Absolutely Lucy

by Ilene Cooper

  Bobby looked out his living room window. He could see the children who had moved in across the street. There was a boy who was younger than Bobby, a girl who was older than Bobby, and another boy just about Bobby’s age. The children were playing volleyball. The girl and the little boy were one team. The other boy was a team all by himself. He was good at hitting the ball over the net.

  The game looked like fun. Bobby wished he could be playing with the new kids. Then he thought about going across the street and saying hello. He knew he absolutely could not do it.

  Meeting new people made his heart pound fast. His face got red. Even his ears got red. He was afraid he’d do something stupid. No, it was better not to try and meet new people. Anyway, now that he had Lucy, he didn’t need any other friends.

  Lucy woke up from her nap. She danced around Bobby.

  “Do you want to go for a walk?” Bobby asked.

  What if they went for a walk and those kids across the street tried to talk to him? What would he say?

  “Are you sure you want to go?” Bobby asked Lucy.

  Lucy kept on dancing.

  “All right. I’ll get your leash.”

  Bobby and Lucy went outside. Bobby snuck a look across the street. The children were gone.

  Bobby and Lucy walked down the street. No one was around. Maybe everyone was inside, trying to keep cool.

  The house on the corner was big and yellow. Old Mr. Davis lived in the house. Sometimes Bobby saw him bringing in his newspaper or weeding his garden. His garden was full of roses, day lilies, and big sunflowers that were taller than Bobby.

  Mr. Davis was sitting in a rocking chair on his porch. When Bobby and Lucy walked past, Mr. Davis lifted his hand.

  “Hi, Bobby,” he said in a tired voice. “What’s your dog’s name?”

  “Lucy.” Bobby could feel his face starting to get red.

  Lucy stood up on her hind legs and barked at the sound of her name. Bobby hurried on.

  On the next block was a small park. It was mostly for little kids. The children went on the swings or played in the sandbox. Today the park was empty except for a toddler and his babysitter.

  The boy was taking fast baby steps on his chubby legs. He looked like he might tumble over, but he never did.

  The boy started to cry when he saw Lucy. His babysitter picked him up.

  “I guess he’s afraid of dogs,” the girl said.

  Bobby didn’t see how anybody could be afraid of Lucy. “She’s nice. She likes everybody,” Bobby said.

  “Do you want to say hello to the doggie?” the babysitter asked the boy.

  He shook his head no.

  “I’m sorry,” the babysitter said to Bobby. “Would you mind taking your dog to the other side of the park?”

  Bobby felt bad that the boy didn’t like Lucy. But he did what the babysitter asked. He and Lucy walked away.

  Bobby sat on a park bench. He tossed a stick to Lucy.

  “Fetch, Lucy,” Bobby said. He wanted to see if she would bring it back to him. She didn’t.

  He looked over at the little boy. Too bad he wouldn’t give Lucy a chance. But Bobby knew it was hard to give something new a chance.

  It was too hot to stay in the park for long. Slowly Bobby and Lucy walked home.

  Mr. Davis was still sitting in his chair, but now his eyes were closed. He must be sleeping, Bobby thought. He was ready to walk by, but Lucy stopped and stood very still.

  “What’s wrong?” Bobby wanted to go home and have a cool drink.

  Lucy wouldn’t move. She stared at Mr. Davis. Then she pulled hard on her leash. She wanted to go up on Mr. Davis’s porch.

  “No, Lucy,” Bobby said.

  But Lucy wouldn’t take no for an answer. She kept tugging on her leash. Finally, Bobby followed her up the stairs.

  Mr. Davis was sweating. His eyes were still closed.

  “Mr. Davis?” Bobby said softly.

  Mr. Davis didn’t answer.

  Bobby felt scared. “Are you okay?” he asked. “Mr. Davis, can you hear me?”

  Mr. Davis’s eyes fluttered. “Bobby?”

  “Are you okay?” Bobby asked again.

  “Bobby, go get your mother,” Mr. Davis said in a weak voice. “I don’t feel very good.”

  Bobby and Lucy ran all the way home.

  Bobby’s mother raced over to Mr. Davis’s house. Bobby and Lucy were right behind her.

  Mr. Davis was breathing hard. “My medicine,” he gasped. “It’s on the kitchen table.”

