Absolutely Lucy (3 page)

The game looked like fun. Bobby wished he could be playing with the new kids. Then he thought about going across the street and saying hello. He knew he absolutely could not do it.

Meeting new people made his heart pound fast. His face got red. Even his ears got red. He was afraid he’d do something stupid. No, it was better not to try and meet new people. Anyway, now that he had Lucy, he didn’t need any other friends.

Lucy woke up from her nap. She danced around Bobby.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” Bobby asked.

What if they went for a walk and those kids across the street tried to talk to him? What would he say?

“Are you sure you want to go?” Bobby asked Lucy.

Lucy kept on dancing.

“All right. I’ll get your leash.”

Bobby and Lucy went outside. Bobby snuck a look across the street. The children were gone.

Bobby and Lucy walked down the street. No one was around. Maybe everyone was inside, trying to keep cool.

The house on the corner was big and yellow. Old Mr. Davis lived in the house. Sometimes Bobby saw him bringing in his newspaper or weeding his garden. His garden was full of roses, day lilies, and big sunflowers that were taller than Bobby.

Mr. Davis was sitting in a rocking chair on his porch. When Bobby and Lucy walked past, Mr. Davis lifted his hand.

“Hi, Bobby,” he said in a tired voice. “What’s your dog’s name?”

“Lucy.” Bobby could feel his face starting to get red.

Lucy stood up on her hind legs and barked at the sound of her name. Bobby hurried on.

On the next block was a small park. It was mostly for little kids. The children went on the swings or played in the sandbox. Today the park was empty except for a toddler and his babysitter.

The boy was taking fast baby steps on his chubby legs. He looked like he might tumble over, but he never did.

The boy started to cry when he saw Lucy. His babysitter picked him up.

“I guess he’s afraid of dogs,” the girl said.

Bobby didn’t see how anybody could be afraid of Lucy. “She’s nice. She likes everybody,” Bobby said.

“Do you want to say hello to the doggie?” the babysitter asked the boy.

He shook his head no.

“I’m sorry,” the babysitter said to Bobby. “Would you mind taking your dog to the other side of the park?”

Bobby felt bad that the boy didn’t like Lucy. But he did what the babysitter asked. He and Lucy walked away.

Bobby sat on a park bench. He tossed a stick to Lucy.

“Fetch, Lucy,” Bobby said. He wanted to see if she would bring it back to him. She didn’t.

He looked over at the little boy. Too bad he wouldn’t give Lucy a chance. But Bobby knew it was hard to give something new a chance.

It was too hot to stay in the park for long. Slowly Bobby and Lucy walked home.

Mr. Davis was still sitting in his chair, but now his eyes were closed.
He must be sleeping
, Bobby thought. He was ready to walk by, but Lucy stopped and stood very still.

“What’s wrong?” Bobby wanted to go home and have a cool drink.

Lucy wouldn’t move. She stared at Mr. Davis. Then she pulled hard on her leash. She wanted to go up on Mr. Davis’s porch.

“No, Lucy,” Bobby said.

But Lucy wouldn’t take no for an answer. She kept tugging on her leash. Finally, Bobby followed her up the stairs.

Mr. Davis was sweating. His eyes were still closed.

“Mr. Davis?” Bobby said softly.

Mr. Davis didn’t answer.

Bobby felt scared. “Are you okay?” he asked. “Mr. Davis, can you hear me?”

Mr. Davis’s eyes fluttered. “Bobby?”

“Are you okay?” Bobby asked again.

“Bobby, go get your mother,” Mr. Davis said in a weak voice. “I don’t feel very good.”

Bobby and Lucy ran all the way home.

B
obby’s mother raced over to Mr. Davis’s house. Bobby and Lucy were right behind her.

Mr. Davis was breathing hard. “My medicine,” he gasped. “It’s on the kitchen table.”

Bobby had never seen his mother move so fast. She brought out the medicine and a glass of water. She helped Mr. Davis take his medicine.

“I’ll be better in a minute or two,” Mr. Davis said.

“I’m going to call 911,” Mrs. Quinn said.

“No, no. The medicine works fast,” he told her. “Take me into the house.”

Mrs. Quinn helped Mr. Davis inside. He sat on the couch. He was starting to look better.

“Sorry,” Mr. Davis said. “I didn’t mean to scare anybody. I was so tired, I couldn’t get inside to get my medicine.”

Mrs. Quinn turned to Bobby. “How did you know Mr. Davis was sick?”

“I didn’t,” Bobby said. “It was Lucy.”

“Lucy!” his mother exclaimed.

“She knew something was wrong,” Bobby told her. “She wouldn’t go home until we checked on Mr. Davis.”

Mr. Davis was sitting up straighter. “That little dog is a hero,” he said.

