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

a mess.
    "It says that a group of kids are trying to buy cats
and dogs from the animal shelter and are asking for donations," said her
mother. "It also says to send donations to Miss Melanie Edwards, and it
has our address. What in the world are you going to do with a bunch of cats and
dogs?"
    "Play with them," said Jeffy, who had walked into
the room. "When are we going to get them? How many will there be?"
    Mr. Edwards frowned at him. "We're not getting
any cats and dogs."
    "We're going to find homes for them," Melanie
said, trying to sound positive. "We've got a sign-up list at school and
everything. The shelter is getting overcrowded and will put them to sleep if
someone doesn't take them."
    "Melanie, why didn't you talk to us about this before
you started the whole thing?" asked her mother.
    "I was afraid you'd get mad and say I couldn't get
involved," she answered with her head down. "We were only trying to
help some animals who are going to die on Christmas Eve if someone doesn't do
something." She felt a big lump starting to build up in her throat, and
she knew that she was going to cry. She hated crying, especially in front of
her mother and father.
    Her parents were quiet for a moment. "How do you know
they're going to be put to sleep on Christmas Eve?" her mother asked in a
low voice.
    "A man at the animal shelter told us, and Mrs. Graham,
who works at the desk, says it's true."
    "Humph!" Mr. Edwards cleared his throat. "Well,
uh, if kids are signing up at school to take them, I guess it would be all
right. How many dogs are we talking about?"
    "Dogs and cats," corrected Melanie. "Mrs.
Graham says it will be about fifteen."
    Mr. Edwards whistled.
    "And you're going to find homes for all of them?"
asked Mrs. Edwards.
    "We'll take one each!" shouted Jeffy.
    "No, we won't, young man," his mother scolded. "I've
got enough work to do around here without animals under my feet."
    "But we'll take care of them," pleaded Jeffy. "Won't
we, Melanie?"
    Melanie looked at him. Jeffy had fallen to his knees and was
clutching the legs of his mother's slacks with both hands. His face was twisted
in a grimace as if he were about to cry. He's pretty good, thought Melanie. I
should have told him about this before.
    "Jeffy, get up," commanded Mrs. Edwards. But she
looked as if her resolve was shaken.
    "Well, I guess it's all right if you go ahead,"
she said, "as long as you find homes for them, and I mean someplace else."
She turned and went back to the kitchen.
    "How many kids have signed up for a pet?" asked
her father.
    "I don't know. I haven't seen the list lately,"
Melanie said, dodging the question.
    "Hmmm." He looked at her a moment and then
dug out his wallet. "Here. Just make sure that you find somewhere else to keep them."
    Melanie looked at the ten-dollar bill he handed her. "Oh,
Dad, that's great!" She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
     
    Melanie got to the animal shelter ahead of Garrett and Mona
on Saturday morning, and while she waited for her friends to arrive, she stood
on the top step, watching huge snowflakes drop from the sky and thinking about
the predicament she and her friends had gotten themselves into.
    Since her parents had seen the newspaper ad last night, she
was seriously beginning to worry about what would happen if they collected
enough money by Christmas Eve day and then couldn't find homes for all the dogs
and cats. Would the shelter refuse the money and put the animals to sleep
anyway? It was obvious that her parents wouldn't take them in. Her thoughts
rushed to Rainbow. She couldn't let them put Rainbow to sleep. She absolutely couldn't! And no matter how much help the other kids were, it was her responsibility. She
was the one who had started the whole thing by wanting a puppy for Christmas
and coming to the shelter with Mona.
    Just then Garrett jogged up the steps with Mona. He waved
his camera and called out, "Okay, show me my canine and feline models."
    Garrett was an eighth-grader,