{"product_id":"fenway-and-hattie-isbn-9780147514905","title":"Fenway and Hattie","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis lovable new series introduces a little dog with a GIANT personality! \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fenway is an excitable and endlessly energetic Jack Russell terrier. He lives in the city with Food Lady, Fetch Man, and—of course—his beloved short human and best-friend-in-the-world, Hattie. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But when his family moves to the suburbs, Fenway faces a world of changes. He's pretty pleased with the huge Dog Park behind his new home, but he's \u003ci\u003enot \u003c\/i\u003eso happy about the Evil Squirrels that taunt him from the trees, the super-slippery Wicked Floor in the Eating Room, and the changes that have come over Hattie lately. Rather than playing with Fenway, she seems more interested in her new short human friend and learning to play baseball. His friends in the Dog Park next door say Hattie is outgrowing him, but that can't be right. And he's going to prove it!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Get a dog's-eye view of the world in this heartwarming, enthusiastic \"tail\" about two best friends.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A fun, fresh frolic that animal-loving kids are sure to enjoy.\" —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"Readers will relate to Fenway’s impulsivity and delight in descriptions from his dog’s-eye view. Teachers and adults will appreciate generous sprinklings of rich vocabulary.\" —\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e | “This perky, pet-centered tale takes readers inside the head of Fenway, an energetic and perpetually hopeful Jack Russell terrier with a deep love for food, intense hatred of squirrels, and undying adoration of his “small human,” Hattie. . . A fun, fresh frolic that animal-loving kids are sure to enjoy.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"Readers will relate to Fenway’s impulsivity and delight in descriptions from his dog’s-eye view. Teachers and adults will appreciate generous sprinklings of rich vocabulary.\"\u003ci\u003e —\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"Fenway may not understand Hattie’s behavior, but readers looking through his uncomprehending eyes will follow her ups and downs easily as she adjusts to the move. They’ll also wince in sympathy as she tries, with mixed success, to train, or even restrain, her barky, hyper, emotional pet.\" \u003ci\u003e—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLook for all of the books in the series!\u003cbr\u003eFenway and Hattie\u003cbr\u003eFenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang\u003cbr\u003eFenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks\u003cbr\u003eFenway and Hattie In the Wild\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd the \u003cb\u003eMake Way for Fenway!\u003c\/b\u003e illustrated chapter books for younger readers\u003cbr\u003eFenway and the Bone Thieves\u003cbr\u003eFenway and the Frisbee Trick\u003cbr\u003eFenway and the Loudmouth Bird\u003cbr\u003eFenway and the Great Escape | Victoria J. Coe grew up in the seaside community of Duxbury, Massachusetts and went on to live in New York and San Francisco, as well as large and small towns on both coasts. During her family's most recent move, she noticed her dog's confusion and started to wonder what was going through his mind. As they walked in Boston's Fenway neighborhood, his reactions to the sights, sounds, and smells of the city took hold of her imagination. While she has written for many publications and nonprofit causes, writing her first novel for children is the realization of a lifelong dream. Victoria now lives with her family on the outskirts of Boston, where she and her dog are always on the lookout for delivery trucks. And squirrels. | \u003cb\u003eChapter One\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As soon as we get off the elevator, I know something is wrong. Our apartment has no mat in front. The muddy boots and fake flowers are gone. The doorway looks empty. Abandoned. Like nobody lives here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Who took our stuff? Intruders? Strangers?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Squirrels?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fetch Man opens the door, and I race inside. Nose to the floor, I sniff for clues. But all I smell are Food Lady, Fetch Man, and Hattie—my own family.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I rush into the Eating Place. Apparently, Food Lady is not aware that things are missing. She gives me a quick pat, then sighs, like she has a big job to do. She’s completely focused on a pile of boxes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Packages?!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My tail goes nuts. I stick my snout in the closest box and begin rooting around. But it smells boring like old teacups, not new and exciting like a package.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “FEN-way,” Food Lady scolds. That’s Human for “You’re in trouble!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My ears droop, and I back away. I was only doing my job. Packages must be inspected. What if they’re hiding something dangerous? Or delicious?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fetch Man smiles and kisses Food Lady’s cheek. He speaks quickly and gestures a lot. Like he’s the happiest human in the world. What’s he so excited about? Isn’t he worried that our stuff’s been stolen? Good thing my humans have a Jack Russell Terrier on patrol. We’re obviously in terrible danger. There’s so much to do!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I keep sniffing around, but I do not find one single clue. And no tasty crumbs or yummy drips, either. Food Lady wraps noisy paper around the dishes and tucks them into a big box. She grabs crinkly bags of chips and pretzels and cookies. Cans and jars, too. Pretty soon, the cabinets are cleared out. Hey, wait a minute! What are we supposed to eat?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I must warn my short human. I race to her room, barking the whole way. “Bad news, Hattie! We’re going to starve!