The Case of the Fire Alarm by Dori Hillestad Butler, Jeremy Tugeau Page B

the room, two chairs on the other side of the desk, a big fluffy pillow under the window, and a water bowl next to the pillow.
    Everything in here smells like Mom. This must be where she works. And when Mom points to the pillow, I know this is where I’ll be working, too.
    I turn two circles on the pillow, then plop down and wait for Mom to tell me what to do next. Does she want me to sit? Will she throw a piece of hot dog on the floor and tell me to leave it? What does she want me to do?
    I watch as Mom sits down at her desk, turns on the computer, and starts writing on some papers.
    I let out a small woof, in case she’s forgotten I’m here.
    “What’s the matter, Buddy?” Mom asks. “Do you need to go outside?”
    “No,” I tell Mom with my eyes. I just want to know what I’m supposed to do. I don’t want to make a wrong move.
    “You were just outside before we got here,” Mom says. “You shouldn’t need to go outside already.”
    I already said I don’t need to go outside.
    “You just lie there and be a good dog,” Mom says.
    That’s it? That’s all you want me to do? Lie here and be a good dog? I can do that!
    I rest my head on my paws and let my eyes close. I think about how much I like my new job already. I’m not going to get into any trouble while I’m here. I’m going to make new friends. Maybe I’ll even make friends with Mrs. Argus. That would be nice ...
    Then I hear a strange, almost ghostly voice. “He-e-el-l-l-p me, Buddy.”
    Huh? Who said that?
    I look around. I’m not in the office anymore. I’m in a big room with lots and lots of books. And right behind me is a girl with a burned face. But she’s not a real girl. She’s like a ... ghost girl. I can see right through her.
    She reaches for me. “He-e-el-l-l-p me, Buddy,” she says again.

    I step back. “H-how do you know my name?” I ask. She scares me. You’re not supposed to be able to see through humans.
    “Mom?” a voice interrupts. “Can Buddy come outside to play during recess?”
    Connor?
    My eyes pop open. The ghost girl and the room with the books disappear. It was all just a dream.
    I’m still here in the office. With Mom. And Connor wants to take me outside to play.
    I sit up and give myself a good shake. I would really like to go outside to play.
    “Sure,” Mom says. “He could use some exercise.”
    “Let’s go!” I tell Connor, wagging my tail. I’m already at the door.
    Connor grabs my leash. “Does Buddy have to have his leash on outside?” he asks.
    “Of course,” Mom says.
    Connor groans. “Why? I won’t take him on the blacktop. We’ll stay on the other playground. The one that’s fenced.”
    “I don’t want anyone to feel scared if there’s a dog running around loose on the playground,” Mom says.
    “Who would be scared?” Connor asks. “Buddy’s a good dog. And I told everyone that we could play fetch with him. How can he fetch on a leash?”
    Mom thinks about this. “Well,” she says after a little while. “I suppose we could try having him off-leash on the back playground.”
    “Yes!” Connor cries.
    “But keep the leash on until you’re outside,” Mom says. “And if he starts to bother anyone, put the leash back on right away.”
    “Okay,” Connor says.
    We head down the hall ... down the stairs ... around the corner ... and out onto the playground, where there are kids running and balls flying EVERYWHERE!
    Connor unhooks my leash, and I RUN! I love to run! I love to chase! I LOVE to play ball! It’s my favorite thing!
    If that’s not exciting enough, there are new friends all around me. Real friends, not ghost friends. And everyone is trying to get my attention. “Come here, Dog!” “Here, boy! Here, boy!” “He looks just like my friend Kayla’s dog!”
    Wait. Who said that last thing? I look all around me. It sounded like Kayla’s friend, Jillian.
    It IS Jillian! “Hey, Jillian!” I cry, barreling toward her. “How are you doing?”
    But before I