So true. Just remember you said you would get up when Carl wakes up in the middle of the night and has to go out to the yard.”

  Press laughed. “Oh, right. But, Camila, who was that girl with the very long hair talking to Austen when we drove up?”

  “Elin Pierson. Remember I told you her mother owns the beauty salon, Magic Tresses? Maybe she’ll be another new friend for Zoe,” replied Dr. Lopez with a smile. “Although I wonder… I think Austen likes Olivia. The way they we’re hanging out yesterday—”

  “What?” interrupted Press. “Aren’t they way too young for that?”

  “Oh, honey, you have so much to learn,” laughed Zoe’s mom. “Now let’s get going. Maybe Austen and Olivia can stay for dinner? That would be nice for Zoe.”

  “Hey, Uncle Press, can you give me a ride home later?” said Austen, coming around to the front. “My mom just texted.”

  “Sure,” said Press, putting away the shopping list.

  “And Zoe says don’t forget the poop bags and the puppy wipes.”

  “OK, OK.” He laughed. “Anything else?”

  “Don’t think so,” said Austen and headed back to the yard, where Zoe and Olivia had put their feet together and created a little corral for Carl on the lawn.

  Olivia was laughing, “Carl, Carl, let go of my hair. Let go.” Carl had grabbed hold of her ponytail and was tugging on it.

  “Yipes,” said Austen. “I’ll hold the ponytail. You hold the puppy,” he said to Zoe.

  Gently, they pulled the two apart. Austen couldn’t help noticing how silky Olivia’s hair felt. Carl, you’re the man, he thought.

  Chapter 19

  “Yuck! What is this I just stepped in?” cried Ethan. He raised his foot and frowned at the sole of
his sneaker.

  “I’m so sorry,” said Zoe, reaching for the roll of paper towels. “We’re trying to train Carl.”

  The first official meeting of THREADS was having a little trouble getting underway. Because of the puppy’s arrival, all had agreed to relocate from Katonah Crafts and meet in Zoe’s backyard instead.

  “Come here, Carl,” said Austen, squatting down. “I’ll put him in his area over there, OK?” He lifted the puppy and put him down in the enclosure Press had made on the lawn with a low garden fence.

  “And I’ll sit here,” said Zoe, pointing to a chair at the big, round patio table, “where I can keep my eye on him.”

  Underneath the large umbrella in the middle of the table, craft supplies and instruction sheets were spread out. Once Austen rejoined the group, they turned to Ethan.

  “OK,” he said, “here’s the 411, which I think Olivia already told you. Maybe we can help some of the kids over in the Central Hospital with friendship bracelets. You know, bring them some or teach them how to do it? Olivia’s mom has already given us flosses and instruction sheets to start.”

  Everyone nodded the same way they would have if they’d been listening to a teacher in school.

  Zoe started looking through the instruction sheets. “So, Ethan, how does this actually work on the hospital side of things? I’m not clear on that,” she asked, trying to understand the scope of the project.

  Ethan was busy dividing the flosses into four equal piles.

  “What do you mean?” he asked without looking up.

  “I guess what I mean is, don’t we have to get permission to go up to patients’ rooms?” she replied. “We can’t just walk in, right? Why don’t we make a list of all the steps involved here, kind of like a game plan?”

  When Ethan didn’t reply, Austen said, “Once we figure out what all the steps are, we can decide who does what, right? I already spoke to my mom. She’s in administration there, and she said we should meet with them once we come up with a plan.”