Barney

by Ellen Miles

  Polly had one arm around Cassie. She tugged at Barney’s leash with the other. She didn’t ask for help, but Lizzie could tell she needed it.

  “Come on, boy,” Lizzie said in a soft voice. Carefully, she picked Barney up and pulled him into her lap. The puppy whined and struggled to get away. His paws left muddy smears all over Lizzie’s jeans. Lizzie didn’t care. She scratched Barney under the chin and her fingers found their way past his long coarse hair to the softer coat underneath. Slowly, Barney started to relax. “It just takes time,” Lizzie whispered to him. “Right? You just need a little time to get all that energy out and settle down.”

  Lizzie had been talking to Barney, but Polly responded. “Sadly, time is something I just don’t have,” she said with a sigh. “I really wish I did.”

  “And the winner of the blue ribbon for this class,” Lizzie heard the announcer say, “is Maria Santiago, riding Picadilly.”

  Lizzie looked into the ring just in time to see a woman reaching up to pin a big blue ribbon onto Picadilly’s bridle. Maria had won first place!

  “I have to go,” Lizzie said, grabbing the brush box. “Cassie, I had fun with you. I hope I see you again.” Barney looked up at her and wagged his tail, an innocent expression on his face. “Little troublemaker,” Lizzie whispered as she gave him a good-bye pat. He really was adorable. But she had to hurry if she wanted to meet Maria when she came out of the ring.

  “You won!” Lizzie greeted her best friend. She patted Picadilly on his neck and smiled up at Maria.

  “I know! I can’t believe it,” Maria said, grinning. “I mean, who knows? Maybe I only won because I caught that pesky little puppy.”

  “Well, you deserve a blue ribbon just for that,” Lizzie said. “It was brave.”

  “I knew Dilly would be fine,” said Maria. “He never shies away from loud sounds, and he’s used to dogs. He’s good that way.” Maria jumped down from the saddle and hugged the pony’s neck. “Thanks, boy. You were a star.”

  Lizzie admired the shiny blue satin ribbon in Maria’s hand. “Very fancy.”

  “Maria!” Kathy called out. The horse trainer rushed over to give Maria a high five. “You and Dilly were amazing. You saved Barney, and you won the class.”

  Lizzie looked from Kathy to Maria. “Wait, you already knew Barney?” Lizzie asked.

  “Sure. We’ve met him at the stable,” said Maria. “I don’t think Mavis’s family really wanted a dog, but I know that Barney was a present for Mavis and her little sister.”

  “I heard about that,” Lizzie said. Kathy and Maria looked at her. “I mean, I met Mavis’s mom,” Lizzie went on. “I watched Cassie so Polly could get Barney out of the ring. Then I helped to calm Barney down while I talked with them for a while.”

  Maria smiled and shook her head. “This may be a horse show, but you are Lizzie Peterson,” Maria said. “You always find a dog, wherever you go.”

  Lizzie smiled back. Maria was right. Lizzie did find dogs everywhere. She couldn’t help it. She loved dogs.

  But today wasn’t about dogs. It was about Maria, and ponies and horses. Lizzie wanted to be a good best friend. It was why she was there. Lizzie knew what she had to do. She had to forget about Barney and focus on Maria—and Dilly—for the rest of the day.

  “I’m so glad I came,” Lizzie said as Maria clipped Dilly’s lead to Kathy’s trailer.

  “I’m super glad, too,” Maria said. “Especially since my dad couldn’t stay. Oh, and Kathy said we can get the apples for your World Food Fair project on the way back home later on.”

  “That’s perfect,” Lizzie said. “I saw lots of apples on display at that farm stand we passed on the way here.”

  Later that week, Lizzie and Maria’s grade would be hosting a World Food Fair for the whole school. Students had to bring in a food to share, something that represented a family tradition. Lizzie had decided to bring in apple butter, which she’d learned to make with her aunt Amanda. Lizzie loved peanut butter and apple butter sandwiches. They tasted like home.

  Maria patted Dilly’s neck after she and Lizzie had brushed him down. “You get some rest, boy. We still have a big day ahead.” Maria’s next class was in the afternoon, so they had a long break. Maria turned to Lizzie. “My dad gave me money for the food truck,” she said with a smile. “Ready for lunch?”

