Jack Read Online Free PDF Page A

There’s a place you can click if you want to send her mail.” Lizzie pointed.
    Mom clicked, and an e-mail form popped up. She copied Lizzie’s letter from the flash drive into the e-mail. Then she attached a picture of Lizzie with Buddy, the one from last Christmas with them sitting under the tree together, Buddy snoozing in Lizzie’s lap.
    “Put ‘from your number one fan, Lizzie’ in the subject line,” said Lizzie, “so she knows it’s from me even though it’s from your e-mail account.”
    Mom typed that in.
    Lizzie leaned over and clicked “send.” She couldn’t wait one minute longer. The sooner theysent the e-mail, the sooner she might hear back from Kit Smithers. That would be so cool. She imagined telling Maria. She imagined telling her whole class. Everybody would definitely be impressed. Lizzie stared at the screen, wishing a reply would appear instantly.
    “Okay,” Mom said. “I’d better get back to work.”
    That meant Lizzie was supposed to leave the study. “But you’ll keep checking to see if she answered, right?”
    “I’ll keep checking,” said Mom. “But don’t be surprised if it takes longer than you think. She might be very busy.”
    Lizzie headed downstairs. It was her turn to watch Jack, anyway. She found Charles and the Bean outside with the puppies.
    Charles waved to Lizzie. “Watch this! Jack already learned a trick!” He held a toy just above Jack’s head. “Sit, Jack.” Jack sat. Then Charles held the toy a little higher over Jack’s head. “Now, sit pretty, Jack.” Jack raised his front paws offthe ground, balancing on his hind legs. He could hold the pose for only a few seconds.
    The Bean loved that trick. “Again!” he shouted as soon as Jack was back on all four feet. “Again!”
    “Wow.” Lizzie wished she had been the one to teach Jack a trick. “He sure is a smart puppy,” she said. “I just know we’ll find him a great home.” She ran for the camera and took a whole bunch of pictures of Jack. She took some of Buddy, too, so he wouldn’t feel left out.
    When the phone rang, Lizzie answered. It was Eileen. “I’m just calling to see how things are going with Jack,” she said.
    “Well,” said Lizzie, “we’re just trying to keep him busy. I was thinking I could bring his crate up to my room tonight. Maybe he’ll be able to sleep inside it if he’s not all alone in the kitchen.”
    “Great idea!” said Eileen. “That is exactly what I would have suggested. Boxers like to be close to their people. The perfect owner for Jack would besomeone who works at home, so he wouldn’t be left alone.”
    Lizzie told Eileen about how she and Charles had taken turns playing with Jack, mostly outdoors, hoping to tire him out.
    “You’re on the right track,” said Eileen. “Jack would probably be happiest living somewhere in the country, where he could really run around.”
    Lizzie also told Eileen about how she had not yelled at Jack because she had not caught him in the middle of eating things.
    “Excellent!” said Eileen. “And if you
do
catch him, you can try saying ‘leave it,’ then give him a treat when he drops whatever he’s chewing. Eventually he’ll learn the ‘leave it’ command. It sounds as if you really understand Jack, Lizzie.”
    Lizzie smiled. “Maybe I can be an animal behaviorist when I grow up.” She had always figured she would be a vet, but maybe this would be an even more interesting way to help animals.
    “I think you’d be terrific at that job, from whatyour aunt tells me,” said Eileen. “She says you have a way with dogs, and I can see that she’s right.”
    “Maybe that’s because I love them,” said Lizzie.
    “So do I.” Eileen laughed. “That’s why I enjoy my job so much. Come visit me at my office someday, and you can learn more about what I do.”
    Lizzie felt great when she got off the phone with Eileen. She
did
have a way with dogs. She knew just how to take care of them, train them, and most