Fabulous Five 013 - The Christmas Countdown Read Online Free PDF Page A

lot better
when the money starts coming in from the newspaper ad and we get the pictures
of the animals on our posters," Melanie insisted.
    Then a new thought occurred to her. "Guys," she
said breathlessly. "Listen to this. What if . . ." She paused and
looked around the table nervously. What she was going to suggest was a pretty
wild idea. She could only hope that the others would go along with it. "What
if, instead of giving Christmas presents to our friends, we donated the money
we would spend to save the animals."
    No one said anything for a moment. Melanie held her breath
and crossed her fingers in her lap, but even though she wanted everyone to say
yes, part of her was already regretting that she might not exchange presents
with The Fabulous Five.
    "I think it's a great idea," said Katie. "It
would have a lot more meaning than buying the same old sweater or stuffed
animal for each other."
    "I agree," said Jana. "It's what the
Christmas spirit is all about."
    "Igor would certainly go for it," said Shane. "He
hates the crowds in the malls during the Christmas season."
    Everyone was nodding and agreeing, and Melanie felt warm all
over that she had such special friends.
    "But right now we've got to get this money put away,"
said Christie. "I'll keep track of what we collect if someone else will
take it to the school office for safekeeping."
    "I'll take it," said Tony. "I'd like to see
the look on Mr. Bell's face when he sees I'm doing something he can't send me
to Teen Court for."
    "Oh, he knows you've reformed," joked Katie. And
then as if she had second thoughts, she said, "But maybe I'd better go
with you just to be safe." They all laughed.
    "My dad's coming by for me. Do you have a ride home,
Your Honor?" Tony asked Katie.
    "No, I don't, and yes, I would like one."
    "Before everybody leaves, there's still one more thing
to talk about," said Melanie, shifting nervously in her chair. "What
are we going to do with all of the animals once we get them? Nobody has
signed up to take one."
    "And Mrs. Graham won't let us move them out of the
shelter until an adoption paper has been signed for each animal," added
Mona.
    "Whose parents would be willing to take them
temporarily?" asked Christie. "Just until we find permanent homes?"
    No one said anything, and most looked at the floor.
    "Does anyone have a basement?" asked Mona.
    "We have one," said Katie. "But we also have
a cat. Libber would go berserk if we put a dozen dogs down there."
    Melanie bit her bottom lip. Her house had a basement. Still,
there was no way to hide that many animals from her family. Even if the cats
were quiet, the dogs would bark.
    "We'll just have to keep thinking," she said with
a sigh.
    The rest of the group got up along with Tony and Katie and
started putting on their jackets and sweaters. Melanie put one paper bag inside
another for reinforcement and then dropped the coins in. As they were gathering
in the foyer to leave, the doorbell rang.
    "Hi, Mrs. Miller," Melanie greeted her neighbor
when she opened the door. "Why . . . what's wrong?" The older woman's
eyes were filled with tears.
    "I've looked all over for Duchess and still haven't
found her," said Mrs. Miller.
    Melanie took the woman's hand and pulled her into the foyer.
    "Who is it, dear?" Mrs. Edwards called from the
living room. She had just come in the back door with the groceries and was
hanging up her coat in the front closet.
    "It's Mrs. Miller. She hasn't found Duchess yet."
    Her mother came into the foyer. "I'm so sorry, Clare. I
was convinced that someone would have found her and returned her to you by now."
    "Me, too," said Melanie as the others gathered
around. Why hadn't she remembered to look for the little dog on her way to
school this morning? She could have walked over to Hickory Street and then gone
up Allendale instead of her usual route, and maybe Duchess would have been
there waiting for someone to help her find her way home.
    "Melanie, why don't you and Jeffy look some