Jasmine’s Big Idea

Frisky Frankie

The next weekend, Mrs. Wallace is waiting for Jasmine and her mom to arrive at Rosa’s Refuge Animal Shelter. Apparently. Dr. Arroyo has a patient waiting in the examination room. Pulling on her white lab coat, Jasmine’s mother agreeably walks towards the door. Then, Mrs. Wallace turns to Jasmine. Apparently, Madison arrived ten minutes ago and is walking a puppy in the yard. Maybe Jasmine can lend her a hand.

This surprises Jasmine. Mrs. Wallace usually doesn’t let volunteers their age walk the dogs. She must really trust Madison. Nodding to Mrs. Wallace, Jasmine heads outside. She finds Madison trotting around after a large puppy who looks like part beagle, part terrier, and all trouble! The puppy is on a leash, but it seems like he’s leading Madison, not the other way around.

Madison is shouting at at the dog, whose name is Frankie, to slow down, her red ponytail swinging. Madison gasps for breath as she explains that Frankie is running her in circles. Jasmine plants her hands on her hips. She has an idea. She dashes inside and pulls a small bag from the supply closet. Outside, Frankie is still pulling Madison around as she tries to encourage him to sit still.

Jasmine holds up the bag from the closet. Bacon-flavored dog treats! She holds a treat out in front of Frankie’s nose. He stops bouncing around and stares at the treat, mesmerized. Frankie sniffs at the treat, and licks his snout. Jasmine turns gently to Madison. When Jasmine says the word “sit,” Madison should push his bottom gently down. Madison nods.

Jasmine commands the dog to sit. Madison pushes down on Frankie’s rump until he sits down. Jasmine gushes that Frankie is a good boy, and feeds him the treat, which is gone in seconds. They repeat the routine over and over until Frankie no longer needs Madison’s hand to touch him to sit down. All Jasmine needs to do is hold out her hand and say “sit.”

Madison is impressed. Jasmine flushes with pride. Her mom showed her how to train when she got her own puppy. Jasmine then says maybe they should try “heel.” Jasmine instructs Madison on how to do it. Madison should hold a few treats in her right hand, while holding the leash in her left. When she circles her arm around, Frankie should circle, too. When he gets that down, then they can practice as they walk around the yard.

Madison and Frankie circle the yard, practicing. Slowly, the dog treats disappear, and Frankie gets more and more obedient. By the end, he’s heeling on the first or second try. Madison exclaims the technique is really working! Jasmine smiles and nods encouragingly.

Then, the girls head back inside. Jasmine’s mom joins her as Madison takes Frankie back to his kennel. Dr. Arroyo offers for the girls to join her as she gives Sadie a checkup. The girls follow Dr. Arroyo into an exam room, where she listens to a dog’s heart. Sadie is an older Saint Bernard who arrived at the shelter before the Arroyos adopted Cookie. Jasmine loves Sadie’s sweet, droopy face. She wanted to take Sadie home, but her parents pointed out that Sadie was too big for their small house.

Dr. Arroyo checks over Sadie’s mouth, teeth, and gums. She examines her ears for lice and to make sure they’re not infected. Jasmine can’t wait to do the same someday. As she moves Sadie’s hind legs up and down and massages her muscles, Dr. Arroyo explains that Sadie has a touch of arthritis. While there’s no cure, her case isn’t too advanced. Some physical therapy and dietary supplements should help. And she needs a forever home where she can get more exercise.

Jasmine takes Sadie’s leash to escort her back to her kennel. As they walk, Madison says Keiko is in the same after-school art class Madison started taking. Keiko texted a photo she made of a dog, and it was so good. Jasmine’s shoulders tighten. Keiko and Madison are texting each other? And why hadn’t Keiko mentioned the after-school art class?

Just then, Mrs. Wallace comes by, asking how Frankie did. Madison, smiling brightly, says that Jasmine helped her teach Frankie to sit and heel. Jasmine is a real puppy whisperer! Mrs. Wallace happily exclaims that she knew the two of them would hit it off. Perhaps all four of them can plan the carnival together. Madison says that that’d be so much fun!

Jasmine agrees, but feels deflated inside. She was supposed to be the one planning the carnival for Mrs. Wallace. Although, it does seem like Madison has good ideas. But does Mrs. Wallace just like Madison’s ideas better?

But Jasmine shakes her head out of it. Mrs. Wallace’s smile shows her that she still has plenty of confidence in Jasmine and her ideas. This’ll be great for the animals. Having Madison will help them raise more money to help expand the shelter, and that’s what’s most important.