Patches Read Online Free PDF Page B

a step closer to Charles and faced the man. “There wasn’t a
thing
wrong with that letter!” he said. “Everything Charles said was true!”
    The man looked from Sammy to Charles. “Look,” he said finally. “I want to talk to you, Charles Peterson. Why don’t you and your friend and your dog come up on the porch?”
    Charles would rather have come face-to-face with a ghost. But what could he do? He couldn’t say no. So he tugged on Buddy’s leash and called him over.
    Hey! I was having fun! I thought you brought me over here to play!
    “See you later, Patches,” said Sammy as he untangled the beagle puppy’s leash one more time.
    Doooon’t goooooo!
    Patches started crying the minute they were out of sight.
    The man led Charles and Sammy around the house and up onto the front porch. He gestured toward two chairs. “Sit,” he said. Then he disappeared into the house.
    Charles and Sammy sat down. They only had a second to exchange frightened glances before the man came back out, carrying a tray with three glasses of juice on it. He gave one to each of the boys, then sat down and took a sip from his own glass.
    Buddy was sitting right next to Charles. He seemed to understand that this was no time to be fooling around.
    After a moment, the man put down his glass. “So, you’re Charles. And — what’s your name?”
    “Sammy.” Sammy’s eyes looked very big.
    “Charles and Sammy. I’m Doug Stevens. And I guess you already know my dog, Patches.”
    Charles and Sammy nodded.
    “Patches is a great puppy.” Charles couldn’t help himself. “He’s really cute.”
    Then Mr. Stevens did something that really surprised Charles.
    He smiled.
    “He sure is,” he said. “I thought so the very first time I saw him. He was such a little guy, the runt of his litter.”
    “So was Buddy!” Charles couldn’t believe it.
    Buddy jumped up when he heard his name.
    What? Are we going somewhere?
    “No kidding!” said Mr. Stevens. “He sure looks healthy now.” He chucked Buddy under the chin. “Hey there, little guy.”
    Charles couldn’t believe it. Mr. Stevens was turning out to be a nice person!
    “Buddy is a lucky puppy,” said Mr. Stevens. “I can tell he gets lots of attention from you.”
    Charles wasn’t sure what to say. “I’m lucky, too. I mean, lucky to have Buddy.” He leaned down and gave Buddy a pat.
    Mr. Stevens didn’t say anything for a little while. He just sat there looking at Buddy. Then he started talking again. “When I read your letter, I knew right away that it was about Patches,” he began very quietly. “At first, I was a little mad. It was like you were saying I am a bad dog owner.”
    “I didn’t mean —” Charles began, but Mr. Stevens held up a hand.
    “The truth is, when I thought about it, I
have
been a bad dog owner,” he said. “Patches does notget the attention he deserves. My family is just too busy right now. We’re all off on our separate activities all day, and there’s nobody here to play with him.”
    “Nobody? What about the man who just sits there all the time, in the living room?” Sammy blurted out.
    Mr. Stevens raised an eyebrow. Charles could tell he didn’t like the idea of Sammy and Charles looking through his windows.
    “Not that we were spying or anything.” Sammy was blushing.
    “That man,” said Mr. Stevens, “happens to be my father. He’s eighty-nine years old. He is in a wheelchair. And he’s pretty much totally deaf. So he can’t hear it when Patches is crying, and even if he could hear, there isn’t much he could do about it.”
    “Oh.” Sammy bit his lip. “Sorry.”
    “That’s okay,” said Mr. Stevens. “I understandthat you boys only want what’s best for Patches. So do I. That’s why my wife and I have decided that this is not the right time for our family to have a dog. Your letter made us decide that we should find Patches another home.”

CHAPTER TEN
    Charles stared at Mr. Stevens. “Really?” He