How to Steal a Dog Read Online Free PDF Page A

somewhere.”
    I got up and peered into the Dumpster. Just more cardboard boxes.
    â€œNaw,” I said. “I think we’re going to have to wait till trash pickup day. Then we can look through the stuff that people leave by the road, okay?”
    â€œOkay.” Toby squished another piece of cheese and then smashed it between two crackers.

    â€œLet’s go put the clothes in the dryer, then check out that dog again.”
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    When we got to Whitmore Road, I motioned for Toby to be quiet.
    â€œWe don’t want anybody to notice us,” I whispered.
    We made our way up the road toward the big brick house. When we got to the corner of the yard, I could hear someone out front. I tried to see through the hedge, but it was too thick. I squatted down beside the fence to listen.
    â€œGet the ball, Willy,” someone said. I was pretty sure it was the same woman we had seen there the other day.
    I could hear Willy making happy little yip noises. Then the woman would laugh and say stuff to him. After a while, I heard the wooden front steps creak and the screen door slam.
    I looked at Toby. “I think she went inside,” I whispered. “Let’s go see.”
    We tiptoed to the gate and I peeked into the yard. The woman was gone, but Willy was sitting on the front porch. When he saw me, he came bounding down the steps and over to the gate.
    â€œHey there, Willy,” I whispered.
    He pushed his nose through the gate and licked my hand.
    â€œIsn’t he cute?” I said to Toby.

    â€œYeah.” Toby put his hand out and Willy licked him, too. “When are we gonna steal him?”
    â€œShhhh.” I smacked Toby’s knee. “Hush up, you idiot.” I looked around us. The street was quiet and empty. I could hear a radio somewhere in the distance, but I didn’t see anyone.
    â€œWe have to wait till everything is just right,” I said. “That lady has to be gone.” I nodded toward the house. “And we need some rope, remember?”
    â€œAfter we get the rope and steal him, where are we going to hide him?” Toby said.
    Dang! I hadn’t even thought of that! I couldn’t hardly believe how stupid I’d been. I’d made all those plans and hadn’t even thought about where we were going to hide that dog!
    I looked at Willy and then back at Toby. “I haven’t figured that part out yet,” I said, pretending like it was no big deal. “You got any ideas?”
    Toby shook his head.
    I frowned. “Then we’ll have to think of something.”
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    That night, I propped the flashlight up on the seat next to me and tried to do my math homework. Toby’s snores drifted through the beach towel wall between us. I used to be good at math, but it seemed like now I wasn’t. I gave up and took out my purple notebook. I opened to:

    How to Steal a Dog
by
Georgina Hayes

    I wrote April 7. Then, after Step 2, I wrote:
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    Step 3: Get ready to steal the dog.
    1. Keep watching the dog to make sure he is the right one to steal.
    2. If you need a leash, find some rope or something.
    3. Figure out where you are going to hide the dog.
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    I chewed on the eraser of my pencil and stared out the window into the darkness. Number 3 was a big problem. I wished I could ask Luanne to help me. She always had good ideas about stuff. I looked down at my notebook again. I guessed I was just going to have to figure this out by myself, unless some miracle happened and Toby got an idea.
    I closed the notebook and watched the moths fluttering around the streetlight outside the window. Maybe stealing a dog wasn’t such a good idea after all. I propped my feet up on the seat in front of me and frowned at my bare toes. My Party Girl Pink nail polish was wearing off and I didn’t have any more. I guess it got tossed out with all my other stuff.
    â€œWe can’t take everything, Georgina,” Mama had
hollered