Scout by Ellen Miles Page B

loved keeping each other company.
    As for Scout, how could
anyone
be afraid of a puppy this cute? Lizzie nuzzled the puppy’s neck again as Meg finished up with the pilot. Then she helped Meg put Scout into the crate in the back of the van. “I wish she could just stay on my lap,” Lizzie said.
    “I know, but she’ll be safer back there.” Meg checked the rearview mirror. “She’s already sleeping, anyway!”
    Lizzie turned back to see. Sure enough, Scout was curled up in a tiny, furry ball, with her head resting on one of Casey’s stuffed toys. “Aww.” What an adorable puppy.
    On the way home, Meg told Lizzie stories about some of the amazing things Casey had done as asearch-and-rescue dog. “You should see her when she’s working,” Meg said. “She’s all business. I couldn’t distract her even if I waved a hot dog in front of her face.”
    “I’d
love
to see her track somebody,” Lizzie said.
    Meg grinned. “Well, you’re in luck,” she said. “It just so happens that Casey and I are doing a demonstration at your school this Friday. My friend James, who’s a policeman with a K-9 partner, is coming, too.”
    “Really? Cool!” That was definitely something to look forward to.
    When they pulled into the Petersons’ driveway, Charles and the Bean ran out to meet them. “Where’s the puppy?” Charles asked. He peeked into the van’s rear window. “Oh, she’s so cute!” He boosted the Bean up so he could see, too.
    “Uppy!” shouted the Bean.
    “Do you think Scout will get along with Casey and Buddy?” Lizzie asked Meg.
    “Let’s find out,” Meg said. “Maybe we can introduce them in the backyard, where they’ll have room to run around.”
    “I’ll let Buddy and Casey out!” Charles said. He headed back inside while Lizzie helped Meg get Scout out of the van.
    The Bean laughed his googly laugh when he saw Scout in Lizzie’s arms. He held up his hands. “Uppy! Uppy! Uppy!”
    “He wants to hug her,” Lizzie told Meg. “Maybe later,” she said to her little brother. But she let him pat Scout, and she watched carefully to see what Scout thought of the Bean.
    Scout liked the way the little boy patted her. He was gentle, even though his voice was loud. She had a feeling he was going to be a good friend.
    Lizzie’s mom and dad came out onto the deck facing the backyard to watch the dogs meet one another. “Oh, what a sweetie!” said Mom.
    “She looks a lot like Casey when Casey was young,” Dad said. “If she turns out half as good as Casey, she’ll be a great dog.” Casey spent a lot of time at the fire station, and Lizzie knew all the firefighters loved her.
    Buddy and Casey had trotted over to find out what everyone was so interested in. When Casey saw Scout, her ears pricked up and she started to whine with excitement. Buddy was excited, too. He put his paws up on Lizzie and tried to reach his shiny black button nose up to touch Scout’s.
    Oh, boy! A new friend! Buddy liked Casey, but she was kind of boring. She didn’t want to run and tumble and play. This smaller dog might be much more fun!
    Scout did not seem shy at all. She wriggled in Lizzie’s arms as if she wanted to get down and play. “What do you think?” Lizzie asked Meg.
    “I think they’ll be fine,” Meg answered. “Go ahead and let her down.”
    The minute Lizzie put Scout down, she and the other two dogs began to sniff one another. Their tails were wagging hard. Scout nibbled on Casey’s chin, and Casey put a soft paw on her as if to say, “Hey there, little one!” Buddy jumped around Scout, bowing with both front paws out in front of him. Lizzie knew what
he
was saying:
“Let’s play! Let’s play!”
    Then the two puppies took off, zooming around the yard as fast as their little legs could carry them. They tumbled and somersaulted and nipped and growled little puppy play growls. Casey trotted after them like a worried mother hen.
    “Buddy has found a pal!” Lizzie said.
    “And Casey has