Penny and Peter (4 page)

One Saturday afternoon, her daddy took her to a department store. They went to the sporting goods department where all kinds of things for dogs could be found. They walked around until they came upon a pile of wicker beds.

"What size bed are you interested in?" asked the salesman.

"Oh, a small one," said Mr. Sawyer. "It is for a little dog."

The salesman pulled out one of the beds. "This should be all right," he said. "We sell these for small dogs. Plenty big enough for a cocker or a Scottie."

"Yes," said Mr. Sawyer. "That should be about right."

Patsy thought it was a lovely little bed, with its bright green cushion.

"Is there anything else, sir?" asked the salesman.

"Oh, Daddy!" cried Patsy. "Look at the darling little bowls for the doggie's food. Can't we buy Tootsie a little bowl?"

Daddy looked at the bowls. Now Patsy had found some double ones, for food and water. "Oh, Daddy!" she cried. "Look at these!"

"They are very nice," said the salesman. "Won't tip over and small enough so that the ears will hang down, outside of the bowl. Plenty large enough, too, for one feeding for a small dog."

"Very well," said Mr. Sawyer. "Let's have one of those."

"How about a leash?" said the salesman. "We have some very nice leashes over here." He led the way to a rack from which hung a bunch of leashes. He took one down. "This is a nice leash for a Scottie," he said. "What kind of dog did you say yours is?"

"As a matter of fact," said Mr. Sawyer, "we don't know. She is being shipped to us from the west. She is some kind of small dog."

"Oh, Daddy!" said Patsy. "I think the plaid leash is so pretty, and maybe she is a Scottie."

"Well," said Daddy, "we'll take the leash. But I hope she doesn't turn out to be a dachshund."

A few days later, word came from Uncle Frank that Tootsie had been shipped. Patsy ran right to the grocery store to buy a box of dog biscuits.

"Do you want the regular dog biscuits," said the grocer, "or do you want puppy biscuits?"

"I don't know," said Patsy. "They are for a little dog."

"Puppy biscuits," said the grocer, lifting a box from the shelf. Patsy paid for it and trotted home with the box under her arm. She loved the pictures on the box. On one side there was a picture of a sad-looking cocker spaniel. On the other, a perky-looking Scottie.

"Oh, Mummy!" Patsy sighed. "Do you think Tootsie will look like either of these doggies?"

"I don't know, dear," said her mother. "Don't get your heart set on any one kind, because you might be disappointed."

"Oh, I won't be disappointed," said Patsy. "I don't care what kind of dog Tootsie is, just so she isn't like that wirehaired terrier that lives down the street. I love every dog 'cept him. He chases everything. He chases me and he chases automobiles and he chases Really and Truly. Tootsie won't be like that. I know that Tootsie will be a good quiet dog. And I'll take her on my lap and hold her. And I'll brush her hair and I'll cover her up every night with my doll's blanket. And she'll trot along beside me when I take her out walking. And I'll give her a bath in my doll's washtub."

One evening, the telephone bell rang and when Mr. Sawyer answered it, a voice said, "Mr. Sawyer, this is the railway station. We have a dog down here in the baggage room for you. She just came in by Railway Express. Our trucks don't go out on deliveries again until tomorrow. Thought you might like to come down and get her. Don't want her barking here all night."

"Oh, thanks very much," said Mr. Sawyer. "I'll be right down."

Patsy was so excited when she heard the news that she ran around in circles. "Can I go with you, Daddy?" she cried. "I can go with you to get Tootsie, can't I?"

"Yes, of course you can go," said her daddy.

She was so excited, she forgot to put her coat on.

"Here! Patsy!" her mother called after her. "Come back and put your coat and hat on."

"Oh yes!" said Patsy. "I forgot."

She ran back into the house and put on the coat that her mother was holding. She put her hat on backward.

"Oh, Mummy!" she said. "Just think! Tootsie's at the station! I can hold her on my lap all the way home."

Patsy dashed off again and climbed into the car beside her father. He started the car and off they went. But, just as they turned out of the drive, Patsy cried, "Oh, Daddy! Wait! Wait! I forgot something."

Mr. Sawyer stopped the car. "Now what?" he said. But Patsy was already out of the car and running as fast as her legs would go.

When she burst into the house, her mother cried, "Now what?"

"I forgot Tootsie's leash," Patsy called, running to the coat closet.

She lifted the plaid leash off the hook and ran back to the car. "I forgot her leash," she said to her daddy as she climbed in again.

Mr. Sawyer started off once more. It wasn't long before they reached the railway station. Mr. Sawyer jumped out of the car and Patsy followed with the little plaid leash. Her daddy went into the station and walked over to the window to speak to the station agent. "I came for the dog," Mr. Sawyer said.

"Oh, sure!" replied the agent. "The dog. She's out in the baggage room. I suppose you want to take her out of the crate?"

