Riley (4 page)

About half an hour later, Kat and Maya reached the park. They still couldn't quite believe it. They were there with a real live puppy! Riley trotted along at the end of her leash, excited as ever. She saw a leaf blow past and chased it. Then she saw a pine tree, and she stopped to sniff at the trunk.

“Riley is so much fun to watch!” Kat said, grinning. “She's interested in everything!”

The girls kept walking, and so did Riley. But instead of walking with the girls, Riley went around the tree. She suddenly reached the end of her leash and had to stop. Puzzled, she looked at Kat and Maya. The girls grinned back at her.

“Now what, Riley?” Maya challenged her.

The perky puppy tried to run to her, but her leash was wrapped around the tree.

“You have to go back around, Riley,” Kat told her. “Like this!” Kat ran around the tree, unwrapping the leash as she went. Riley greeted her with wiggles and a wagging tail.

“Good girl, Riley,” said Maya. She stroked the puppy's soft fur. Her ears felt like velvet.

The girls and the puppy walked across the grass. There were several rows of trees and bushes along one side of the park. There was a playground at one end. At the other end was a hill with a grove of trees on top. The hilltop was Kat's favorite place in the park. From up there she could see the town on one side and the countryside on the other.

Kat laughed again. Riley was staring in amazement at a squirrel, sitting on a tree branch, chattering angrily at her. The puppy barked at the squirrel and wagged her tail.

“I don't think he wants to be your friend, Riley,” said Maya, smiling.

The girls persuaded the playful pup to leave the squirrel. Then Kat cried, “Okay, let's go! Let's run, Riley!”

The girls raced across the grass, and Riley galloped along with them. When they reached the other side of the park, Riley flopped down, exhausted, her tongue hanging out.

“Are your little legs tired, girl?” Kat asked with a grin.

But only a few minutes later, the golden retriever pup had bounced back up. She was exploring the grass, sniffing here and there.

“Let's run back again,” suggested Kat.

“How about you go with Riley. When you turn around, I'll call her. Then you can run back with her,” Maya suggested.

Kat poked her in the arm. “You just want to rest!” she said.

Maya did a pretend pout. “Well, really. How insulting.” Then she grinned. “Yeah. You're right. So go, okay?”

“Let's run, Riley!” cried Kat. “Come on. Let's go!”

Riley looked up at Kat and smiled. As Kat began running, the puppy leaped excitedly beside her. Kat had to be careful not to get tangled up in the leash!

They ran all the way to the rows of trees and bushes and then stopped. “Good girl, Riley,” Kat said. She reached down and rubbed the pup's head.

But Riley was pulling at the end of the leash. She was looking into the trees and wagging her tail.

“What is it, Riley?” Kat asked. “Do you see something in there?”

Riley was wiggling happily. She continued to pull toward the trees.

“What is it, girl? Another squirrel?” Kat asked, letting herself be led into the bushes. But then she stopped. She saw what Riley had seen.

It was Grace. The girl was sitting there, among the trees. She had a book on her lap, but she wasn't reading. She was staring off into space. And she wasn't smiling.

Kat froze. Her mouth dropped open. She felt the bad feeling again. She wished they had stayed at Tails Up! Coming to the park had definitely
not
been a good idea.

Grace looked up and saw Riley and Kat.

“Oh!” she said, getting to her feet. She wore a blue T-shirt and shorts. Now her face was tilted down. “I was just… I live near here,” she went on. “Right beside the park.” She started to sound angry. But Kat hadn't even said anything.

Riley wagged her tail even harder. She pulled at her leash, wanting to go to Grace.

“Is this your dog?” said Grace. She pulled on one of her auburn braids.

Kat didn't answer. She was still surprised at finding Grace.

Riley stopped pulling. Now she sat nicely. She looked up at Grace, waiting to be petted.

Grace didn't come any closer.

“Tell me,” she said to Kat, “is she yours?” Her eyes were fixed on the puppy. Now her hands were bunched up into two fists.

Kat felt an angry red flush travel up her face. This was the girl who had made a really mean face at her. Who had probably copied her poem about puppies. It was because of her that Kat had to be Owen's hall buddy back and forth from the library. And now here she was, getting in the way of Kat's time with Riley.

Grace took a step closer to the puppy. Suddenly her face was scrunching up. She took another step, moving closer to them.

Kat didn't move. She was scared. Grace looked angry again. Why was she making fists? What if Grace hit her? What if she hurt Riley?

Quickly Kat looked over her shoulder. Where was Maya? What should she do?

Riley whimpered. She jumped up and wiggled with her whole body, trying to get to Grace. Kat couldn't believe it. Why on earth was this sweet little puppy being so friendly to the mean girl?

Then Grace said softly, “I love dogs, especially puppies.” It was almost like she was talking to herself. Her eyes were shining. “Can I pet her?”

Kat wondered what to do.

Grace's face got that mean look on it. Then tears began to trickle out of the corners of her eyes. “Can I? Please?” she asked. Her voice sounded funny.

She was crying! Grace was crying!

“Her name is Riley. Pet her,” Kat blurted out. “Go ahead.”

But Kat was too late. Just as she spoke, Grace ran past her and across the park.

Riley watched the girl go, her head tilted to one side.

Kat watched her go too. She opened her mouth to call to her, but no sound came out. She thought about chasing after her, but couldn't decide if she should.

Suddenly Maya was coming through the bushes toward her.

“Where did you and Riley go?” she called as she came close. “I was waiting for you two to run back to me. Were you hiding from me? Trying to teach me a lesson, right?”

Then Maya looked more closely at Kat. “What is it?” She touched Kat's arm. “Did something happen?”

Kat nodded her head. She was confused by what had happened. “Grace…Grace was here. She was sitting right there, reading. Riley must have heard her in here, so she dragged me in.” Kat spoke slowly, explaining. “Grace asked me if Riley was my puppy and whether she could pet her, and I didn't answer. Maya, she seemed so angry at me. I thought she might hit me. Or hurt Riley.”

“Oh, boy,” Maya said.

She sat down in the leaves. Kat sank down beside her. Riley immediately jumped into Kat's lap for a snuggle.

“I was scared, so I didn't say anything. I couldn't speak or move.” Kat rubbed Riley's plump tummy.

“Wow,” Maya said softly.

Kat thought for a minute. “But maybe I've been wrong about Grace.”

Maya lifted her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“Riley was so sweet to Grace. She just wanted to say hello. She wanted Grace to pet her. Maybe Riley is trying to tell me something. Maybe I haven't really given Grace a chance. Maybe she isn't as mean as I think.” Kat's voice was quivering.

“Kat, Riley is just a puppy. Puppies love everyone,” Maya said.

“Well, maybe,” Kat said. “But still. Riley seemed so happy to see her. It was like she wanted to make Grace feel better. There must be a reason for it.” Kat buried her face in Riley's fur. “You know, Grace is new. We should feel sorry for her. And she does seem to like dogs.”

Maya stared at her. “Seriously? I can't believe you're saying that, Kat,” she said. “You're not saying you want to be her friend?” She paused. “You're not saying you want us to be her friends.”

Kat shrugged. “I don't know,” she said, and it was true. She was confused by her feelings.

Kat would do anything for a puppy who needed her help. That was easy. So, why was it so much harder to do something for a person, a new girl in her class?