Anna All Year Round by Mary Downing Hahn, Diane de Groat

his front door. "Anna," he shouts. "Wait for me. I'll help you!"
    At the same moment, Aunt May hurries toward Anna, but Anna is too fast. Before anyone can stop her, she hurls the water on Fritzi and Duke.
    The dogs are so surprised they jump apart. Anna grabs Fritzi's collar. It takes all her strength to hold him. Just in time, Charlie grabs Duke's collar. He has to hold tight, too.
    The dogs stand on their hind legs. They bark and growl. They show their big, sharp teeth. Anna knows they are calling each other names too terrible to think about.
    Aunt May gets a firm grip on Fritzi. "Are you all right, Fritzi?" she asks. "Did the nasty bad dog hurt
mein kleiner Zuckerwürfel?
"
    Mother climbs down from the ladder and presses her hand to her heart. Her face is as pale as her white apron. "Anna," she whispers. "
Ach, mein Liebling,
don't ever do something like that again! I thought you'd be killed for certain."
    In the midst of the confusion, Mrs. Anderson runs out of her house. She pushes Charlie aside and takes charge of Duke. "You'd better do something about that ugly brute of yours!" she yells at Aunt May. "If he's hurt my collie, I'll sue you for every cent you have!"
    Aunt May's face turns bright red. "How dare you blame Fritzi? It's all Duke's fault," she shouts. "He struts past our window every single day, putting on airs and teasing poor Fritzi! Why don't you keep him home where he belongs?"
    Mrs. Anderson sticks her long narrow nose up in the air. She looks exactly like Duke. "My dog has just as much right to walk past your house as I have," she says in a persnickety voice.
    "Tell that to the dogcatcher!" Aunt May says. Before Mrs. Anderson can think of a reply, Aunt May drags Fritzi into the house. From behind the closed window, he barks a few more insults at Duke.
    Mrs. Anderson scowls at Anna and Charlie. She doesn't thank them for stopping the fight. Holding Duke's collar, she leads her precious dog home. Anna notices Duke doesn't hold his head high nor does he mince along as if his paws are too good to touch the pavement. He walks slowly, limping a little, his tail between his legs.
    Serves you right, Anna thinks.
    "I'm on my way to the corner market to buy a quart of milk," Charlie says. "Would you like to go with me, Anna? I'll treat you to a big jawbreaker."
    Just as Anna is about to run off with Charlie, Mother grabs her arm and says, "
Nein, nein,
Anna. You've had enough excitement for one day. Go inside and lie down for a while."
    "But, Mother—"
    Mother interrupts her. "You heard me, Anna. A rest is what you need, not jawbreakers."
    "I'll see you later," Charlie says. He backs away from Mother, waves to Anna, and runs down the hill toward North Avenue.
    Dragging her feet, Anna goes inside with Mother. She hopes Charlie won't treat Rosa to what should be Anna's jawbreaker.
    ***
    That afternoon, Anna looks out the window just as Uncle Henry drives up in Mr. Sinclair's limousine. Anna watches Uncle Henry go into his house. In a few minutes, he comes outside with Fritzi.
    Uncle Henry sees Anna at the window and grins. To her surprise, he knocks on Anna's door. Anna runs to open it. Mother is right behind her.
    "Halloo, Lizzie,"Uncle Henry says. "Halloo, Anna."
    "
Guten tag,
" Mother says. She sounds as puzzled as Anna feels. Neither Anna nor Mother knows why Uncle Henry and Fritzi have come calling in the middle of the afternoon.
    "I understand Anna was a heroine this morning," Uncle Henry says.
    "Anna was very foolish," Mother says. "She could have been torn limb from limb by those vicious dogs."
    Fritzi wags his tail as if he wants to show Mother how sweet he is, but Mother doesn't look at him. She dislikes poor Fritzi more than ever.
    "I'd like to reward Anna by giving her something she's wanted for a long time," Uncle Henry says. "May I have your permission to take your brave daughter for a spin in my chariot?"
    Anna's eyes open wide and her heart beats fast, but Mother frowns. "I don't approve of