What the Moon Said by Gayle Rosengren Read Free Book Online Page A

uncertainly.
    â€œIt’s all right,” Esther reassured the dog. “I won’t hurt you.”
    He couldn’t have understood the words, but he seemed to understand the feeling behind them. The dog came the rest of the way to Esther. He thrust his muzzle into her outstretched hand and licked it. Esther was so thrilled, her heart nearly stopped.
    â€œSo, you have found a friend.” Pa’s voice came soft behind her.
    The dog raised startled eyes. Esther threw her arms around him so he wouldn’t run away. “I can keep him, Pa, can’t I? Please. Please!”
    Slowly Pa came and squatted at Esther’s side. He frowned. “Dobbs never told me he was leaving him. I hired the neighbor boy to feed the animals until we came. But I never said anything to him about a dog. He must be hungry.”
    Esther hugged the dog closer. Suddenly, beneath his shaggy coat, she felt ribs poking up under his skin. Horrified, she leaped to her feet. “We have to feed him fast, Pa! He’s starving!”
    â€œEasy,
Liebling,
” Pa said, laying a hand on Esther’s shoulder. “You will frighten him.” He stood up. “Wait here. I will be right back.”
    Esther watched impatiently as Pa strode into the house. She knelt down again to encircle the dog’s body with her arms. “Don’t worry, boy. You’ll have something to eat soon. I promise.”
    But a moment later, Ma appeared in the doorway. Esther’s breath caught in her throat. Ma was going to tell her to shoo the dog away! That’s what she always did when Esther brought home stray dogs and cats. She probably had told Pa not to feed him, either.
    Esther could imagine it plainly.
“Nu,”
she must have said, “we have no food to waste on dogs. Besides, if we feed him, he will never go away.” She always said that in the city, adding, “Don’t worry. He will find food somewhere.” And in the city there were lots of other people to take pity on an animal. But here there was only them.
    Esther tightened her hold around the dog. She watched Ma come nearer and nearer. Esther squeezed the dog so tight, he whimpered and tried to pull away. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. She loosened her grip a little and scratched behind the dog’s ears to keep him still. But her eyes never left Ma. Esther’s heart thudded faster still. She would die if Ma told her she could not keep this dog. She would truly die.
    Ma stopped in front of Esther. She frowned and Esther went cold all over.
    â€œPlease, Ma,” she burst out. “It’s the country, not the city. Please say he can stay. Please!”
    Ma shook her head, and Esther’s last flicker of hope died.
“Nu,”
Ma said, “why do you cry?”
    Esther blinked. She hadn’t realized she
was
crying until Ma told her. Hastily she wiped her eyes on the back of one hand. But the other hand held tight to the dog. He was looking up at Ma, wagging his tail. He didn’t know Ma did not want him. He didn’t know she wanted to send him away. His brown eyes were full of trust.
    â€œAt least let me feed him,” Esther begged. “I promised him food. He’s really hungry, Ma, and there’s nobody else, and—” Esther stopped abruptly as Ma held up one hand.
    â€œHush,” said Ma quietly. Then she did a strange thing. She reached out and stroked the dog’s head.
    Esther blinked in astonishment. “But I thought you didn’t like dogs.” The words popped out before Esther could stop them.
    Ma raised her eyebrows at Esther. “I don’t like dogs in the city,” she said firmly. “But on a farm it is different.” She smiled as the dog licked her hand. Then she took a step backward and nodded. “He will make a good watchdog.”
    Ma had turned and started back to the house before Esther could believe she’d heard right. The dog could stay. He