Read Online Fabulous Five 013 - The Christmas Countdown by Betsy Haynes - Free Book Online
Authors: Betsy Haynes
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enough money to buy four or five
dogs or cats, and it just seems like a good idea to give one to her."
Melanie hurriedly added, "But we wouldn't do it unless Mrs. Miller wanted
one."
"That's very thoughtful, Melanie," said her
mother.
"Do you think you could talk to her and see how she
feels about it?" asked Melanie. "We're going to have some super dogs
and cats. Maybe she'd rather have a cat this time."
"It might be a little too early for her to take either,
sweetheart, but if it seems right, I'll talk to her."
Later in her room, Melanie sat staring at her open English
book, absentmindedly drawing Santa Clauses in her notebook. It had all seemed
so simple when she had thought up the idea of saving the animals. There were
all those beautiful kittens and puppies and older animals. All Melanie and her
friends needed was money and people to take them. How could anyone resist
giving money to save such sweet animals or not want to give a home to one of
them?
She looked at the picture of herself and Mona with Rainbow
that she had thumbtacked over her desk. It seemed impossible that someone
wouldn't want Rainbow. She was so loving and trusting. Melanie moved her
fingers across the photo. She could almost feel the fine hair covering the dog's
gorgeous head. She bit her lip to hold back the tears. In a way she knew how
Mrs. Miller felt.
She sighed and thought about her and Shane's plan to keep
the animals if Christmas Eve came before they found homes for them. It was a
crazy plan, and she had avoided even thinking about it, hoping instead that
people who wanted the pets really would come forward. But what if no one did?
What if she was stuck with eight or nine dogs hidden in her father's workshop?
How would she feed them? Or let them out to go to the bathroom? What had she
been thinking about anyway?
Melanie stood up and began pacing around her room. "There
has to be a better way to publicize this," she said out loud. "Just
putting an ad in the newspaper isn't enough. We've got to get the word out to
everyone in town that we need homes for these animals."
Of course there's television, she thought, but how . . . The
idea hit her like an avalanche. Jon Smith could get them on television. His
parents were Marge Whitworth and Chip Smith, local television personalities.
His mother even anchored the evening news program. All they would have to do
was convince her that their project was newsworthy and maybe, just maybe ,
she would put it on the air. Melanie dashed downstairs and called Jon on the
phone.
"She'll go for it," Jon shouted when he had heard
her idea. "I know she will. Let me talk to her and call you back."
Half an hour later the phone rang. It was Jon. "She
loved it. She said to be at the shelter tomorrow after school, and she'll get a
camera crew there from the station. She even said that we'll make the six-o'clock
news."
Melanie was ecstatic. She called everyone she could think of
and told them the news.
The next afternoon spirits were high as at least twenty kids
tramped to the shelter behind The Fabulous Five, Mona, and the boys. Some
carried hand-lettered signs saying things such as, "Save the animals!"
and "Don't let innocent dogs and cats die at Christmas!"
When they arrived at the animal shelter, Mrs. Graham was all
flustered.
"Oh, my gosh!" cried Melanie. "She's the one
person I forgot to call."
"It's okay," Mrs. Graham assured her. "In
fact, it's wonderful."
Just then Marge Whitworth rushed forward and began shouting
instructions. "Okay, kids. Listen up. I want a dozen volunteers to hold
the animals for the camera."
Every hand shot up, but Jon went to her and whispered
something in her ear.
"Okay," she said. "The boys and girls who've
been working to raise money should come forward."
Melanie couldn't suppress a grin as The Fabulous Five, Mona,
Matt, Scott, Shane, Tony, Keith, and Jon made their way through the crowd. Then
she spied Randy hanging back. Why hadn't he stepped up with the rest of
dogs or cats, and it just seems like a good idea to give one to her."
Melanie hurriedly added, "But we wouldn't do it unless Mrs. Miller wanted
one."
"That's very thoughtful, Melanie," said her
mother.
"Do you think you could talk to her and see how she
feels about it?" asked Melanie. "We're going to have some super dogs
and cats. Maybe she'd rather have a cat this time."
"It might be a little too early for her to take either,
sweetheart, but if it seems right, I'll talk to her."
Later in her room, Melanie sat staring at her open English
book, absentmindedly drawing Santa Clauses in her notebook. It had all seemed
so simple when she had thought up the idea of saving the animals. There were
all those beautiful kittens and puppies and older animals. All Melanie and her
friends needed was money and people to take them. How could anyone resist
giving money to save such sweet animals or not want to give a home to one of
them?
She looked at the picture of herself and Mona with Rainbow
that she had thumbtacked over her desk. It seemed impossible that someone
wouldn't want Rainbow. She was so loving and trusting. Melanie moved her
fingers across the photo. She could almost feel the fine hair covering the dog's
gorgeous head. She bit her lip to hold back the tears. In a way she knew how
Mrs. Miller felt.
She sighed and thought about her and Shane's plan to keep
the animals if Christmas Eve came before they found homes for them. It was a
crazy plan, and she had avoided even thinking about it, hoping instead that
people who wanted the pets really would come forward. But what if no one did?
What if she was stuck with eight or nine dogs hidden in her father's workshop?
How would she feed them? Or let them out to go to the bathroom? What had she
been thinking about anyway?
Melanie stood up and began pacing around her room. "There
has to be a better way to publicize this," she said out loud. "Just
putting an ad in the newspaper isn't enough. We've got to get the word out to
everyone in town that we need homes for these animals."
Of course there's television, she thought, but how . . . The
idea hit her like an avalanche. Jon Smith could get them on television. His
parents were Marge Whitworth and Chip Smith, local television personalities.
His mother even anchored the evening news program. All they would have to do
was convince her that their project was newsworthy and maybe, just maybe ,
she would put it on the air. Melanie dashed downstairs and called Jon on the
phone.
"She'll go for it," Jon shouted when he had heard
her idea. "I know she will. Let me talk to her and call you back."
Half an hour later the phone rang. It was Jon. "She
loved it. She said to be at the shelter tomorrow after school, and she'll get a
camera crew there from the station. She even said that we'll make the six-o'clock
news."
Melanie was ecstatic. She called everyone she could think of
and told them the news.
The next afternoon spirits were high as at least twenty kids
tramped to the shelter behind The Fabulous Five, Mona, and the boys. Some
carried hand-lettered signs saying things such as, "Save the animals!"
and "Don't let innocent dogs and cats die at Christmas!"
When they arrived at the animal shelter, Mrs. Graham was all
flustered.
"Oh, my gosh!" cried Melanie. "She's the one
person I forgot to call."
"It's okay," Mrs. Graham assured her. "In
fact, it's wonderful."
Just then Marge Whitworth rushed forward and began shouting
instructions. "Okay, kids. Listen up. I want a dozen volunteers to hold
the animals for the camera."
Every hand shot up, but Jon went to her and whispered
something in her ear.
"Okay," she said. "The boys and girls who've
been working to raise money should come forward."
Melanie couldn't suppress a grin as The Fabulous Five, Mona,
Matt, Scott, Shane, Tony, Keith, and Jon made their way through the crowd. Then
she spied Randy hanging back. Why hadn't he stepped up with the rest of
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