Bella Read Online Free PDF Page A

Bella gazed up at her with innocent eyes.
    Pee? Me
?
    “I’ll be right back,” Lizzie told Bella. “I’m just going to run into the garage to find a new box.”
    The crying started before Lizzie was even out the door. Bella’s whimpers were so heartbreaking. Every time she cried, Lizzie knew she was crying for her brothers and mother.
    Lizzie dashed into the garage and rummaged around for the right-sized box, big enough so Bella would have one area for sleeping and one area for making her messes — but not so big that it wasn’t cozy, too.
    When she came back into the kitchen, the house was quiet. Bella was not crying anymore. Lizzie sighed with relief. Maybe Bella had fallenasleep on the couch, or maybe she was finally learning to be okay on her own. Either way, no crying was good news. Lizzie grabbed the chance to do what she had meant to do before: make herself a bowl of cereal and warm some formula. She bustled around the quiet kitchen as the sun’s rays began to find their way in through the windows.
    Then she stopped moving, to listen. Bella was
still
silent. Five minutes alone without crying. That was practically a record for her. Could something be wrong? Fear clutched at Lizzie’s chest. She grabbed the bottle she’d warmed and ran into the living room.
    “Oh, no!” She dashed to the couch. “Buddy, no! Bad boy.” Buddy was curled up next to Bella on the couch, one paw over the tiny puppy’s back as he licked her face.
    Lizzie picked Buddy up and put him down on the floor. “You know you’re supposed to stay awayfrom her,” she said sternly. Right away, Bella began to cry.
    Lizzie sat down on the couch and took Bella in her arms. “It’s okay, little one,” she murmured. “The big doggy didn’t mean to scare you.” Bella’s cries slowed as she settled into Lizzie’s warm lap.
    Buddy looked up at Lizzie, eyes wide and ears back, and lifted a paw.
    I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be naughty
.
    Lizzie knew just what Buddy was trying to tell her. “I know you didn’t mean to be bad,” she said, reaching out to pat Buddy’s head. Buddy scooted closer and leaned against Lizzie’s knee, licking her hand as he gazed up at her. “You really are a sweetie,” Lizzie told him. “You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
    Lizzie thought about that. Buddy really was a very gentle, sweet puppy. He had been so quiet and well-behaved around Bella, never jumpy or excited. She thought about what Tina Wu had said, that it would be hard for humans to make up for the warmth and comfort of another dog. Maybe it was wrong to keep Buddy separate from Bella. Maybe it was taking him
away
that had made the puppy cry. Maybe another dog’s company was exactly what she needed.
    Lizzie made up her mind. “Buddy, come on up,” she said, patting the couch next to her. Why not try it right now, while she was there to watch them together? Eagerly, Buddy leapt onto the couch. “Can you be a nice, gentle boy?” she asked him, looking deep into his beautiful brown eyes. Buddy did not look away. His ears perked up and he thumped his tail.
    Whatever you want, I can do it
.
    “Lie down, Buddy,” Lizzie said. Obediently, Buddy curled up on the couch. Lizzie set Bella down next to him. Right away, Bella snuggled up to Buddy’s belly. She sighed contentedly and scooched in even closer. Buddy gave her head a gentle lick and glanced up at Lizzie.
    Is that okay
?
    “That’s good, Buddy,” said Lizzie. “Good boy.” She petted him and her eyes filled with tears. So what if Buddy was a boy puppy? He could act just like a mother to Bella. Lizzie remembered pictures someone had emailed her once of a big brown dog who took care of a baby fawn. Animals could be foster parents just like people could.
    Mom and Dad were surprised when they came downstairs and saw Buddy and Bella together,but Lizzie quickly explained, telling them about how she’d met their new neighbor and how Tina had given her the idea to let Buddy cuddle with