"Oh, yes," replied Mr. Sawyer. "I brought some tools to unfasten it."

"Good," said the station agent, leading the way to the baggage room. "She's some dog, Mr. Sawyer!"

"Is that so?" said Mr. Sawyer.

Suddenly, a terrific sound burst forth. It was like a lion roaring. Patsy jumped. "What under the sun is that?" cried her daddy.

"That's her," said the station agent.

"Jumping grasshoppers!" cried Mr. Sawyer.

The station agent put his key in the door. "I thought sure they were bringing in a piano when that crate arrived," he said.

"What do you mean, 'a piano'?" cried Mr. Sawyer.

The station agent kicked the door open. "Say!" he said. "Haven't you seen this dog?"

"No, I haven't," said Mr. Sawyer. "All we know is that her name is Tootsie."

"Tootsie!" shouted the station agent. "Well, here she is."

Patsy and her daddy looked at the enormous crate and there, standing up inside, was the biggest dog Patsy had ever seen. Tootsie was a Great Dane.

Mr. Sawyer and Patsy were both speechless. They just stared at the enormous creature.

Tootsie wagged her tail. Then, suddenly, she said, "Woof!" and Patsy grabbed her hat. She thought it was going to blow right off.

They stood looking at Tootsie for some time. At last Patsy said, "I guess her bed won't fit her, Daddy. But she can sleep in mine."

Daddy set to work to open Tootsie's crate. The station agent helped and it wasn't long before Tootsie was free. Her bark turned into happy yelps that sounded like a sea lion. She wagged her huge tail and her red tongue looked almost a foot long.

Patsy stood very close to her daddy, for Tootsie looked awfully big and fierce.

"Now, don't be afraid of her," said Mr. Sawyer. "She won't hurt you. But, my goodness gracious! Where are we going to keep her?"

Tootsie looked at Mr. Sawyer and her mouth widened.

Patsy let out a scream.

"Now, see here," said her daddy, "you wanted a dog, didn't you?"

"Yes," said Patsy. "But she is so much dog. I thought she was going to be a little dog."

"Well, if you don't like her," said Daddy, "we will send her to a kennel and pay her board."

Tootsie pulled in her tongue and closed her great mouth. Suddenly, she looked sad. It was as though she understood every word that was spoken.

"Now, you've hurt her feelings," Patsy murmured.

"Well, pat her and make her feel better," said Mr. Sawyer.

Patsy put her hand out and patted Tootsie's head. Immediately, she looked pleased. In another moment, Patsy's arms were around the dog's neck. Tootsie's tail hit the packing boxes with loud whacks.

"That's right," said her daddy, "you make her feel welcome. I am afraid she is in for a cold reception when she gets home. Your mother said, 'The littler the better,' and I am afraid that means, 'The bigger the worser.' Come on, let's get it over."

Tootsie sat in the back seat of the car looking very pleased and Patsy sat beside her looking very little.

Soon they turned into the drive and the car stopped.

"Now, I think we had better break this to your mother gently," said Patsy's daddy. "You wait here with Tootsie."

Mr. Sawyer left Patsy and the dog in the car and went into the house.

"So, you're back!" called Mrs. Sawyer from the living room. "Well, where's Tootsie? Where's Patsy?"

"They'll be in in a moment," said Mr. Sawyer.

"What is the matter?" asked Mrs. Sawyer, standing up. "Is anything the matter?"

"No, no!" said Mr. Sawyer. "Not a thing. It's just that—"

Suddenly, there was a terrific bump on the front door.

"What is that?" cried Mrs. Sawyer, starting toward the front door.

"Wait a minute!" cried Mr. Sawyer, hurrying after her.

"What is the matter with you?" asked Mrs. Sawyer.

Bang! Thump!
There was the noise at the front door again.

Mrs. Sawyer pulled the door open and Tootsie bounded into the hall. Inside of the house, Tootsie looked bigger than ever. She looked as big as a pony.

"Good grief!" cried Patsy's mother, as Tootsie galloped into the living room. "Is this Tootsie?"

"That's her," said Mr. Sawyer.

"Didn't Daddy tell you how big Tootsie is?" asked Patsy.

"No," replied Mother, "he never got round to telling me. I just knew that he had something on his mind."

"I didn't have time," said her daddy.

"But what will we do with a dog like that?" said her mother, as the family followed Tootsie into the living room. To their great surprise, Tootsie was nowhere in sight.

"Where did she go?" cried Patsy.

"Why, how strange!" exclaimed her mother.

They looked in the dining room and behind all of the furniture. Patsy even looked under the davenport, although Tootsie could no more have squeezed under the davenport than an elephant.

And then, Mrs. Sawyer noticed that the door onto the side porch was open. The draperies were drawn across the opening and it didn't show.