see how she and Yum-Yum are doing.
When I walk by the window, Jane comes to the door and waves to me. Her eyes look red, as if she’s been crying. But she gives me a smile. “Come on in.”
I start to tie Sneakers to a bike rack out front, but Jane calls out, “Oh, don’t be silly. This is a dog-friendly salon. Bring him in!”
“Are you sure?”
Jane nods and waves us in. “Sure I’m sure. Come on inside!”
Sneakers and I go in.
“I was just sweeping up from my last customer,” Jane says as she picks up the broom. She’s already swept up a huge pile of silvery blond hair.
“It’s almost enough to make another Yum-Yum,” I joke—without thinking.
Jane just smiles wistfully as she sweeps the hair into a dustpan. “Listen, Zoe,” she says as she dumps the hair in the trash. “I talked to the staff of the children’s hospital. I—I’d like to take Yum-Yum in to say good-bye to the kids because…” She forces a cheerful smile. “Because it might be a while before he can go back to see all his fans.”
“I’m sure they’ll be glad to see him,” I say.
Jane nods, then cocks her head to one side and stares at Sneakers. “You know, Zoe, Sneakers is really so cute. And look how well he’s behaving.”
It’s true. He’s sitting there beside me like a true little gentleman. It’s probably because he’s worn out from our walk, but I don’t mention that.
“You know what we could do?”
“What?”
She shrugs casually. “We could take Sneakers along to the hospital with us.”
“Sneakers?” I say in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding!”
Jane laughs. “Yes, Sneakers. He’s a wonderful dog, and I think he has real potential. Normally you have to take a dog through a training program before he’s allowed to go into the hospital on a regular basis,” Jane explains. “But the folks on the children’s ward are pretty happy to get any kind of help in cheering up those kids. I don’t think they’d mind a quick little visit, just to see if you and Sneakers like it. Who knows? You might decide you want to do formal training. Come on—what do you think?”
What do I think? I’m not sure. I look at that rascal Sneakers and wonder if he can do it. If I can do it.
But then Sneakers barks, and the sound is so cheerful and full of life.
Maybe he could do some good. Maybe he could even make Emma laugh.
Wouldn’t that show Maggie and Gran!
“Come on, Sneakers!” I say. “Let’s give it a try!”
Chapter Eight
• • • • • • • • • • • •
W hat a cute little dog!” Nurse Bennett says when we arrive at the hospital. “You know, we usually only let in trained therapy pets. Although sometimes we let parents bring in a child’s pet.”
“We won’t stay long,” Jane says. “But if things go well, we might have a new therapy dog in training here.”
“That we can sure use!” Nurse Bennett says. “All right, just this once.”
I cross my fingers for luck and smile down at my dog. So far Sneakers is behaving perfectly, copying Yum-Yum’s every move. Yum-Yum istrying his best to put on a good show, but he seems a little tired.
“Do you have any advice on how I should talk to the kids about Yum-Yum’s cancer?” Jane asks.
“Well, we’ve broken the news to them already,” Nurse Bennett says. “They’re pretty upset about it. But these kids have seen it all. So mostly, I’d say just answer their questions honestly.”
I brace myself for a really sad time.
But as we walk down the hall, kids stream out of their rooms to greet Yum-Yum. They’ve made him get-well cards and posters. Everyone seems to want to hold him and talk to him and give him advice about his treatment.
Jane is as amazed as I am. “I guess in some ways, they feel even closer to Yum-Yum than before—since they share the same disease.”
The kids are happy to meet Yum-Yum’s “good buddy Sneakers,” too. I cross my fingers again. So far Sneakers is
When I walk by the window, Jane comes to the door and waves to me. Her eyes look red, as if she’s been crying. But she gives me a smile. “Come on in.”
I start to tie Sneakers to a bike rack out front, but Jane calls out, “Oh, don’t be silly. This is a dog-friendly salon. Bring him in!”
“Are you sure?”
Jane nods and waves us in. “Sure I’m sure. Come on inside!”
Sneakers and I go in.
“I was just sweeping up from my last customer,” Jane says as she picks up the broom. She’s already swept up a huge pile of silvery blond hair.
“It’s almost enough to make another Yum-Yum,” I joke—without thinking.
Jane just smiles wistfully as she sweeps the hair into a dustpan. “Listen, Zoe,” she says as she dumps the hair in the trash. “I talked to the staff of the children’s hospital. I—I’d like to take Yum-Yum in to say good-bye to the kids because…” She forces a cheerful smile. “Because it might be a while before he can go back to see all his fans.”
“I’m sure they’ll be glad to see him,” I say.
Jane nods, then cocks her head to one side and stares at Sneakers. “You know, Zoe, Sneakers is really so cute. And look how well he’s behaving.”
It’s true. He’s sitting there beside me like a true little gentleman. It’s probably because he’s worn out from our walk, but I don’t mention that.
“You know what we could do?”
“What?”
She shrugs casually. “We could take Sneakers along to the hospital with us.”
“Sneakers?” I say in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding!”
Jane laughs. “Yes, Sneakers. He’s a wonderful dog, and I think he has real potential. Normally you have to take a dog through a training program before he’s allowed to go into the hospital on a regular basis,” Jane explains. “But the folks on the children’s ward are pretty happy to get any kind of help in cheering up those kids. I don’t think they’d mind a quick little visit, just to see if you and Sneakers like it. Who knows? You might decide you want to do formal training. Come on—what do you think?”
What do I think? I’m not sure. I look at that rascal Sneakers and wonder if he can do it. If I can do it.
But then Sneakers barks, and the sound is so cheerful and full of life.
Maybe he could do some good. Maybe he could even make Emma laugh.
Wouldn’t that show Maggie and Gran!
“Come on, Sneakers!” I say. “Let’s give it a try!”
Chapter Eight
• • • • • • • • • • • •
W hat a cute little dog!” Nurse Bennett says when we arrive at the hospital. “You know, we usually only let in trained therapy pets. Although sometimes we let parents bring in a child’s pet.”
“We won’t stay long,” Jane says. “But if things go well, we might have a new therapy dog in training here.”
“That we can sure use!” Nurse Bennett says. “All right, just this once.”
I cross my fingers for luck and smile down at my dog. So far Sneakers is behaving perfectly, copying Yum-Yum’s every move. Yum-Yum istrying his best to put on a good show, but he seems a little tired.
“Do you have any advice on how I should talk to the kids about Yum-Yum’s cancer?” Jane asks.
“Well, we’ve broken the news to them already,” Nurse Bennett says. “They’re pretty upset about it. But these kids have seen it all. So mostly, I’d say just answer their questions honestly.”
I brace myself for a really sad time.
But as we walk down the hall, kids stream out of their rooms to greet Yum-Yum. They’ve made him get-well cards and posters. Everyone seems to want to hold him and talk to him and give him advice about his treatment.
Jane is as amazed as I am. “I guess in some ways, they feel even closer to Yum-Yum than before—since they share the same disease.”
The kids are happy to meet Yum-Yum’s “good buddy Sneakers,” too. I cross my fingers again. So far Sneakers is
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