Fabulous Five 013 - The Christmas Countdown

by Betsy Haynes

  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 them? Melanie wondered. He had helped as much as anybody. Then she realized why Randy hadn't moved. He would make number thirteen, and Ms. Whitworth had said she needed twelve volunteers.

  Jon noticed it, too, and whispered to his mother again, and she motioned Randy forward with the others.

  Ms. Whitworth arranged them in a semicircle facing the camera, and when it started to roll, Charles handed each of them one of the dogs or cats from the cages. Each animal was leashed, and Charles cautioned them to hold on to the leashes for dear life. Then Marge Whitworth stepped in front of the group, faced the camera, and began speaking into her microphone.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here at the local animal shelter today to bring you the story of a dedicated group of students from Wakeman Junior High who are working hard to save the lives of fifteen dogs and cats, victims of overcrowding at the shelter, who are doomed to die on Christmas Eve."

  Melanie was holding Rainbow, and she listened to Jon's mother and stroked the dog's head at the same time. She could feel Rainbow's little heart beating furiously, and she longed to whisper to her that everything would be all right.

  "With only three days left and only halfway to their goal of three hundred . . ."

  Suddenly the Labrador retriever Matt was holding broke loose and lunged for the long-haired gray cat in Christie's arms. Christie screamed, dropping the cat, and pandemonium broke out as a boxer and a Border collie took off in opposite directions, getting tangled up in each other's leashes, and a calico cat yowled and swiped a black poodle across the nose. What happened after that was anyone's guess, Melanie thought later. Dogs were barking, kids were screeching, and cats were hissing and arching their backs, and Rainbow snuggled deeper into Melanie's arms.

  The only sound heard over the melee was Marge Whitworth's strong voice calling, "CUT!"

  CHAPTER 11

  Once order was restored and all the animals were back in their cages, Melanie approached Marge Whitworth, who was talking to her camera crew.

  "I guess you won't be able to use our story now, will you?" she asked.

  The anchorwoman threw back her head and laughed. "Of course I will. In fact, I'll use it on both the six- and eleven-o'clock news. If that wild scene doesn't point up the need for people to help out the shelter, nothing will."

  Melanie passed on the good news to the rest of the kids, who were congregated outside. Then she hurried home, feeling exuberant. They were going to get the publicity they needed after all. Now surely the money would come pouring in as well as offers for homes for some of the animals.

  "Guess what!" she called as she raced into her house and sailed into the kitchen. "We're going to be on the news at both six and eleven."

  "Catch your breath," said her mother, "and speak more slowly. What are you saying?"

  Melanie gasped and then went on to tell her mother about the dog-and-cat fight during the taping of the TV spot. "But Marge Whitworth says she's going to run it anyway. She says it will get more attention than if the animals had all behaved."

  "That's great, sweetheart. We'll be sure to watch. In fact, we'll tape it on the VCR if you'd like."

  Melanie nodded and had started up to her room when her mother called to her.

  "I thought you'd like to know that I went over to Mrs. Miller's today, and on top of everything else that's happened to her, the poor soul twisted her ankle going down her stairs. The Visiting Nurses Association is sending a nurse's aide over to help her with her cooking and chores for a couple of days. I told Mrs. Crenshaw, the nurse's aide, that I'd look in on Clare this evening. You know, Melanie, I think your idea of getting her another dog to take her mind off Duchess might just be what she needs. Since Clare lives alone, she doesn't have anything else to occupy her mind, and now with the bad ankle, she's awfully blue. This is not going to be a good Christmas 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."

  Mela
nie 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 way Melanie remembered her smiling when she held Jeffy when he was a baby.

  "Isn't he sweet," her mother cooed.

  "I'll bet Mrs. Miller would like a dog like that," said Melanie. "He's not very big and he would be easy to take care of."

  "Maybe so," her mother answered.

  "Look! Look!" squealed Jeffy. A kitten had its paw stretched out as far as it could reach and was swatting at him. Jeffy swatted back gently with his forefinger.

  "Can we get one? Oh, can we, please?" he pleaded.

  "We're here to look for a dog for Mrs. Miller, not for us," said Mrs. Edwards.

  "Daddy talks about the dogs he had when he was little," said Jeffy. "Why can't we have one?"

  Mrs. Edwards looked at her husband, her eyes pleading for help. He had a noncommittal half-smile on his face and didn't say a word.

  Now's the time if it ever will be, Melanie thought. "Let me show you someone special." She gripped her mother's and father's hands and pulled them toward the end of the row of cages. Jeffy followed, trying to look in all directions at once.

  Rainbow raised her head as they approached her cage and wagged her tail in greeting. Melanie thought she could see recognition in the big brown eyes. She wondered if the dog knew that she was trying hard to help.

  "Hello, Melanie." Mrs. Graham had left the other people. "Are you here to visit your friend?"

  "Yes, Ma'am. Can we let her out?"

  "I don't know if that's necessary," said Mrs. Edwards.

  "Surely. It's no problem at all," said Mrs. Graham. "Here, let me do it." She opened the door and then returned to the other people.

  Rainbow looked at them tentatively, as if she were surprised at the door's being open. Then she came out wagging her tail and sat pressing her shoulder against Melanie.

  "Look! She's smiling," said Jeffy. "I didn't know dogs could smile."

  "Some dogs do," said his father. "It's their way of showing they're glad to see you."

