The Pinballs by Betsy Byars Page A

‘Happy Birthday to You.’ How does that sound?”
    â€œIt sounds good to me.”
    â€œI know it’ll cure him. I mean, who is going to lie there staring up at the ceiling when a puppy is licking his face? It just can’t be done.”
    â€œWhat if the puppy doesn’t lick him though?”
    â€œWe’ll pick one that will. After all, there’re bound to be—how many puppies in a litter—six? Seven? There’s bound to be one licker.” At the door she paused and said, “Not a word of this to Mrs. Mason, you hear me?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œOr Mr. Mason.” Carlie sensed the bond that had grown between them.
    There was a pause, then, “All right.”
    â€œSee you in the morning.”

23
    Carlie and Thomas J walked slowly down the hospital hall with the shopping bag between them. “I wish he wasn’t such a wiggler,” Carlie said, looking straight ahead.
    â€œThat’s why you picked him—because he was the liveliest one.”
    â€œI know, but I feel like we got a tiger in there, the way the bag’s shaking. I’m afraid he’s going to bust out the bottom.”
    â€œIf he wets, I know he will.”
    â€œDon’t even think such things,” Carlie said. “And remember, every time you see a nurse, get in front of the bag. Nurses are known for their sharp eyes. Doctors aren’t. We could bring an elephant in here and the doctors wouldn’t notice.”
    Thomas J and Carlie went straight to Harvey’s room. “Shut the door, shut the door,” Carlie said quickly.
    She ran over to Harvey’s bed. He was staring at the ceiling. “Hey, it’s just me, Carlie. You can look at me in safety. I’m not wearing one of my famous halters.”
    He turned his eyes to her. “See, I lied.” She grinned. “I’ve got on my shocking-pink one—your favorite.” Before he could look back at the ceiling she said, “Hey, we brought you something.”
    Harvey didn’t speak.
    â€œAnd I’m not even going to make you guess what it is. I’m just going to tell you that it is fat, spotted, wiggly, that it has a tail and a pink nose and that it is dying to get out of this shopping bag.” She reached down and brought up the puppy. “Taa-dah! Puppy-time!”
    Carlie nudged Thomas J. “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Haaaaaarvey, Happy Birthday to you.”
    There was a silence. Thomas J said, “We wanted to get a white one so we could name him Snowball, but they all had spots on them.”
    Carlie set the puppy on the bed beside Harvey. She nudged him forward.
    Delighted to be out of the bag, the puppy rushed for the nearest face—Harvey’s—and began licking his neck.
    Carlie looked at Thomas J and rolled her eyes upward. “Thank goodness,” she mouthed.
    Harvey didn’t move. “Don’t you like him, Harvey?” Thomas J asked. It was the first present he had ever been in on. He wanted more than anything that it be a success. “He’s real nice—and fat too,” Thomas J said. “Feel him.”
    â€œYeah, pleasingly plump is not the word,” Carlie said.
    â€œAnd soft too,” Thomas J said anxiously.
    Harvey did not move. Thomas J squinted up at Carlie. “Should we sing the birthday song again?”
    Suddenly Harvey lifted his hand. He laid it on the puppy.
    â€œI don’t think so.” Carlie grinned.
    Harvey spoke for the first time in two days. “Is this for me?” he asked.
    â€œCompliments of Carlie and Thomas J,” Carlie said.
    â€œIt’s mine?”
    â€œYeah, it’s your birthday present. We picked it out special.”
    â€œPermanently?”
    â€œSure, what kind of gifts do you think me and Thomas J give? If we’d wanted to give you something unpermanent we’d have gotten a Popsicle.”
    â€œI can