Reading Week 8 - The Dog Without a Name

Hi stage two. We're going to read through the dog without a name. This story is by Allison a Ferguson illustrated by Greg hall felt. Let's make a start. The dog prick there is someone was coming. Huddled in the corner of her pen at the animal shelter, the dog waited. Footsteps started along the path, passed the other dogs in their pens. Then stopped. Hello girl, Said a man wearing overalls. The carers scanned the chart, clipped to the wire fence. What's your story then. The dog didn't know she had a story. She was even unsure of her name. She'd had a few. Was it still Pebha? Or perhaps Molly? With her body pressed against the wall, she watched. A bit shy, are you? He care slowly opened the gate. He entered the pen and set down a bowl of food. The dog blinked. Thankful that the man had stayed away from her safe space. See you tomorrow. Said the Cara as he slipped out of the gate. Alone again, the dog hurried across the floor and gulped down her meal. Each day, the man visited the dog, first, he claimed her pen and topped up her water bowl. Later he led her to the exercise area, where she stretched her legs and sniffed. Oh, how she loved to sniff. Afterwards, back in her pen, the dog tucked in her dinner. One afternoon, the dog heard laughter. She shrunk back to her safe space to listen. Now, children said the teacher. Choose one dog each. From the other pens came Iger barks, children ran up and down the path, glancing through the fences and chattering. This one's so cute. I like this body one. After a few minutes, the footsteps stopped. The path outside the dog's pen was empty. Then came a familiar voice. You have a visitor, said the carer, a boy stood there, clutching a cushion in a book. The waft of his worn, shoes, touched the dog's nostrils. How about this dog, Jack? The teacher miss fan asked, peering through the fence. The dog was uneasy when he stared at her. Shifting her paws, she looked away. This one's a bit shy. Said the carer. Bet she'll come around. Jack noted, dropped his cushion in front of the fens and sat. Her body stiffening, the dog wondered what the boy would do next. I'm going to keep you company and practice my reading, Jack said, glancing at the book in his lap. It's about a farm dog, and grinned. She looks like you. The dog turned towards her visitor. This boy had a soft, calm voice. Jack flipped to the first page in red slowly. One day, Bella, the dog. And he continued. The dog listened patiently from time to time, Jack lifted his book to show a picture to the dog, the shapes were hard to make out from her safe corner. But she twitched her ears so the boy would know she was paying attention. All too soon, the visit was over. Catch next Friday said Jack waving goodbye. The week dragged on with the daily routine. Used to the career's visits, the dog often came up for a pat. Sometimes strangers would stroll in front of a pen, stopping to squint inside. This dog's too timid, they'd say. Hello, what is she? We'd prefer a puppy. Then hearing the other dog scampering and whining for attention, the people would quickly move on. On Friday, miss fenn and the children arrived as expected, the dog was relieved when Jack chose her again. This boy didn't stare or point as other visitors did. I've brought the same book, said Jack, popping down onto his cushion. I used to live on a farm. The dog rested her head on her paws. Whatever the boy was telling her, sounded interesting. Now, you know, flat near my new school. Jack's voice wobbled. I missed the farm animals. He wiped his nose on his sleeve, and the dog noticed the boy's sadness. The dog thought to himself. That's one way through the fence wouldn't hurt. The dog edged forward. There was that snug and relaxing smell of old shoes again. Then she stepped back and waited for the boy to begin. The rest of the afternoon flew by while the dog listened to Jack Read. Sometimes the boy stopped and frowned. Then the dog would lift her head, waiting for him to sound out a tricky word carefully. There they stayed on opposite sides of the fence until storytime ended. Every Friday, the chatter of children signaled to the dog that the boy was on his way. Each visit, without fail, Jack read the fun book. The dog didn't mind because the story grew more thrilling. If Jack's voice became higher and faster, something exciting was happening. The dog would sit bolt upright, her ears alert. When Jack loft, the dog would join in, wagging her tail. But her favorite part of the story was the animal noises. Then she'd prance about with delight joining in with a bark. However, one Friday, everything changed. Miss fenn and the children arrived as usual. From her pen, the dot listened to footsteps along the path and voices laughing. Soon the commotion settled, and the story time began, but there was no Jack. The dog pressed her face against the fence, trying to look up and down the path. Where was he? The boy always arrived with the others. Humans could be so confusing. Lying low in the shadows, she could hear Jack's classmates reading to the other dogs. She let out a muffled whimper. There was nothing else for it. She'd have to find the boy itself. The next morning, the carer arrived to find the dog waiting for him at the fence. He'll came today, he joked, leaving the gate ajar, the man entered. The dog watched. This was the moment to find the boy. Bravely, she took a step forward. Then, through the gap another, she inched onto the path, running her snout over the stones, the dogs snuffed. Among the many smells there was the boys sent, who knows to the ground she chased after it faster and faster she ran. Hey, come back. Yelled the carer. But the dog ignored him. Her heart pounding inside her chest. She forged ahead. I'm coming boy, the dog said, wait for me. Along the path, she raced until the scent faded, with a hope the dog scan left and right. The boy was nowhere in sight. She hung her head, suddenly exhausted. Where if humans changing their minds, tired of waiting for a home. She hardly struggled when the carer gently slipped on her lead. Come on all girl. They're going to the office. The Carer smiled. I have a surprise for you. Planting her rear in the ground, the dog refused to budge. I'm not going with you, her eyes said. I need to find that boy. She glanced over her shoulder, wondering what to do next. That minute the boys sent drifted by. It grew stronger and stronger. Tugging on her lead, the dog took off towards the office with the career staggering behind her. Outside the dog Pulled the door, pleading for someone to open it. In we go, said the carer. The dog could not believe her eyes. Standing beside the counter was the boy. Her boy. In a flash her doubts and fear disappeared. He hadn't forgotten her at all. With joy, the dog spun a tale like a helicopter blade. I missed you, cried Jack, running to greet her. I'm sorry I wasn't here yesterday. He rubbed the dog behind the ears. We moved into a new house with a gun. So mom says there's lots of room for you too. The dog children her head. She never seen her boy so happy. Something wondrous was happening, and she was part of it. Have you chosen a name for her? Asked Jack's mom. Bella, like the dog in my book, Jack said, then he tapped his thigh. Come on Bella. Let's go home. Outside, the family climbed into the car and drive away. Bella popped her head out of the car window. Sniffing the air beyond the shelter, she sensed a whole new beginning. The end.