Jingle Bell Bark Read Online Free PDF

made it to the curb just in time to rap on the side of the bus as it began to move away. Groaning reluctantly, the vehicle slowed, then stopped.
    â€œWhat?”
    The new bus driver opened the door a crack and glared in my direction. She looked barely old enough to possess a driver’s license, much less to have graduated from high school.
    â€œI’m Davey Travis’s mother.”
    Gum popped between her teeth. “Yeah, I guessed that.”
    â€œI have a permission slip for this afternoon and Friday.”
    The girl shrugged and extended a hand. “The kid could have given it to me.”
    Maybe, if his mittens hadn’t been soaking wet. I pulled myself up straight and used my best teacher’s voice. “What is your name?”
    â€œAnnie Gault. What’s it to you?”
    At that point, it was beginning to look as though I might need that information for my letter of complaint. I’d heard other mothers grumble about drivers who were rude or unsafe, but fortunately I’d never experienced the problem myself. Having Henry in charge of the route the entire time Davey had been riding the bus had spoiled me.
    â€œDo you know when Henry will be back?” I asked.
    â€œI don’t even know who Henry is. All I know is I got a call yesterday telling me that this was my new route from now until I heard differently.”
    She yanked the door shut. The bus moved slowly away from the curb, then gathered speed as it traveled down the block. By the time it turned the corner at the end, it looked like it was going too fast for the icy conditions.
    Frowning, I watched until the bus was out of sight and wondered what had happened to Henry. Maybe I ought to call the bus company and find out. No way was I going to leave Davey’s well-being in Annie Gault’s care any longer than I had to.
    When I walked back into the house, the phone was ringing. It was Alice; her voice was quivering with indignation. “Did you meet that girl? Ms. Pierced Eyebrow?”
    Now that she mentioned it, there had been a silver hoop sticking out of the side of Annie’s face. I’d always wondered how people managed to avoid getting those caught on stuff. “Annie Gault,” I said.
    â€œAt least you got a name. I didn’t even get that much. She just snatched the note out of my hand and took off.”
    â€œConsider yourself lucky.” My eyes strayed to the clock on the counter. If I didn’t leave in the next five minutes, I would be late. And Russell Hanover II, the school’s headmaster, took a very dim view of tardiness. “She slammed the door in my face. I had to bang on the bus to get her to open it again.”
    â€œKids these days.” Alice sighed. “Why do you think nobody teaches them manners anymore?”
    â€œProbably because it’s too much trouble. What do you suppose happened to Henry?”
    â€œThat’s what I was calling to ask you. I hope he didn’t get reassigned. Maybe we could mount a campaign in the neighborhood to get him back.”
    â€œI was thinking of calling the bus company,” I said. “Maybe during my lunch break today.”
    â€œOh, that’s right, you’ve got to go,” said Alice. “I don’t want to make you late. Let me know what you find out. If he’s sick or something, maybe we can go visit him.”
    I’d been packing up my papers and looking for Faith and Eve’s leashes, but that brought me up short. “Visit him?”
    â€œSure. He lives right around here somewhere. Maybe a mile away. We talked about it once when the city of Stamford was considering changing some zoning over on Old Long Ridge Road. I’ve never been to his house, but I bet it wouldn’t be hard to find. He’s probably right in the phone book.”
    Paying Henry a visit hadn’t occurred to me, but now that Alice brought it up, it wasn’t a bad idea. Henry wasn’t a young man; I