  Lizzie and Maria found the food truck by the barn. Maria ordered a hamburger, Lizzie chose grilled cheese, and they both got hot chocolate, just to warm themselves up. They sat at a nearby picnic table. Maria had grabbed an extra horse blanket from the trailer, and she draped it over their shoulders as they huddled together for warmth.

  “I should have come to a show over the summer,” Lizzie said. She was shivering, even with her winter coat zipped up all the way.

  “Summer shows are fun,” Maria said, wrapping her hands around her cup of hot chocolate. “But a lot of them are far away. This stable is so close. Kathy’s barn is only, like, five minutes from here. She’s good friends with this barn’s trainers.”

  Lizzie nodded. “That’s cool.”

  “Since you’re here,” Maria said, “maybe you can help me memorize the courses for the jumping classes I’m doing later? Dad usually helps me do it.”

  “Sure. Sounds fun,” Lizzie replied.

  “It’s so much easier with two people,” Maria said. “You just have to quiz me.”

  As they ate, Lizzie looked at a cue card with a picture of the fences in the show ring. There were numbers by the fences, one to eight. Maria went over the order of the jumps again and again. Maria knew all the names for the fences—like the oxer or the in-and-out—and she knew how many strides Dilly should take between each jump.

  “It’s a lot to remember,” Lizzie said.

  “I know, right?” Maria agreed.

  “I don’t think I could memorize them all,” Lizzie admitted.

  “Um, yeah, you could,” Maria said. “You memorized your entire ‘Dog Breeds of the World’ poster.” Then she went back to reciting the three courses by heart.

  Three dogs trotted by at the heel of a woman in knee-high green rubber boots. The dogs playfully nipped at one another’s short tails. Two Welsh corgis and a Jack Russell, thought Lizzie as her eyes wandered from the course cue cards to the dogs.

  “Wait,” Maria said, shaking her head. “Did I just mess up?”

  Lizzie looked back down at the card in her hand. “I don’t think so,” she said, though she wasn’t at all sure.

  “Lizzie!” Maria said. “You were watching those dogs.” She laughed out loud. Maria knew her best friend too well.

  “You’re right. I’m so sorry.” Lizzie said. “I was just thinking about how corgis and Jack Russell terriers are good horse dogs, and then I wondered why Barney doesn’t seem like a horse dog at all.”

  “You really have a one-track mind,” Maria said. “That’s what my mom would say.”

  “That is what my mom says,” Lizzie said, and they both laughed. Lizzie knew she was lucky to have a friend who knew her so well.

  After a while, Lizzie decided to say what was really on her mind. “I can tell how much Polly and Cassie love Barney,” Lizzie began, but then she paused. She bit her lip. She felt bad to even say it out loud. “And I’m sure Mavis does, too. But—”

  “But?” Maria prompted.

  “But I think Barney might be too much puppy for that family.” There. It was out. Lizzie didn’t feel any better, but she still believed it was true.

  “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Maria asked.

  “I am,” Lizzie replied. “He’s too much for them, and they’re too much for him. I can tell that he doesn’t like the way Cassie grabs him. I think that family needs some help with Barney.”

  The jumping was so exciting that Lizzie held her breath as she watched. She loved watching the horses fly over the jumps, the riders perfectly in sync with their moves. Maria remembered the courses perfectly for her jumping classes. By the time the horse
show ended, Maria and Picadilly really had something to celebrate: they were reserve champion for their division, which Lizzie learned was like second place overall. Lizzie was so proud of her best friend—and her best friend’s pony! She gave Dilly a big hug before Maria and Kathy loaded him into Kathy’s trailer.

  “Hi, Lizzie?”

  “Oh—hi, Polly,” Lizzie said. She’d been so involved in the jumping event that she’d almost forgotten about the Barney problem. Polly had Cassie propped on her hip, and she had Barney on a very tight leash.

  “I just wanted to thank you again for watching Cassie,” Polly said. She shifted so the little girl was higher on her hip.

  “I was happy to help,” Lizzie said. “I’m glad you got Barney back safe and sound.” Lizzie smiled down at the puppy. He looked up and seemed to smile back at her, working his funny, shaggy eyebrows up and down. He tilted his head, gazing at her with his sparkly eyes.

