Jessie’s Big Idea
Jessie loved Bart. She played catch with him. She fed
him. She filled his bowl with water. She brushed his shiny
coat. She scratched him behind the ears. Jessie did almost
everything for Bart. But there was one thing Jessie couldn’t
do. She couldn’t walk Bart.
“You’re too little to walk that big dog,” said Dad.
“You can walk him when you’re bigger,” said Mom.
So every day, Dad walked Bart. Jessie walked with them. When she saw her friend Allison walking her little white poodle, she would smile and say, “Hi, Allison! Hi Gigi!” When she saw her friend Conner walking his beagle, she would wave and shout, “Hello, Conner! Hello, Floppy!” When she saw her friend Mandy walking her cocker spaniel, she would call out, “Hello, Mandy! Hello, Ginger!” If only Bart were as little as her friends’ dogs, she would be able to walk him.
One day Dad was too sick to walk Bart. “I’ll walk him,” said Mom. But just as they were leaving, the phone rang. Grandma needed Mom right away.
“I’m
sorry, Bart,” said Mom. “I guess you won’t
get a walk today.” Bart’s tail drooped. Bart’s
ears drooped. Even Bart’s eyes drooped. He stood by
the door and whined.
“Poor Bart,” said Jessie. “You want to go for a walk, don’t you?” She rolled a ball to Bart, but Bart didn’t want to play. He lay down on his blanket.
“Poor Bart,” said Jessie. “I wish I could walk you.” Jessie brushed Bart’s back. She brushed Bart’s sides. She even brushed Bart’s tail, but the big dog just stared sadly at the door.
“Poor Bart,” said Jessie. “If I were bigger . . .” Jessie stopped. She had an idea. She called Allison and Conner and Mandy on the telephone.
The three friends arrived at Jessie’s apartment. Each of them carried a leash. Jessie found Bart’s leash. She fastened the four leashes to Bart’s collar. Bart’s eyes sparkled. Bart’s ears perked up. Bart’s tail wagged.
“What’s
going on?” asked Mom, walking into the apartment.
“Mom, may we walk Bart?” asked Jessie.
Mom looked at the big happy dog and the four happy friends.
“What a clever idea,” she said. “May I follow along?”
“Yes!” shouted Jessie.
“Woof!” barked Bart.