Bobby looked down at Lucy, who was sitting quietly at his feet.

“Wow, Lucy. You’re a hero.”

Mrs. Quinn gave Lucy a pat. “I should say so,” she said. “Mr. Davis, how are you feeling now?”

Mr. Davis took a deep breath. “Just about back to normal.”

“Can I call someone for you?” Mrs. Quinn asked Mr. Davis.

“My daughter, maybe,” he replied.

Bobby and his mother said they would wait with Mr. Davis until his daughter came over.

Mr. Davis had a very interesting house. Pictures of soldiers and cowboys were on the walls. Two big fish hung on the wall, too. Mr. Davis told Bobby he caught those fish when he was a boy.

The other things that filled the house were books, books, and more books. Some were in bookshelves. Some were on tables. There were piles of books on the floor. Bobby liked the book of Bible stories with shiny colored pictures.

Mr. Davis’s daughter made a fuss when she came. She thanked Bobby and his mother over and over. She thanked Lucy, too. Mr. Davis told Bobby to come by anytime.

The next day was hotter than the one before. Bobby was bored.

“Mom, will you take me to a movie?” he asked.

“I’m busy paying bills. Maybe later.”

Then Bobby had an idea.

“Do you think I should go to Mr. Davis’s house?” Bobby asked.

Mrs. Quinn looked up at him. “Do you want to?”

“His house had lots of neat stuff,” Bobby told her. “And he told me to come over anytime.”

“Yes, he did,” his mother agreed.

“I could see if he’s feeling better today,” Bobby said.

“It would be very nice of you to visit Mr. Davis,” Bobby’s mother said.

“Okay. Lucy and I will go.”

Bobby put Lucy on her leash, and they walked down the street. The closer they got to the yellow house, the louder Bobby’s heart bumped. It was one thing to help Mr. Davis when he was sick. It was another thing to stop by for a visit.

“Maybe we should just go home,” Bobby whispered to Lucy.

But Lucy pulled Bobby forward. Mr. Davis was working in his yard.

“Hello, there!” Mr. Davis called. “I’m feeling fine today. Did you come by to say hello?”

Lucy hurried toward the gate. Bobby had to run to keep up with her.

“Yes,” Bobby said. There was no turning back now.

“My daughter brought me some cookies and lemonade this morning,” Mr. Davis said as they climbed the stairs. “Would you like some?”

Bobby nodded. Bobby, Mr. Davis, and Lucy went inside. Mr. Davis got the lemonade and cookies. Bobby looked at a picture of a cowboy on the wall.

“That was my grandfather,” Mr. Davis said.

“Your grandfather was a cowboy?” Bobby asked with surprise.

“He was a cowboy in Texas after the Civil War.” He pointed to another picture. “That’s him when he was a soldier.”

“Wow,” Bobby said. “A cowboy and a soldier. All my grandfather does is work in a grocery store.”

“Would you like me to tell you about my grandfather?” Mr. Davis asked.

“Sure,” Bobby said.

Mr. Davis sat on the couch. Bobby sat next to him. Lucy snuggled between them. Mr. Davis opened a photo album that was on the table. “Now this is a picture of my grandfather when he was a boy in Ohio,” Mr. Davis began. “That little fellow with him is his friend from the next farm. They were friends for their whole lives. They even went to Texas together when they were grown up.”

Bobby liked listening to Mr. Davis’s stories. He especially liked the stories about the two young friends.

Bobby looked over at Mr. Davis. Bobby thought maybe now he had a friend. White hair. Lots of wrinkles. Old. But a friend.

“S
chool!” Bobby exclaimed. “Mom, Lucy doesn’t want to go to school!”

Bobby’s mother looked out the kitchen window at Lucy. Lucy was digging a hole in Mrs. Quinn’s garden. It was the third time this week.

“Bobby,” Mrs. Quinn said, “Lucy needs to go to obedience school.”

“She does what I tell her. Let’s go outside. I’ll show you.”

Bobby and his mother went outside. Lucy was still busy digging.

“Lucy, come. Come here, girl.”

Lucy didn’t even look up.

“Lucy,” Bobby called again.

This time Lucy did lift her head. Then she went back to digging.

Bobby went over to Lucy and picked her up. She squirmed.

“Okay, try this.” Bobby put Lucy down on the ground. “Sit, Lucy. Sit.”

Lucy looked at Bobby.

“Sit.”

Lucy lowered her tail down to the ground. She almost sat down. But she didn’t. Her tail started wagging. She jumped up. Then she ran around in a circle trying to catch her tail.

“See what I mean?” Bobby’s mother asked. “Lucy needs to learn to sit. She needs to learn to stand quietly. She needs to learn how to obey.”

“But it’s summer,” Bobby complained. “Nobody should have to go to school in the summer.”