  “I’m glad, too,” Polly said. “Um, listen. After Barney got loose, I spoke to Kathy. She told me your family fosters puppies. We’re about to go away on a trip, and we could use a break while we get ready for it. I wonder if you could help us out.”

  “Um,” Lizzie wasn’t sure what to say. It was exactly what she’d been thinking earlier: That Polly and her family could use some time off from Barney. But did Polly want to give him up for good, or just for a few days?

  “Kathy gave me your mom’s number and I was about to call her to speak about you taking Barney from us for a while,” Polly went on. “But I wanted to ask what you think about it. I mean, I’m starting to think that Barney might be a bit much for our family right now. Maybe we even have to think about giving him up for good.”

  Lizzie saw Cassie’s face fall. She could tell that the little girl was about to start wailing. “Well, I think—”

  “Mom! No!” A teenager walked up. She was wearing a green down jacket over her show coat. She looked a lot like Cassie, without the bright-pink baby cheeks and pigtails. Lizzie figured she must be Mavis, Cassie’s big sister.

  “Don’t say that in front of Cassie,” Mavis insisted, squeezing her sister’s shoulder. “It isn’t fair. She loves Barney. We all do.” Mavis bent down to pet Barney. “Good boy,” she said as Barney barked and spun in circles.

  Polly sighed. “It’ll just be a trial run,” she said to Mavis. “I think Barney needs a break from us as much as we need one from him.”

  “But how can you say good-bye to those big eyes and bushy eyebrows? Are you sure, Mom?” Mavis asked.

  “I am,” Polly said. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I love Barney—we all do—but he’s just too full of energy.” She smiled sadly at the feisty little pup by her side.

  “Baa-nee!” Cassie squealed. She reached her little arms around Barney’s belly. Barney put his tail between his legs and flashed Lizzie a frightened look.

  “Uh-uh! No picking up Barney,” Polly told Cassie. She paused and then looked up at Lizzie. “I have to remind her of that about eighty times a day,” she said, sighing. She petted Barney again. “He’s a good dog, he really is. He just complicates our already complicated life.”

  Lizzie felt the worst for Cassie. It was clear how much the little girl loved the puppy—but if the two of them weren’t separated soon, who knew what might happen? So far, Barney just tried to get away from her when she grabbed him, but Lizzie knew that some dachshunds had a reputation for being nippy.

  * * *

  An hour later, Lizzie and Maria were at the farm stand—with Barney—picking out apples. Lizzie could hardly believe it was still the same day. So much had happened! Polly and Lizzie had each talked to Lizzie’s mom, and it hadn’t taken long for them to agree that the Petersons would watch Barney while Polly’s family got ready for their trip.

  Lizzie looked over the baskets of apples, biting her thumb. The farm stand had all kinds of apples—green with shiny skin, red with green patches, pale green with freckles, bright red, pinkish red. She didn’t know which ones to choose. And Lizzie couldn’t forget to buy a box of a dozen apple-cider doughnuts, too. She’d promised Charles she would bring some home.

  Lizzie looked around, but there wasn’t anyone minding the stand. Finally, a man emerged from the back room. “Forgive me,” he said. “I can’t hear a thing when I’m out back. Can I help you?”

  Lizzie stared at him. It was the cranky know-it-all man from the horse show, Mr. Bixby! For a moment, she forgot why she was even there. Then she caught herself. “Can you tell me which apples are good for cooking?” she asked. “I’m making apple butter.”

  Just then, Mrs. Bixby appeared from outside, dusting off her hands. “Hal, you didn’t tell me we had customers,” she said. “If you’re making apple butter, I’d go with the Braeburn or the Cortland. Or a mixture.” She pointed to two baskets that were next to each other.

  “Thanks,” said Lizzie. She filled two bags quickly. Kathy was waiting with a trailer full of horses, and Maria stood out in front of the farm stand, holding Barney on his leash. Who knew when he would start barking again?

  The next time Lizzie glanced up, she realized that both Mr. and Mrs. Bixby were staring at Barney.

  The pup sat in the grass, basking in a ray of sunlight. He cocked his head to one side, listening. His caramel coat gleamed like a brand-new penny. He really was the cutest puppy. Then Barney’s ears perked up.

  Yip, yip, yip! Barney yanked his leash right out of Maria’s hand. He ran to a tree, put his paws on its trunk, and barked up at a squirrel.