  Bobby had never seen his mother move so fast. She brought out the medicine and a glass of water. She helped Mr. Davis take his medicine.

  “I’ll be better in a minute or two,” Mr. Davis said.

  “I’m going to call 911,” Mrs. Quinn said.

  “No, no. The medicine works fast,” he told her. “Take me into the house.”

  Mrs. Quinn helped Mr. Davis inside. He sat on the couch. He was starting to look better.

  “Sorry,” Mr. Davis said. “I didn’t mean to scare anybody. I was so tired, I couldn’t get inside to get my medicine.”

  Mrs. Quinn turned to Bobby. “How did you know Mr. Davis was sick?”

  “I didn’t,” Bobby said. “It was Lucy.”

  “Lucy!” his mother exclaimed.

  “She knew something was wrong,” Bobby told her. “She wouldn’t go home until we checked on Mr. Davis.”

  Mr. Davis was sitting up straighter. “That little dog is a hero,” he said.

  Bobby looked down at Lucy, who was sitting quietly at his feet.

  “Wow, Lucy. You’re a hero.”

  Mrs. Quinn gave Lucy a pat. “I should say so,” she said. “Mr. Davis, how are you feeling now?”

  Mr. Davis took a deep breath. “Just about back to normal.”

  “Can I call someone for you?” Mrs. Quinn asked Mr. Davis.

  “My daughter, maybe,” he replied.

  Bobby and his mother said they would wait with Mr. Davis until his daughter came over.

  Mr. Davis had a very interesting house. Pictures of soldiers and cowboys were on the walls. Two big fish hung on the wall, too. Mr. Davis told Bobby he caught those fish when he was a boy.

  The other things that filled the house were books, books, and more books. Some were in bookshelves. Some were on tables. There were piles of books on the floor. Bobby liked the book of Bible stories with shiny colored pictures.

  Mr. Davis’s daughter made a fuss when she came. She thanked Bobby and his mother over and over. She thanked Lucy, too. Mr. Davis told Bobby to come by anytime.

  The next day was hotter than the one before. Bobby was bored.

  “Mom, will you take me to a movie?” he asked.

  “I’m busy paying bills. Maybe later.”

  Then Bobby had an idea.

  “Do you think I should go to Mr. Davis’s house?” Bobby asked.

  Mrs. Quinn looked up at him. “Do you want to?”

  “His house had lots of neat stuff,” Bobby told her. “And he told me to come over anytime.”

  “Yes, he did,” his mother agreed.

  “I could see if he’s feeling better today,” Bobby said.

  “It would be very nice of you to visit Mr. Davis,” Bobby’s mother said.

  “Okay. Lucy and I will go.”

  Bobby put Lucy on her leash, and they walked down the street. The closer they got to the yellow house, the louder Bobby’s heart bumped. It was one thing to help Mr. Davis when he was sick. It was another thing to stop by for a visit.

  “Maybe we should just go home,” Bobby whispered to Lucy.

  But Lucy pulled Bobby forward. Mr. Davis was working in his yard.

  “Hello, there!” Mr. Davis called. “I’m feeling fine today. Did you come by to say hello?”

  Lucy hurried toward the gate. Bobby had to run to keep up with her.

  “Yes,” Bobby said. There was no turning back now.

  “My daughter brought me some cookies and lemonade this morning
,” Mr. Davis said as they climbed the stairs. “Would you like some?”

  Bobby nodded. Bobby, Mr. Davis, and Lucy went inside. Mr. Davis got the lemonade and cookies. Bobby looked at a picture of a cowboy on the wall.

  “That was my grandfather,” Mr. Davis said.

  “Your grandfather was a cowboy?” Bobby asked with surprise.

  “He was a cowboy in Texas after the Civil War.” He pointed to another picture. “That’s him when he was a soldier.”

  “Wow,” Bobby said. “A cowboy and a soldier. All my grandfather does is work in a grocery store.”

  “Would you like me to tell you about my grandfather?” Mr. Davis asked.

  “Sure,” Bobby said.

  Mr. Davis sat on the couch. Bobby sat next to him. Lucy snuggled between them. Mr. Davis opened a photo album that was on the table. “Now this is a picture of my grandfather when he was a boy in Ohio,” Mr. Davis began. “That little fellow with him is his friend from the next farm. They were friends for their whole lives. They even went to Texas together when they were grown up.”

