Fenway and Hattie by Victoria J. Coe

roaring, the booming . . . louder and louder. It’s the Big Brown Truck again! It pulls right up to the walk, obviously following us. How dare it return!
    I spring up and bare my teeth, pulling on the leash. “I warned you not to come back!” I bark.
    An Evil Human hops down from the truck, carrying a package. He heads right toward us, as if he can’t even hear me.
    I leap wildly. “Prepare for certain doom!”
    â€œFEN-way! Sit! Sit! Sit!” Hattie yells, tugging on the leash. Does she have no faith in me?
    As I lunge, ready to strike, the Evil Human tosses the package at Hattie. Then, he pivots and hurries back to the Big Brown Truck.
    What can I say? Clearly, he was freaked out by the ferocious barking. After a horribly sinister
ROAR!
the Big Brown Truck rattles away.
    â€œAnd don’t even think about coming back!” I bark, swaggering up the steps after a job well done.
    Hattie whisks me through the door, full of glee. She’s obviously thrilled I scared away that nasty beast.
    She unclips the leash, and we burst into the Lounging Place. Fetch Man stops loading books onto a shelf. Squealing, Hattie rips open the package. She pulls out something soft. A cap!
    She tucks it onto her head and pulls her bushy hair through a hole in the back like a fluffy tail. She smells awfully excited about it. So does Fetch Man.
    And that’s not all. Hattie reaches back into the package and produces a fat glove that smells like newleather. She slides her hand into it, then starts punching it. Fetch Man grins, like he’s been waiting his whole life for this very moment.
    It’s so disturbing. My Hattie doesn’t wear a cap or a fat leathery glove. What’s going on?
    As I sink into the carpet, Hattie runs back and opens the front door. She calls to Fetch Man one single word: “Angel!”

Later I’m out in our Dog Park, scratching my ear, when I spy a despicable squirrel. And then another, even bigger than the first!
    The two odious rodents are chasing each other through the grass. Where they know they don’t belong!
    I spring to my feet. Their fluffy tails are waving and taunting. I race after them, watching them disappear into a nearby shrub. Do they actually think they can hide from me? Well, they’re about to learn a Very Big Lesson.
    â€œNo squirrels allowed!” I bark, thrusting my snout into the shrubby foliage. “Do you hear me?”
    But obviously, they don’t. They’re tumbling and battling, spitting and screeching at each other.
“Chipper, chatter, squawk!”
    â€œI’ve got you now!” I bark, plunging in deeper.
    The shrub crackles and rustles. The squirrels scamper out the back and scoot across the Dog Park. Do they think they can escape? “Ha! You can’t outsmart me!” I bark. I back out of the shrub, shaking leaves off my coat.
    The two nasty vermin chase each other through the grass. I’m hot on their tails. They’re making for the giant tree. They fly up the trunk, clacking and squawking.
    I leap against the bark, panting and straining as they scurry up into the leafy branches. No doubt headed for the squirrel house to continue their fight. “Good riddance!” I bark.
    Whew. That was tiring work. I curl up along one of the tree’s big roots in the cool, refreshing shade. I’m about to doze off when I hear a wonderful creaking sound. I lift my head. The side gate is opening!
    Whoopee! Finally, dogs are coming to play! I jump up and bolt over.
    But what I see are not dogs. It’s way more exciting—Hattie! And Angel! They’re wearing matching caps. With long tails of hair swinging in the back. And they each have a fat glove on one hand.
    Hooray! Hooray! I dash through the grass, my tail wagging out of control. “I’m so happy to see you!” I bark, jumping and pawing their legs. “I knew you’d come back!”
    Hattie and Angel exchange quick