Madison’s New Buddy

Cats Out of the Bag

The next week, the four girls are back at the shelter, excited to spend more time with their assigned dogs. Jasmine pulls a copy of Frog and Toad Are Friends out of her bag, its cover a little bent from being carried around. She saw the book in the library and just knew it’d be perfect. Keiko brought Charlotte’s Web, and Sofia pulled out a well-worn copy of Shiloh. Its pages are soft and dog-eared from being read again and again. Then, the girls all turn to Madison, who pulls out a bag of dog treats.

Sofia points and chuckles. Apparently her book turned into a bag of Chicken Chewies. Madison tries to paint a smile on her face, even as her stomach twists with worry. She admits simply that she didn’t bring a book. Keiko mentions Ms. Chu may have some extras, and Jasmine points out her mom keeps a big veterinary book at the shelter. Sofia goes so far as to pull a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory out of her bag.

Madison pushes the book back toward Sofia. This is intentional. She’s going to take Buddy into the play room again, because that tactic is really working. Her friends glance back and forth at each other, exchanging a look that says they’ve noticed the pattern. Keiko gently points out that Madison has to read to Buddy sometime. It’s called the Shelter Dog Reading Project, after all.

Madison frowns, and says simply she doesn’t want to read to him. Jasmine asks why not. Maybe it would help Buddy. Madison replies curtly that she’s doing everything she can. She just can’t read to him. She’s not a good reader! Her voice comes out sharper than she means it to. She hadn’t meant to say anything, but after she blurts it out, it’s too late to take it back.

Jasmine looks at her friend with a puzzled look. Madison drops her gaze to the floor and mumbles that sometimes she has trouble reading. She sees a reading specialist at school.

Keiko asks why Madison never told them, and she responds that she was embarrassed. Reading books seemed so easy for them. If they knew how hard it was for her, maybe they wouldn’t want to be her friends anymore. Madison sniffles, holding back tears.

Jasmine hugs Madison tightly, exclaiming that she doesn’t need to be embarrassed. Jasmine wishes that Madison had told them before.

Sofia, nodding, says that there are lots of things she’s not good at. She still hasn’t learned how to ride a bike. Madison is surprised. Learning to ride a bike was so easy for her. She’s surprised someone as athletic as Sofia was having trouble with it. Keiko confesses that she can’t tie her shoelaces, even after practicing for ages. And Jasmine adds that she’s not good at sports.

They all have things they’re not good at, but there are other things that each of them is great at. Madison is great with animals! No one should feel bad for something they need to work a little bit more on.

Madison nods. Maybe her friends really do know how she feels. But it takes her so long to sound out words. Sofia shrugs, saying Buddy won’t care if she has to go slowly. Everyone laughs, the sound easing some of the tension that had settled over the group. Madison feels relieved for the first time in weeks.

Jasmine hands Madison her copy of Frog and Toad Are Friends. Maybe Madison can practice on Roger, since he’s out here with the other dogs. Madison takes the book, and verifies once more that her friends won’t laugh at her.

The girls shake their heads. They’ll all be there to encourage Madison. Madison takes a deep breath, opens the book, and begins to read.