That Furball Puppy and Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

here.”
    â€œI’ll get Paul and Dana up, before we let the kids loose.” Mama walked to the hall and disappeared toward the bedrooms.
    Squeals of happiness suddenly filled the house. Two big kids staggered down the hall. Excited voices shouted toward the living room.
    â€œEverybody’s up, now. We’re ready to come out! Let us out!” The Grandkids were yelling as loud as they could.
    â€œWho woke them up?” the big boy people growled. “I’ve got to have some coffee before they come in!”
    â€œYou’d better hurry. Josh has been awake for a long time!”
    Mama handed Dana and Paul mugs of coffee.
    I scooted farther back under the tree. The Grandkids would be after me very soon.
    Noises grew louder from the bedroom. Squeals and giggles, then whines of despair. (The sound was weird—more like play whines than really unhappy.) I wasn’t sure what would happen next, but I was hidden where they couldn’t get their hands on me.
    In a few minutes the big boy, called Carl, finally walked to the hallway.
    â€œOkay, Josh, bring Kensey, Jenny, and Katie in! Everybody’s ready!”
    The rest of the family was standing near the kitchen.
    As soon as the Grandkids stepped into the living room flashes of light lit up everything. I turned my head to see where it came from. Mama and Daddy were holding boxes in front of their faces. I was looking right at Mama when her light flashed. It was so bright it made me blink. When I opened my eyes, all I could see was a blue dot. It went away quickly. I decided to watch the Grandkids instead of the light boxes.
    The Grandkids stood still for a few minutes, then yells and squeals filled the air. Each one of them ran to a pile of things under the tree. Nobody seemed to notice me.
    I was safe in my spot for a long time. The Grandkids ripped open presents and tore boxes. They looked at each gift carefully then set it in a pile beside them. Then they turned to open another box. The house was a mess again.
    â€œBreakfast is ready,” Mama called.
    The living room was suddenly empty. I ventured from my hiding spot. I carefully worked myway toward the kitchen. Callie had left me plenty of tender cat food in the bowl.
    â€œI think there is one more present that Santa left.” Carl got up from the table and headed for the front door. “I am sure there is one more gift out here!”
    When Carl came back inside, he was carrying a big box with holes in it. He pushed the empty boxes and paper away from under the tree and set it down as the family came back into the living room.
    â€œLook, Mama. It’s for you!”
    I stood near the kitchen door. Sounds of scratching came from the box. This was a bad sign.
    Mama frowned at the box just like I did. A whining sound came from inside, then more scratching. Mama tilted her head to the side. I felt my tail puff—just a little—but I didn’t know why. My ears wiggled when I turned to look at it.
    Mama reached for the big red bow. Before she touched it, the box began to wiggle.
    â€œYap, yap!” the box said.
    My tail fuzzed up even bigger as a strange, shrill sound came from the wiggling box.
    If I thought the Grandkids were bad, they were nothing compared to this … Mama’s present.

CHAPTER 6
    T he Grandkids squealed. The big kids all moved toward the box. It wiggled. Then it bounced. Then it almost tipped over.
    â€œYap, yap!” the box said.
    â€œLook, Mama! Look what Santa brought you!”
    Mama leaned over and peered into the box. Then she turned to Daddy.
    â€œOh my gosh! A puppy!” Mama smiled. Then she got this sort of helpless look on her face. She smiled again, then frowned. “Is it a puppy or a big rat? What is he?”
    Did she say rat? I jumped to the back of the couch.
    Mama knelt down and pulled something from the box. The children and Grandkids pressed closer.
    â€œWe knew how much you missed Muffy. Santa brought you