Read Online Fabulous Five 013 - The Christmas Countdown by Betsy Haynes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Betsy Haynes
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for
her."
Melanie spun around and hugged herself for joy. This was
exactly the opportunity she had been waiting for to put her plan about Rainbow
in action. "Can we go look for a pet for her this evening after we watch
the six-o'clock news? Mona said the shelter is open until eight o'clock so
people can go after work."
"I don't see why not," said her mother, and
Melanie thought she would die from relief.
When her father got home, Melanie told him about the
television taping at the shelter. He helped her set the VCR so that they could
get a permanent copy of her television debut, and the whole family gathered
around the set as the news came on.
Marge Whitworth opened the broadcast with a few stories of
national interest. Then she talked about a robbery on the east side of town.
Jeffy was getting fidgety, and Melanie could hardly sit still herself. Finally
the big moment arrived.
"In other news around town, I spent some time at our
local animal shelter this afternoon filming a very special Christmas project,"
said Ms. Whitworth.
Her face disappeared from the screen for an instant, and when
it reappeared, she was in the animal shelter, standing in front of all the kids
and their animals.
"This is it!" shrieked Melanie.
Jeffy jumped off his stool and ran to the television,
jabbing the screen with his finger. "There you are! Melanie, you're on TV!"
"That's what I told you, silly," said Melanie.
She motioned him to be quiet as the anchorwoman began
speaking. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here at the local animal shelter
today . . ."
Melanie sat spellbound watching herself and her friends on
television. But as much fun as that was, it was Rainbow whom she couldn't take
her eyes off of. The little dog was so gentle, even when the others went wild,
and the way she snuggled close made tears of longing come to Melanie's eyes.
Everyone was laughing like crazy by the time the segment was
over.
"That was an awfully nice dog you were holding,"
said her mother. "In fact, I'd say it was the pick of the bunch."
Melanie wanted to grab her mother and hug her, but she didn't
dare. It was critical that she didn't blow her chances of getting Rainbow now,
just when it was time for her parents to meet the dog in person.
A few minutes later the family got into the car for the
drive to the shelter, but before she left the house, Melanie hurried to her
room for the one special thing she wanted to take along.
"Wow!" said Jeffy as they walked into the animal
shelter. "Look at all the cages. And there are cats and dogs in all of
them." He ran forward and dropped to his knees in front of one cage, his
hands gripping the wire bars. The yellow cocker spaniel inside licked his nose,
making Jeffy giggle.
Besides the garland along the top of the cages, the shelter
employees had added brightly colored bows to the cage doors. The room looked
cheerful, and Mrs. Graham was showing animals to two other families. A little
girl was holding a dachshund that wiggled in her arms until Melanie thought she
might drop it. The other family had a cat with a pushed-in face that made it
look as if it were crabby.
"See," said Melanie, pulling her mother by the
hand to the cages. "Aren't they all just gorgeous?" She watched her
mother's face closely to see her reaction. She knew that this would be her last
chance to change her parents' minds about getting a pet.
Mr. Edwards followed as they walked along the rows looking
at the animals. The sternness had melted out of her mother's eyes as she looked
at the animals, and Melanie's heart quickened. Was her mother's resolve not to
get a dog weakening?
"Look at this little dog," said Melanie, pointing
to a cage that contained the small white dog that Garrett had photographed on
Saturday. It looked more like the end of her mother's dust mop than an animal.
Mrs. Edwards stuck her finger into the cage. The black
button nose sniffed at it and then its little pink tongue flicked out and
licked it. Mrs. Edwards smiled the
her."
Melanie spun around and hugged herself for joy. This was
exactly the opportunity she had been waiting for to put her plan about Rainbow
in action. "Can we go look for a pet for her this evening after we watch
the six-o'clock news? Mona said the shelter is open until eight o'clock so
people can go after work."
"I don't see why not," said her mother, and
Melanie thought she would die from relief.
When her father got home, Melanie told him about the
television taping at the shelter. He helped her set the VCR so that they could
get a permanent copy of her television debut, and the whole family gathered
around the set as the news came on.
Marge Whitworth opened the broadcast with a few stories of
national interest. Then she talked about a robbery on the east side of town.
Jeffy was getting fidgety, and Melanie could hardly sit still herself. Finally
the big moment arrived.
"In other news around town, I spent some time at our
local animal shelter this afternoon filming a very special Christmas project,"
said Ms. Whitworth.
Her face disappeared from the screen for an instant, and when
it reappeared, she was in the animal shelter, standing in front of all the kids
and their animals.
"This is it!" shrieked Melanie.
Jeffy jumped off his stool and ran to the television,
jabbing the screen with his finger. "There you are! Melanie, you're on TV!"
"That's what I told you, silly," said Melanie.
She motioned him to be quiet as the anchorwoman began
speaking. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here at the local animal shelter
today . . ."
Melanie sat spellbound watching herself and her friends on
television. But as much fun as that was, it was Rainbow whom she couldn't take
her eyes off of. The little dog was so gentle, even when the others went wild,
and the way she snuggled close made tears of longing come to Melanie's eyes.
Everyone was laughing like crazy by the time the segment was
over.
"That was an awfully nice dog you were holding,"
said her mother. "In fact, I'd say it was the pick of the bunch."
Melanie wanted to grab her mother and hug her, but she didn't
dare. It was critical that she didn't blow her chances of getting Rainbow now,
just when it was time for her parents to meet the dog in person.
A few minutes later the family got into the car for the
drive to the shelter, but before she left the house, Melanie hurried to her
room for the one special thing she wanted to take along.
"Wow!" said Jeffy as they walked into the animal
shelter. "Look at all the cages. And there are cats and dogs in all of
them." He ran forward and dropped to his knees in front of one cage, his
hands gripping the wire bars. The yellow cocker spaniel inside licked his nose,
making Jeffy giggle.
Besides the garland along the top of the cages, the shelter
employees had added brightly colored bows to the cage doors. The room looked
cheerful, and Mrs. Graham was showing animals to two other families. A little
girl was holding a dachshund that wiggled in her arms until Melanie thought she
might drop it. The other family had a cat with a pushed-in face that made it
look as if it were crabby.
"See," said Melanie, pulling her mother by the
hand to the cages. "Aren't they all just gorgeous?" She watched her
mother's face closely to see her reaction. She knew that this would be her last
chance to change her parents' minds about getting a pet.
Mr. Edwards followed as they walked along the rows looking
at the animals. The sternness had melted out of her mother's eyes as she looked
at the animals, and Melanie's heart quickened. Was her mother's resolve not to
get a dog weakening?
"Look at this little dog," said Melanie, pointing
to a cage that contained the small white dog that Garrett had photographed on
Saturday. It looked more like the end of her mother's dust mop than an animal.
Mrs. Edwards stuck her finger into the cage. The black
button nose sniffed at it and then its little pink tongue flicked out and
licked it. Mrs. Edwards smiled the
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