Maggie and Max Read Online Free PDF Page B

frowned. “It’s just too bad it didn’t work out to have Max here by himself. He sure did miss his pal!”
    “I know,” Charles said. “Maggie missed him, too. She was really sad without her friend. I guess we have to keep working on that separation thing.”
    Beverly made a
tsk-tsk
sound. “It’s a shame they can’t find a place together,” she said. “I’d love to have them both here, but I have my hands full already watching all the kids. I can’t take care of two animals, too.”
    “They’re here!” Evan shouted.
    Maggie galloped into the room, pulling Mom behind her. Mom was struggling to hold on to Maggie’s leash, while Max climbed up her coat and perched on her shoulder.
    “Close the door, Evan!” said Beverly. “Let’s keep these two critters safe.”
    Evan slammed the door shut and ran over to throw his arms around Maggie.
    “Hello, Beverly!” Mom unstuck Max’s claws from her collar and handed the kitten to Charles. “Keep an eye on this one,” she told him. “I’m going to help serve dinner. I’ll be back soon.”
    As soon as Charles put Max down, he scampered over to join Evan and Maggie.
    “Look at Evan,” Beverly whispered to Charles. “He’s so happy!”
    It was true. Charles saw Evan’s smile grow huge as he patted first Maggie and then Max. The puppy and the kitten looked happy, too. They were together, and they were getting plenty of pats. Maggie’s barks and Max’s meows were like a sweet duet.
    Maggie rolled over onto her back.
    This is the life! Rub my tummy some more, would you? How about another kiss? And maybeyou could scratch my ears? Don’t forget to give my little friend some attention, too!
    Max rolled over just like Maggie and batted his paws at Evan.
    Wheee! Pat meee!
    After a few minutes, more kids started to arrive. They all ran over to see the pets. “I want to walk Maggie!” said one girl. “I want to play with Max!” said another. Charles recognized Evan’s sister from last week. Suddenly, Max and Maggie were surrounded by a circle of kids.
    It was too much for the little kitten. Max dashed between a boy’s legs and ran over to Charles. His eyes were wide with fear.
    Eeeek! Save meeeee!
    Charles scooped up the scared little kitten.Then Maggie dashed over to be near her friend. She leaned her big body against Charles.
    There are too many people in here! Somebody just stuck his finger in my ear! What if my little friend gets hurt?
    Charles looked over at Beverly. “They love attention,” he told her. “But maybe this is too
much
attention at once.” He wondered if this was why Max had run away to hide in a drawer last week.
    “Good point.” Beverly nodded. “Okay, kids, we’re going to give the animals some space. How about if we take turns petting and walking them? And while you’re waiting your turn, you can draw pictures of our new friends.”
    Quickly, Beverly organized the kids into groups. When Mr. Baker stopped in a few minutes later, one pair of kids was taking Maggie on a walk down the hall while another pair was sitting onthe couch with Max, playing “chase the shoelace” with the kitten. The rest of the kids were seated at a long table, drawing happily with markers and crayons.
    “This is great,” Charles heard Beverly tell Mr. Baker. “Walking the puppy helps teach the kids responsibility, even if they
are
only going as far as the dining room. And Max sure does make the kids laugh. He seems happy, as long as he knows Maggie is nearby.”
    After Mr. Baker left, Charles tried to keep an eye on both Max and Maggie and also pay attention to Evan, who was drawing a picture of Maggie helping Santa Claus deliver presents. “See?” Evan asked, pointing to a red blob. “That’s Santa. He’s standing on the roof at my house, looking down the chimney.”
    Charles was trying to figure out which scribble was the chimney, when, suddenly, Evan burst into tears. “I don’t
have
a house anymore sincethe fire,” he wailed, as if