Maggie and Max Read Online Free PDF

back to staaaay!
    “What happened?” Charles asked.
    “Let’s just say it didn’t work out,” said Mr. Baker.
    Mom came into the hall, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. “Oh, dear,” she said. She took the cat carrier from Mr. Baker and knelt down to open it up. “Hello, cutie-pie!” She reached inside for the kitten. But Max dashed straight past her toward Maggie. His purr rumbled loudly enough for everyone to hear as he twined himself around Maggie’s legs, pushing the top of his head up against her chin. Maggie wagged her tail and made soft whuffing noises as she gave Max a few huge, happy licks.
    “That’s the first time he stopped meowing since you dropped him off with me on Saturday,” said Mr. Baker. “He never stopped crying for his friend. Evan and the other kids tried everything to distract him, but nothing worked. He didn’t want to play with string, or chase toy mice, or eat kitty treats, or anything. He just ignored the kids and paced up and down, crying and crying. I guess he just missed Maggie too much.” He shook his head. “It’s a pity. The kidsare heartbroken. They’ve really fallen in love with this kitten.”
    “I can understand that,” Mom said.
    “Maybe you just have to adopt Maggie at the Nest, too!” Charles was still hoping that Mr. Baker would change his mind about that.
    But Mr. Baker shook his head. “I just can’t see how I can handle a puppy
and
a kitten. But I know everybody would be very, very happy if you brought them both to visit again this week.”
    “We’d be glad to,” said Mom.
    “And Charles, maybe you could spend your volunteer time in the recreation room instead of the dining room,” Mr. Baker suggested. “You can help out Beverly, our rec room coordinator. She said Evan asked especially for you to be there. He said you are — uh, let’s see — ‘actually a really cool dude!’”
    “Ha!” Sammy snorted.
    Charles looked at his friend. “You’re justjealous,” he said. “You’re going to be ladling out meatballs again, and I get to hang out with Maggie and Max and the kids.” Secretly, Charles felt flattered to know that Evan thought he was a really cool dude. But would he still think so if Charles couldn’t remember his lines for the holiday show?

CHAPTER EIGHT
    “Charles! Charles!” Evan started jumping up and down the minute Charles walked into the Nest’s recreation room. “Guess what? I made a picture of Maggie and Max.” Before Charles could even introduce himself to Beverly, Evan had grabbed his hand and pulled him over to a bulletin board. “See? There’s Maggie. She’s discovering Max in my mommy’s sweater drawer.”
    Charles looked at the red-and-yellow scribbling, trying to make sense of it. “Oh, sure!” he said. “There’s Maggie, right?”
    Evan laughed. “No, silly! That’s Mommy. Maggie’s over there.” He pointed to a green scribble.
    Now Charles could see that the scribble looked sort of like it had a tail. “Great picture, Evan!”
    “You must be Charles.” Beverly came over to say hello. “I’ve heard a lot about you, and, of course I met your sister Lizzie last week. Welcome!”
    Charles smiled at her, but Evan was tugging on his hand again.
    “Where
is
Maggie?” Evan asked. “Where’s Max? Aren’t they coming? I thought they were coming tonight!”
    “They’re coming, they’re coming.” Charles had ridden over to the Nest with Dad and the Scouts. Mom drove behind them in the pickup with Maggie and Max. “In fact,” Charles went on, “I think I hear them right now.”
    “Yay!” Evan shouted. He ran to the door.
    “Evan, don’t forget to use your indoor voice,” called Beverly. “The animals will be scared if you yell.” She turned to Charles. “He’s so excited tosee them that he ate dinner early so he could be here when they arrived. I’m excited, too! We haven’t had so much fun in the rec room since the Easter Bunny came to visit. We just
love
Maggie and Max.” She