  Maria rushed over to the pup and grabbed the leash. Barney kept barking. “Yeah, I see that squirrel, Barney,” she said. “Good job, Barney.” She pulled him back to the trailer.

  Lizzie braced herself for a grumpy comment from Mr. Bixby. “Cute dog” was all he said.

  “Yes,” Lizzie said. “But he’s not mine. I’m just, um, watching him.” She didn’t want to get into the whole story.

  Mrs. Bixby weighed the apples and added up some numbers on a paper bag. “We saw you at the horse show. Isn’t that Kathy’s trailer?” She showed Lizzie the total she owed. “We know Kathy. She’s a good neighbor.”

  “Cool,” said Lizzie. “She’s my friend’s riding instructor. She’s driving us home.” Lizzie handed her money to Mrs. Bixby and held out her hand for change. She wanted to get out of there before Mr. Bixby said anything mean about Barney.

  “That puppy is very lively,” Mrs. Bixby said, counting out Lizzie’s change. “He has a mind of his own, I gather.”

  “Yup,” Lizzie said. Was she ever going to get out of there?

  “Typical dachshund,” Mr. Bixby said, in that gruff voice of his.

  Lizzie shuffled her feet as she waited for Mrs. Bixby to give her the change.

  “I hope the apple butter turns out well, dear,” Mrs. Bixby said as she finally handed it over.

  “Thanks.” Lizzie pocketed her money. “Have a good day.” Lizzie jogged toward the truck with the heavy bags of apples in her arms. When she looked back, both Mr. and Mrs. Bixby were waving.

  Lizzie was relieved to get out of there. Mrs. Bixby was nice, but Mr. Bixby sure was grumpy. It wasn’t until Kathy had driven a few miles down the road that Lizzie remembered. She had forgotten to buy the doughnuts.

  “But I love apple-cider doughnuts,” Charles said, for the fifteenth time after dinner that night. “How could you forget them?”

  “I told you, Barney distracted me,” Lizzie said. “He was barking, and I thought the farm stand owners were going to get mad at him.”

  Charles rolled his eyes. “That’s not a very good excuse.”

  “I know,” said Lizzie. “I’m sorry, okay?” She was exhausted. It had been a long day, and Barney had not calmed down when she’d gotten him home.

  As soon as he had arrived, Barney had acted like the boss of everyone. Even though he was smaller than Buddy, he tried to steal all Buddy’s toys. As soon as he discovered the backyard, Barney wanted to go outside—and then come back i
nside—every five minutes. And he begged for attention constantly, putting his tiny paws up on Lizzie’s legs and barking if she ignored him.

  “I’m sorry, Mom,” Lizzie said as she let Barney out for the tenth time. She could tell her mom was not enjoying Barney’s antics.

  Mom patted her shoulder. “It’s okay,” she said. “We’ve had wild puppies before. We’ll manage—as long as he’s not here too long. Anyway, dinner’s almost ready. Can you set the table?”

  By the time Lizzie and her family sat down to eat, Barney had cuddled up close to Buddy. They were both sound asleep on Buddy’s bed in the living room. Barney had his front paws tucked under his chin. He was so sweet and peaceful when he was asleep.

  * * *

  After dinner, Lizzie headed upstairs to use Mom’s computer to do a little more research on wirehaired dachshunds. Maybe she could learn more about the best ways to train a wild child like Barney.

  It was almost bedtime when the phone rang. “It’s for you,” Dad said, handing her the phone. “It’s Polly, Barney’s owner.” He raised his eyebrows.

  “Hello?” Lizzie said. She felt a knot in her stomach. She guessed she knew what Polly was going to say. It didn’t take her long to get to the point.

  “We love Barney, but he makes things very hard, especially with Cassie,” Polly said. “They get into trouble together all the time. I worry that one of these days he’ll lose patience with her rough handling. I can already tell, just from a few hours without him here, how much more peaceful our lives are Barney deserves a loving home. I wish it could be ours—but I see now that it can’t.”

  Polly sounded upset. Lizzie knew Mavis and Cassie had to be sad, too. “Maybe I can find him a new home that’s close by,” Lizzie suggested. “Then you and Mavis and Cassie could visit him sometimes.”

  “Wow,” Polly said. “That would be amazing.”

  Lizzie promised to do her best. Barney was so cute and sweet. How hard could it be to find him a new home?