  Bobby liked listening to Mr. Davis’s stories. He especially liked the stories about the two young friends.

  Bobby looked over at Mr. Davis. Bobby thought maybe now he had a friend. White hair. Lots of wrinkles. Old. But a friend.

  “School!” Bobby exclaimed. “Mom, Lucy doesn’t want to go to school!”

  Bobby’s mother looked out the kitchen window at Lucy. Lucy was digging a hole in Mrs. Quinn’s garden. It was the third time this week.

  “Bobby,” Mrs. Quinn said, “Lucy needs to go to obedience school.”

  “She does what I tell her. Let’s go outside. I’ll show you.”

  Bobby and his mother went outside. Lucy was still busy digging.

  “Lucy, come. Come here, girl.”

  Lucy didn’t even look up.

  “Lucy,” Bobby called again.

  This time Lucy did lift her head. Then she went back to digging.

  Bobby went over to Lucy and picked her up. She squirmed.

  “Okay, try this.” Bobby put Lucy down on the ground. “Sit, Lucy. Sit.”

  Lucy looked at Bobby.

  “Sit.”

  Lucy lowered her tail down to the ground. She almost sat down. But she didn’t. Her tail started wagging. She jumped up. Then she ran around in a circle trying to catch her tail.

  “See what I mean?” Bobby’s mother asked. “Lucy needs to learn to sit. She needs to learn to stand quietly. She needs to learn how to obey.”

  “But it’s summer,” Bobby complained. “Nobody should have to go to school in the summer.”

  “The summer is a perfect time for a dog to go to school,” Mrs. Quinn said. “Obedience classes are starting in the park. I think we should sign up Lucy.”

  That night they talked about obedience school with Bobby’s father. He thought sending Lucy to school was a very good idea.

  “Maybe Lucy will learn to like her leash,” Mr. Quinn said.

  Lucy didn’t like being on her leash at all. Lucy liked to run free. Bobby didn’t think there was a school in the world that could make Lucy like her leash.

  “Who will take Lucy to this school?” Bobby asked.

  His parents looked at each other.

  “Why don’t you and I take her, Bobby?” his father asked.

  Bobby didn’t like this idea at all. It was bad enough Lucy had to go to school. He didn’t want to go to school, too. School meant new people to meet. New people he would have to talk to.

  “Can I think about it?” Bobby asked.

  “Yes, think about it, Bobby,” said his mother. “But don’t take too long. Lots of people want to sign their dogs up for obedience school.”

  The next day, Bobby and Lucy went to visit Mr. Davis. Bobby told Mr. Davis about obedience school.

  “But why don’t you want to go?” Mr. Davis asked.

  Bobby could feel his face get red. “Too many new people,” he mumbled.

  “Are you shy, Bobby?” Mr. Davis asked with surprise.

  “I guess,” Bobby said in a quiet voice.

  “Really? You don’t seem like a shy boy to me.”

  Now it was Bobby’s turn to be surprised. “I don’t?”

  “Not at all,” Mr. Davis said.

  Bobby was glad he didn’t seem like a shy boy to Mr. Davis.

  Mr. Davis poured some lemonade into Bobby’s glass.

  “Bobby, what about Lucy?” he asked.

  “What about her?”

  “Do you think she needs to go to obedience school?” Mr. Davis asked.

  Bobby had to be honest. “Yes.”

  “You are her owner,” Mr. Davis reminded him. “Don’t you think you should be with her at school?”

  “My dad could take her.”

  “Would that be the same?” Mr. Davis asked. “I think Lucy would like to have you there with her.”

  Lucy was sitting next to Bobby. She gave a long, low howl.

  Bobby had to laugh. “Yes. I guess she would.”

  “You never can tell, Bobby,” Mr. Davis said. “Maybe obedience school will be fun.”

  Fun? Bobby didn’t think so. But if Lucy had to go to obedience school, Bobby was going with her. Lucy needed him.

  Big dogs. Little dogs. Furry dogs. Sleek dogs. Mighty dogs and mutts. Dogs were walking, running, barking, and yapping all over the park.

  It was the first day of obedience school.

  Lucy trotted to the edge of the grass. Then she stopped and looked up at Bobby.

  “She’s never seen so many dogs,” Bobby said to his father.

