“Open it! Open it!” Kim demanded.
I looked at Rex. I could swear the dog smiled at me.
I can’t say whether my tears started before or after Kim’s mom explained why they’d given me a present. I can say they trickled all over the wrapping paper.
“You gave us such a gift, Grace. Please accept this as a small token of our appreciation.”
Inside was a handmade thank-you note from Kim and a framed certificate that read, “World’s Greatest Friend.” Next to it was Rex’s paw print.
I was too choked up to properly thank them. I kept remembering one of my last “conversations” with Rex. It was during the time when I’d have done anything to keep him. “We’ll always be together,” the dog had insisted.
Whether Rex was some kind of Dad-reincarnation or had channeled his spirit, I’ll never know. But I do know this: The pound dog nailed it. In my heart, he and my dad would be with me forever.
Regan, who’d been out shopping during my visit (what a surprise!) picked me up soon after. My eyes were red and swollen; my nose was running. She took one look and said, “You should wear sunglasses.” Then she plucked her own from atop her head and shoved them at me.
They were oversize and trendy. They looked absolutely ridiculous on me. Just like my teary, goofy smile.
Yes, Regan sped all the way home. And nope, she didn’t get a ticket.
Acknowledgments
I am so lucky to have Michelle Nagler as my editor-extraordinaire. Any writer would be fortunate to snag her! And to Margaret Miller, who, along with Nagler, did a kickin’ editing job. On HB’s behalf and my own, thanks to Phyllis Wender, an early believer.
Thanks so much—
To the authorial “firm” of (Helen) Bernstein & (Robin) Wasserman for their knowing encouragement, always.
To the Davies daughters—Danielle, Shannon, and Nicole—and their incredible mom, Ellen, for all their help and musical insight.
To Michael Kassan and Barbara Rubin for sharing eighth-grade curriculums.
To the “group”—my rocks—for their never-ending encouragement and enthusiasm: Karen Berchman, Jane Kalfus, Sharyn Kail, Gay Kassan, Susan Gardner, Alice Goldberg, and Laura Mandelbaum.
To the family: Marvin, Scott, Stefanie, Dan, and Kathy for putting up with me. And to the babies, Mason and Ruthie, for just being.
To Noogie Reisfeld and Mookie (Bear) Greenberg.
I owe a big debt of gratitude to these organizations who generously allowed me to do “ride-alongs”—to hang out and watch them train their talented dogs to become service dogs. If you ever want to witness miracles in the making, to see how these dedicated pros and volunteers teach dogs to better the lives of physically and mentally challenged kids, adults, and military veterans, check out their websites. Better yet, get involved!
Educated Canines
Assisting with Disabilities
PO Box 251
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
www.ecad1.org
Guiding Eyes for the Blind
611 Granite Springs Road
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
www.guidingeyes.org
Copyright © 2012 by Randi Reisfeld
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
First published in the United States of America in February 2012
by Bloomsbury Books for Young Readers
www.bloomsburykids.com
Electronic edition published in 2012
For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to
Permissions, Bloomsbury BFYR, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Reisfeld, Randi.
What the dog said / by Randi Reisfeld with HB Gilmour. — 1st U.S. ed.
p. cm.
Summary: Shortly after their police officer father is killed in the line of duty,
thirteen-year-old Grace’s older sister decides to adopt a dog to train as a
service dog for a handicapped child so that she can write about it for her
college applications, but, true to form, it is the grief-stricken Grace who
ends up taking responsibility for the dog.
ISBN 978 1 59990 721 5 (ebook)
[1. Grief—Fiction. 2. Dogs—Training—Fiction. 3. Human—animal
communication—Fiction. 4. Fathers—Fiction. 5. Sisters—
Fiction.] I. Gilmour, HB (Harriet B.) II. Title.
PZ7.R277457Wh 2012 [Fic]—dc23 2011026031
What the Dog Said Page 16