Smells Like Dog by Suzanne Selfors Read Free Book Online Page A

person who has nothing to do. Without supervision, that dog’s certain to eat something poisonous and the next time it might kill him.”
    “I’m not watching him,” Gwendolyn said. “I’m way too busy.”
    “I’ll watch him,” Squeak said.
    Mrs. Pudding gave her youngest son a hug. “That’svery helpful of you, Squeak, but it’s Homer’s dog. Homer will watch him.”
    “Homer?” Gwendolyn said. “How’s he gonna watch a dog? He doesn’t pay attention to anything but his maps.”
    “I didn’t know how to take care of a baby until I had one,” Mrs. Pudding said. “But I figured it out and I’m sure Homer can learn how to take care of this dog.” She tousled Homer’s curly locks. “Why don’t you come inside, Dr. Huckle, and I’ll make us a nice pitcher of lemonade. I’ve got some molasses cookies just out of the oven.”
    “Make sure your dog drinks plenty of water,” Dr. Huckle told Homer. “He should be feeling better by morning.”
    “You’d best get a bucket, Homer, and clean up that broken glass before one of the goats steps in it,” Mr. Pudding said.
    The ammonia’s sharp stench drifted away as Homer cleared the glass. While everyone else enjoyed molasses cookies in the Pudding kitchen, Homer sat next to Dog. They stared into each other’s eyes—one pair bright blue, the other pair brown and watery. Homer had been so focused on the gold coin, he hadn’t thought much about the dog. Had Uncle Drake known that hecouldn’t smell? Maybe Dog wouldn’t be much use on an expedition, but he’d proven useful as a delivery boy. An immediate fondness filled Homer as he realized that this dog, with its long ears and loose skin, with its big head and short legs, was different from all other dogs.
    And as it has happened throughout history, and as it will continue to happen, two outsiders found one another.
    “I’ll watch over you,” Homer said.
    “Urrrr.”

The Unexpected Invitation
     
    I n an attempt to cheer up her husband, who was still reeling from the news of his only brother’s untimely passing, Mrs. Pudding made chicken and dumplings for supper, which was the Pudding family’s favorite meal. Mr. Pudding sat at the head of the table, a pile of mail at his elbow. His gaze darted to his brother’s loafers, which sat in a corner. Homer, at the other end of the table, tried not to look at the shoes.
    “How did things go at school today?” Mrs. Puddingasked as she set bowls on the table. “Did everyone enjoy your frog presentation?”
    Gwendolyn sat extra slumped. “
Someone
ruined my presentation by acting weird.” She narrowed her eyes at Homer. He shifted nervously. Maybe his sister would be nice for once and not tell on him.
    “Gwendolyn Maybel Pudding, it’s not polite to call another person weird,” Mrs. Pudding said.
    “What would you call a person who saw a cloud with eyeballs? ’Cause I know what I’d call that person.” Gwendolyn tapped her spoon against the table, waiting for a response. Homer held his breath. Squeak giggled.
    “I’d call that person not right in the head,” Mr. Pudding said.
    Gwendolyn sat up straight and jabbed her spoon in Homer’s direction. “Well guess what? That person was Homer, and he announced it to the entire class right when I was about to give my presentation. I almost died.”
    Mrs. Pudding gasped. Mr. Pudding looked down the table and scowled. “Homer? You told the entire class that you saw a cloud with eyeballs? What’s the matter with you?”
    What’s the matter with you?
Homer had been asked that question many times in his life, but he’d never come up with an answer.
What’s the matter with you?
is easy toanswer if your nose is bleeding or your foot has suddenly fallen off. “There’s nothing the matter with me,” he said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin Gwendolyn’s presentation.”
    “Of course there’s nothing the matter with you,” Mrs. Pudding said.
    “I want to see a cloud with eyeballs,”