Madison’s New Buddy
An Unlikely Hero
A few days later, Madison and her friends are sitting in class on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon, but the day is hardly ordinary… they’re having a pizza party! Jasmine lifts a slice of pepperoni pizza out of a cardboard box, while telling her friends that she told everyone they could win. Sofia chimes in that she never doubted the class for a second. Keiko takes a big bite of her slice of pizza. Madison smiles to herself as she watches her friends dig in. Facing her fears and coming through for her friends, and for Buddy, was better than even the most delicious slice of pizza.
Suddenly, Mr. Brady appears at the door. He congratulates the class for a job well done. In fact, Mrs. Wallace told him that several of the dogs the students read to have been adopted or will be soon. And, the Shelter Dog Reading Project was so successful that they may do it again the next year. Ms. Chu has a huge smile on her face. Madison cries happily that if they need more volunteer readers, she’d love to sign up. Her friends volunteer themselves in no time, too.
Mr. Brady, grinning, says he’s so happy to hear that because he brought a surprise. And he steps to the side to let Mrs. Wallace through the door. Madison is so excited! She’s happy Mrs. Wallace will get to see their school.
However, the girls are surprised to see Mrs. Wallace didn’t come alone. She’s holding a leash, and Madison knows the dog at the end of it very well.
Madison jumps up from her chair and runs to see Buddy. At the sound of her voice, Buddy wags his tail and tugs against his leash. Kneeling, Madison ruffles his golden fur, and he licks her cheek and puts a paw on her lap. Madison asks Mrs. Wallace if he’s been adopted yet. Mr. Brady joins the conversation, and explains he’ll be taking Buddy home that very day. Him, his wife, and his son are all smitten with the golden pup. Madison hugs Buddy around his neck, and praises him.
After Mr. Brady leaves, Ms. Chu says it’s time for them to read their stories of inspiration. And Mrs. Wallace and Buddy can help make their audience even bigger!
Surprising herself, Madison volunteers to read first. She makes her way to the front of the class, and immediately starts to get cold feet. The class looks so much bigger from up there. But then her gaze falls on her friends, and she sees Keiko smiling, Jasmine giving her thumbs up, and Sofia mouthing “you can do it!”
Madison smiles, looks at her story, and starts to read.
The person who has inspired me isn’t ac-actually a person. I’ve always had tr-trouble reading, and I needed help.
Madison pauses to see if there’s any reactions to her slow reading or stuttering, but there’s only silence. Even Eddie, the class clown, is sitting quietly. So she continues,
When I f-first came to this school, I was afraid people would find out about my pr-pr-problem and not want to be my friend. I was so sc-scared by the Shelter Dog Reading Project. But then I met a puppy named Buddy. Buddy was just as scared as I was. But in a way, that made me feel less ner-nervous.
Madison continues to describe how they became friends, and how reading to Buddy helped her build her own confidence, too. She described how her friends encouraged her to be brave and read aloud at the shelter.
They told me to do it for Buddy, so I did—and now I love to read, thanks to him!
Smiling, Ms. Chu thanks Madison for volunteering to read first. Everyone claps loudly, and Madison smiles at her friends. Thanks to them and Buddy, she feels like she can overcome any challenge. As long as she has her three great friends by her side, she knows they’ll always help her until she succeeds.