Cody Read Online Free PDF Page A

it was meant to be. Cody
belongs
there. I mean, he’s a Dalmatian! It’s tradition!” Lizzie had been reading all about Dalmatians and their history as “carriage dogs,” who ran alongside horse-drawn fire trucks.
    “They’ll all love him!” Maria predicted. “Especially now that he’s so much better behaved. That shows how well he can learn!”
    Cody had learned so much, so quickly. Lizzie could hardly believe it! A little over a week ago Cody had appeared on the Petersons’ doorstep, a barking, pulling, jumping bundle of energy. And today, here he was, trotting down the sidewalk between Lizzie and Maria like a perfect littlegentleman. The head harness worked perfectly! Cody was a different puppy already. Lizzie would have loved to keep him forever, but by now she knew her mom would not agree to that. Mom liked Cody, but she did
not
like the way he shed little white hairs all over everything.
    It was time to introduce Cody to the man who Lizzie and Maria — and Ms. Dobbins — believed would be the perfect owner for him. Who else but Chief Olson?
    For one thing, Lizzie knew the chief was really going to miss having Gunnar at his side every minute of every day at the firehouse.
    For another, she knew that the chief loved Dalmatians — and understood them, too! He would know just what to expect: the energy, the shedding, all of it — unlike the people who had given up Cody.
    And finally, Cody would grow up with one of the world’s best dogs — Gunnar — as a teacher and friend.
    “Maybe one day you’ll be a hero, too!” Lizzie told the prancing, spotted dog. Cody grinned up at her.
    Sure, whatever! This is fun! I don’t know where we’re going, but I can’t wait to get there!
    “Did you call Chief Olson to let him know we were coming?” Maria asked.
    Lizzie shook her head. “No, and I told Dad not to tell him, either. I want to surprise the chief. He is not going to
believe
how much Cody has already learned.”
    It took twice as long as usual to walk to the firehouse, since it seemed like everybody they passed just had to stop the girls so they could pat Cody and ask a million questions about the puppy. Cody had such a great personality! Everybody loved him.
    When the girls finally rounded the corner near the firehouse, Cody pricked up his ears and sniffedthe air. For a moment, he strained at the leash — until Lizzie gave him a little tug to remind him not to pull. “I bet he smells Gunnar!” Lizzie said.
    Cody did not hesitate when Lizzie pushed open the firehouse door. He pranced inside as if he already belonged there, tail high and ears on alert.
    “Hey, look who’s here!” Lizzie’s dad called out. “Cody! My man!” He knelt down and opened his arms, and Cody ran to him, wriggling with happiness. He gave Mr. Peterson lots of sloppy kisses with his big pink tongue.
    “Ooh, who’s this cutie?” asked Meg, a firefighter Lizzie knew well. Meg had adopted Scout, a German shepherd that the Petersons had fostered. Scout was training to be a search-and-rescue dog. Meg knelt down for kisses, too.
    Soon Cody was surrounded by firefighters. He loved all the attention. The spotted pup gave big kisses to everyone who came over to hug and pat him.
    This is the greatest! All these people love me — and I love them, too!
    Suddenly, Lizzie’s dad jumped to his feet. “Oh — hey, Chief!” he said. “We were just —”
    Chief Olson had appeared. He was standing there, watching. He had a funny happy-sad expression on his face, and Gunnar waited quietly by his side. “This can’t be the wild young pup I’ve been hearing about!” he said. “He looks pretty well-behaved to me.”
    Gunnar stepped forward, and he and Cody touched noses. Gunnar’s tail was wagging.
    “Gunnar likes him!” said Lizzie. “That’s perfect, because —”
    Maria punched Lizzie in the arm. Their plan had been to let Chief Olson think it was all
his
idea to adopt Cody.
    “. . . because it’s great when dogs get