That Furball Puppy and Me by Carol Wallace, Bill Wallance Read Free Book Online

between the kitchen and the living room. Her feet stomped across the floor. I peeked from one eye, just in time to see her spat the puppy on his fuzzy little rump. Then she put him out back and slammed the door.
    â€œJust look at what that dog did! He must have been up all night. He’s going to have to stay outside. I don’t have time to clean up a mess like this every day!”
    â€œYap! Yap! Let me in! It’s cold out here. I need in!” Small puppy claws hit against the door.
    â€œYou didn’t have anything to do with this, did you, Gray?” I stayed as still as I could when Daddy walked toward me.
    â€œOf course not!” Crossing my paws in front of me and yawning, I tried to purr as loud as I could.
    Daddy tilted his head to the side and looked at me through squinty eyes. “You need to go out anyway, mister.” Daddy picked me up and put me out the front door.
    Cold north wind hit me in the face. Shaking, I stood near the end of the porch. I fluffed up my fur, trying to keep warm. I could hear the puppy whining and whimpering in the backyard. My plan worked. He was out of
my
house.
    But for some reason I didn’t feel as good as I thought I should. I mean, why wasn’t I happy?
    The yard was still covered with snow. It was cold and stuck to my paws. The sky was gray and gloomy. With a jerk of my tail, I stood up straight and tall.
You did good, Gray,
I told myself. Trying to feel proud and happy (but not quite feeling that way), I marched off to check out my favorite places.
    When I got back, Callie was on the rocking chair. She did not look happy.

CHAPTER 8
    C allie growled low in her throat. “What did you do to that poor puppy? Mama shut him up in that little pen way out in the backyard. She didn’t even talk to him when she left.” Callie flattened her ears against her head. “She threw
me
out while she cleaned up the mess!”
    I flipped my tail in the air and turned my back on her. “I helped him tear up the kitchen. It was fun! I love watching that stupid mutt run around in circles chasing his tail!”
    â€œYou should be ashamed of yourself, Gray! That little dog is just a baby. He hasn’t been away from his mother very long. Can’t you remember how you felt when you first came here? You were pretty lonely trying to figure out how things worked in this house. It wasn’t that longago when
I
had to teach you about the house rules.”
    Callie tried to fluff her thin fur against the icy wind. She looked away from me into the cold white yard. I wiggled my whiskers.
    â€œIt was fun! Besides, that dog is taking
my
time away from Mama. She sits and rubs that stupid ball of fur when I should be getting tummy rubs. I want my time back. It’s my house, not that dumb puppy’s!”
    Callie shook her head. “You’d better think about this. You may be the one outside all the time. You’re not a baby anymore. The puppy is. Besides that, the house is big enough for all of us. I’ve shared with lots of other dogs and cats. It takes a little getting used to, but Mama and Daddy have more than enough rubs to go around!”
    The snow crunched when I stepped from the porch. My warm paws made some of it stick to my feet.
    â€œWell, it worked didn’t it? The puppy is out!”
    Callie’s tail flipped from side to side. “I guess it did! But we’re out, too!”
    Callie’s glare followed me as I walked toward the pine trees. I would take a quick mouse hunt. Mama would be happy to find a nice trophy on the porch!
    My ears perked as I crept closer to the trees.The mice were hiding under the pine needles and snow. Crouching as low as I could, I wiggled my body closer to the soft mouse sounds. One little mouse was snuggled near the tree trunk. He stayed hidden under the brush. I slapped at the spot where I thought the mouse was. He must have been fast, as I only scooped up sharp needles into my paw. It