  “I think there are only about ten dogs,” Mr. Quinn said. “It just seems like more because they are so noisy.”

  “How is Lucy going to learn to be obedient when all these dogs are so wild?” Bobby asked.

  “The dogs will learn to be obedient together,” Mr. Quinn said. But he didn’t look all that sure.

  A chunky woman with curly hair and a big smile said hello. She wore a big, shiny silver whistle around her neck.

  “I’m Marsha. I’m the trainer,” she said.

  Mr. Quinn introduced himself. He introduced Bobby and Lucy.

  Marsha leaned over and patted Lucy’s head. “Hello, Lucy. You’re going to be a good student, aren’t you?”

  Lucy tried to jump on Marsha and lick her face.

  Marsha just laughed. “We’ll start in a few minutes. When I blow my whistle, meet me by the big oak tree.”

  Marsha pointed out the tree. Then she walked away.

  “She seems nice,” Mr. Quinn said.

  “Lucy liked her,” Bobby said.

  “Hi,” said a girl about Bobby’s age.

  Bobby looked at the ground. “Hi,” he mumbled.

  “My name is Candy,” the girl said. “This is Butch.” She pointed to her dog, a boxer.

  Mr. Quinn patted Butch on the head. “Hello, Butch. Hello, Candy. I’m Mr. Quinn, and this is Bobby.”

  Butch sniffed at Lucy. Lucy sniffed right back.

  “How long have you had Lucy?” Candy asked.

  Before Bobby could answer, Candy said, “We’ve had Butch about two months. We got him from a neighbor who was moving away. His name was already Butch. He looks like a Butch, don’t you think? Is Lucy a good dog?”

  Bobby looked at his father. Bobby hoped he would answer all the girl’s questions.

  “What about it, Bobby?” Mr. Quinn asked. “Is Lucy a good dog?”

  “Yes,” Bobby said quietly.

  “Butch isn’t,” Candy told Bobby.

  Butch gave a long growl.

  “Butch is wild,” Candy looked rather happy about that fact. “My mother says Butch is driving her crazy.”

  Candy’s mother joined the group. “That’s why Butch is going to obedience school,” she said.

  Marsha blew her whistle. Dogs and their owners gathered by the big oak tree.

  “Go ahead, Bobby,” his father said.

  “What about you?” B
obby asked.

  “I’ll wait on the sidelines and watch,” his father answered.

  “I thought we were going to do this together. You, me, and Lucy.”

  “No,” Mr. Quinn said. “A dog needs one person to train with.”

  Candy tugged at Bobby’s arm. “C’mon, let’s go.”

  Bobby looked back at his father as Candy dragged him away. His father just gave him a wave.

  Everyone was lining up with their dogs.

  “I think our dogs are the best, don’t you?” Candy asked.

  Bobby looked at the other dogs. It was hard to judge. All the dogs were so different. He thought Lucy was the best. He wasn’t too sure about Butch.

  “Lucy and Butch are the best, right?” Candy asked again.

  Butch looked like he might be the best at growling. He was growling loudly at the other dogs. Candy was still waiting for an answer.

  “I guess our dogs are the best,” Bobby finally said.

  Candy said, “I like having a big dog. The other day Butch …”

  Candy sure liked to talk, Bobby thought to himself.

  Marsha blew her whistle again. “We will begin by teaching our dogs how to come when we call their names. Dogs want to learn to obey their masters. It makes them happy. It makes us happy.”

  For the next half hour, the owners called their dogs. When they came, the owners patted their pets and said, “Good dog.”

  By the end of the class, Lucy was coming when Bobby called her.

  Butch was another story. Sometimes Butch ran away when Candy called him. Sometimes he sat down and scratched himself. Every once in a while, when he felt like it, Butch came.

  “He’s getting the hang of it. Don’t you think so?” Candy asked Bobby when the class was over.

  Bobby didn’t want to hurt Candy’s feelings. “Well, he’s trying,” Bobby said.

  Bobby picked up Lucy. He looked around for his father.

  “Let’s go get ice cream,” Candy said.

  “What?” Bobby asked with surprise. No one his age had ever asked him to go for ice cream.

  “We worked hard. Let’s get some ice cream,” Candy repeated.

  “I—I don’t think I can,” Bobby said.

  “Why not?” Candy wanted to know.

  Bobby’s father and Candy’s mother found them.