  Melanie caught the look of hopelessness in her mother's eyes and knew she was breaking. She stroked Rainbow's silken sides as Jeffy held her head and talked to her.

  As the family hovered around the dog, Melanie put the last part of her plan into action. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a big Christmas bow with a ribbon attached that she had brought especially for Rainbow. She carefully put the bow on the back of Rainbow's neck and tied the ribbon under her chin. She looked beautiful.

  "Rainbow is one of the animals that will be put to sleep on Christmas Eve if someone doesn't take her," Melanie said quietly. She heard her mother sigh. It was the same sigh Melanie had heard her make when she had given in on other things. "Can we take her when we come to get the animals? It won't cost us anything, and Jeffy and I will take care of her. We promise."

  "Yeah, we promise!" shouted Jeffy, jumping up and down in his excitement.

  Mrs. Edwards stood there while her family stared at her, waiting for her next words. She shrugged. "I suppose a grown dog wouldn't be as much trouble to train as a puppy. But we'll put a schedule on the refrigerator showing whose week it is to take care of her," she added sternly. Mrs. Edwards reached down and patted Rainbow on the head, and the dog leaned against her.

  Just then Mrs. Graham walked up to them again. "Oh, Melanie. You'll be glad to hear that Rainbow will be getting a home. Just before you got here, a family came in who had seen her on the six-o'clock news. They're going to come back in the morning to sign the adoption papers and take her home."

  Melanie was thunderstruck. She couldn't even answer Mrs. Graham. All she could do was hug Rainbow tightly while the little dog licked the tears off her cheeks.

  CHAPTER 12

  Melanie watched numbly as her parents paid for the little white dog, whose name turned out to be Jo-Jo, and filled out all the adoption papers stating that they would guarantee that he would be taken care of or they would return him to the animal shelter. She knew she should be glad that Mrs. Miller was getting a new friend and that Jo-Jo was getting a home, but her heart was breaking over Rainbow.

  Why had that other family had to watch TV tonight? And why couldn't they have picked some other dog besides Rainbow? Even though her parents had been sympathetic, and her mother had even said she could look for another dog after Christmas, Melanie knew that Rainbow was the only dog in the world for her.

  After they got home from the shelter, Melanie and Jeffy found a large cardboard box and cut the sides down on it. Then they dug through the off-season closet in the garage and found an old set of curtains that their mother said they could use for bedding.

  They put Jo-Jo into the box and gave him some of the food that Mrs. Graham had given them to carry them over. The family agreed that it was too late to take him over to Mrs. Miller that night and that they would give him to her the next evening.

  After Jo-Jo was settled, Melanie slipped on her jacket again and tiptoed out to the workshop. She stepped inside and flipped on the light switch, looking down at the piles of blankets and rags her friends had helped her assemble for the homeless dogs. How could she possibly take care of the other animals when Rainbow would be with someone else? Why did I start this whole thing in the first place? she asked herself. I wouldn't have, she thought angrily, if I had known how much it was going to hurt.

  Melanie dreaded going to school on Thursday morning, but when she got there she noticed a large crowd gathered by the fence where The Fabulous Five stood every morning. Besides her friends, there were the boys and Mona Vaughn. Not only that, they were all talking at the same time.

  "There she is!" shouted Jana when she saw Melanie coming toward them.

  "It's fantastic," cried Christie. "Everyone saw us on TV last night, and lots of kids have come up and contributed already this morning."

  Melanie tried to smile, but she couldn't.

  "What's wrong?" asked Jana, stepping forward and taking Melanie's hand.

  Quietly Melanie told them about Rainbow. Nobody said a word for a moment, and even though Melanie knew that her friends were all sympathizing with her, the ache in her heart would not go away. Finally she looked up and said, "There is some good news, though. Mrs.
Miller is going to get Jo-Jo, the little white dog in one of Garrett's pictures. We're taking him to her tonight."

  "MELANIE!" Jeffy came running down the hall, his feet pounding like a herd of football players. "Melanie! Dad's home!" he shouted as he hurtled into her room. "It's time to take Jo-Jo to Mrs. Miller."

  "I heard you the first time you yelled! I'm coming."

  When Melanie got to the kitchen, Jeffy was jumping up and down trying to hurry his father. Mrs. Edwards was smiling and taking off her apron.

  "Give me a chance to get my coat off at least," said Mr. Edwards.

  "I'll take your coat to your room," Jeffy volunteered.

  Melanie hadn't seen him so excited since last Christmas when he got his first video game. She knew her father's coat would end up wadded on the bed, if not on the floor. Jeffy was too wound up to even think about hanging it up.

  When everyone was reassembled in the kitchen, Mrs. Edwards said, "I found a box that I think Jo-Jo will fit in nicely, and we can surprise Clare by letting her open it. Melanie, you and Jeffy get him, and I'll get the box."

  "I can get him by myself," said Jeffy, scampering toward the garage door.

  "Jeffy!" His father's commanding voice brought him to a screeching halt. "Take it easy, Son. I know you're excited, but let Melanie help. This is a family project, you know."

  Melanie sighed. She didn't really feel like helping. It was going to take all her energy to act happy when they gave Jo-Jo to Mrs. Miller.

  The little white dog fit perfectly in the box. The last thing Melanie saw was its little black eyes looking questioningly up as the lid was closed over it. Mrs. Edwards put a stick-on Christmas bow on top.