A & L Do Summer Read Online Free PDF Page A

is panting and frothing at the mouth. I straddle him like a bow-legged cowboy and clamp onto his back with my knees. With both hands holding his collar, I haul him back with all my strength.
    He doesn’t budge.
    Based on our many dog-walking fiascos, I know how much harder Carmine pulls than I do, but I was hoping adrenaline would give me an edge. Unfortunately Carmine is drooling adrenaline, and he has the advantages of four-legged traction and actual muscle mass.
    â€œCarmine, come. Be a good boy.” His eyes roll in my direction, which means he’s hoping for a reward. Since he has a year’s supply of food within inches of his mouth, that can’t be it. Carmine eyes me again. His sides are heaving, and his tongue is hanging halfway to the floor.
    â€œAre you thirsty, boy? Want a drink of water?”
    When Carmine turns his head toward me, I know I’ve got him. Holding his collar and gurgling baby talk, I lead him down the hall to the drinking fountains. With my hip I push the rectangular button on the front of the wheelchair accessible fountain. As soon as Carmine sees the water, he stands on his hind legs and slurps.
    Now that Carmine isn’t holding the pigs hostage, they shuffle away from Laurel. Freed from the doorway, she hurries over just in time to see Carmine running his tongue all over the bottom of the fountain. “My God, Aspen! The people who drink that water have enough problems without having to deal with dog slobber!”
    As if dog drool in the basin of the water cooler is our biggest sanitary issue tonight. “If we survive this ordeal, I’ll disinfect it.”
    Carmine is straining toward the spouting water, and I wrestle him back. It’s not coming out fast enough for him and he’s looking for a way to climb in. “Find a container we can fill with water, or tomorrow people will be drinking where a dog’s butt has been!”
    â€œEeuw!” Laurel covers her mouth. She looks up and down the hall as if waiting for a parade of dog dishes to march past. “Where can we get a water bowl?”
    Holding Carmine back is making my shoulders ache, and the smell of hot, drooling dog and pig crap has my stomach bucking like a wild horse. “Let’s think. You’re standing by the teachers’ lounge where they drink liquids like coffee in…what do they call those things? Oh, yeah, coffee cups. Might that be a place to look?” I suggest in my most patient, reasonable voice.
    â€œThere’s no need to get nasty!” Laurel gives me her spooky, one-eyed glare before she opens the door to the teachers’ lounge.
    Keeping a death grip on Carmine’s collar, I check to make sure the pigs aren’t planning an attack. They’re grouped at the end of the hall staring at me with their piggy little eyes. Their huge, flappy pink ears wave like palm leaves, and their flat snouts are splattered with black Dalmatian-type spots. They’re actually cute in a pre–pork chop kind of way.
    Laurel opens the door and sticks her head out. “Good news, Aspen! There’s a unisex bathroom in here. Carmine can drink toilet water until he explodes.”
    â€œYou hear that, Carmine?” I tell him. “Lots of water!” Laurel holds the door open, and I lead Carmine in. When he sees the toilet, he springs at it and sticks his head in the bowl. I wag my head toward the hall, and Laurel and I slip out. The lounge door opens inward, so no matter how hard Carmine shoves, he’s trapped.
    â€œAn excellent idea,” I tell Laurel. “Now all we have to do is get the pigs outside.”
    â€œYeah, that’s all we have to do,” Laurel says with more sarcasm than necessary, considering she got us into this mess. She cups her hands around her mouth. “Hey, pigs, the coast is clear!” she calls. “Time to hit the road!”
    â€œVery funny. Cut back on the attitude, Pork Queen, or I’ll leave you