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But when I get there, she’s surrounded by boxes, too. And she looks miserable. Probably because she couldn’t come to the Dog Park. Hattie loves playing ball and chase as much as I do.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Even though I have terrible news, she forgets how sad she is when she sees me. “Fenn-waay,” she sings in her sweet voice. That means “Here’s a treat.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Hooray! Hooray!” I bark, blasting through the door. That’s My Hattie, always thinking of me. I scamper over a box and hurl myself at her legs. “I can hardly wait!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Awww,” she says with a giggle, reaching into her pocket. The treat sails into my mouth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e Chomp!\u003c\/i\u003e Wowee, that hits the spot.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hattie pats my head and gazes into my eyes, her face back to being sad. Like that was the very last treat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “That’s what I was saying, Hattie. We’ve been wiped out,” I bark. “Probably by squirrels!”\u003cbr\u003e Her shoulders sink with the horrible realization.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I nuzzle her ankle. “Don’t worry. Your protector is here.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She must be feeling worse than I thought because her dark eyes go right to the way-up-high shelf. She climbs onto the bed and reaches for the fuzzy toy that used to be a bear but is now only the upper half. With one arm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Uh-oh! That means something scary is happening. Like a dark night with rain and boom-kabooms.\u003cbr\u003e Hattie pulls the used-to-be bear off the high shelf. She clutches it to her chest. She is scared.\u003cbr\u003e Good thing I’m here to cheer her up! As she’s stepping down, I snatch the used-to-be bear from her arms. I zip around the bed and fly over a box.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hattie’s on my tail, laughing. “Hey!” she says, reaching out her arms.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI’m just out of her grasp. I’m hopping through a pile of shoes when I stumble over something hard. \u003ci\u003eOuch\u003c\/i\u003e! My bedtime hairbrush. What’s it doing on the floor?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSensing opportunity, Hattie lunges. “Drop it!” she shouts in a voice that sounds anything but angry.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe’s fast, but I’m faster. I spring onto the bed. I bury my nose in the rumpled blankets. They smell like mint and vanilla, just like she does.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie flops down beside me, smiling. She takes the used-to-be bear and grabs me tight. “Best buddies,” she coos. She kisses my brown paw, then my white paw. She showers my neck with kisses. Our favorite snuggle game!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI slobber her cheek as she giggles. She’s the best short human ever.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFood Lady appears in the doorway. One hand’s on her hip. The other’s pointing at the boxes. “Hattie,” she scolds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie’s smile disappears. As she bolts up, I hop off her chest. She smells worried. I know how she feels.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI wait for Food Lady to start yelling in a bossy voice. But instead, the words I hear are Hattie’s. She sounds anxious. She picks up the long jump rope that she brings to the place where short humans with backpacks go. She shows Food Lady a card. I catch a whiff of hardened frosting from the time a pack of short humans invaded and I warned Hattie that her treats were on fire.\u003cbr\u003e As Hattie goes on, Food Lady’s angry face gets softer and softer. Until it’s turned to sad. “Oh, bay-bee,” she says in a soothing tone. She sits next to us on the bed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie leans into her arm. Food Lady strokes Hattie’s bushy hair.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI nuzzle in under Food Lady’s hand. “I could use a few strokes, too, you know,” I whimper. “Right behind this ear.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFood Lady rocks us gently the way she did when Hattie’s knee was hurt. She gives us both a pat and gets up. “Okay?” she asks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie nods and sniffles a few times. “Okay,” she says. But I know she’s still worried. Hattie’s sad and scared and packing things. It reminds me of something. But what? If only I could think of it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Food Lady’s gone, Hattie tosses the jump rope into a box. Then clothes—\u003ci\u003ewhoosh\u003c\/i\u003e. And shoes—\u003ci\u003eclunk\u003c\/i\u003e. She picks up the used-to-be bear and squeezes it tight.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd then I remember what this reminds me of! It was right before Hattie disappeared for two whole nights. And something terrible must’ve happened to her. Because when she finally came back, her clothes smelled horrible. Like burnt marshmallows and squirrels.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOh no! Could it be happening again? I knew something was wrong!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie is leaving! Hattie is leaving!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI spring up and run in circles. She can’t go, at least not without her loyal dog. Hey! If I stick by her side, she’ll have to take me with her. Wowee, it’s the Best Idea Ever!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs Hattie turns from box to box, I’m on her like fur. When she closes the last one, she heads for the door. I beat her to it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She leaps over me, and I chase her to the Eating Place. Food Lady’s standing at the counter, licking her fingers. She looks up and holds out a white bag that smells like doughnuts. “Breck-fest,” she calls.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Yippee!” I bark, racing to Food Lady’s feet. Hattie squeals, then grabs the bag and crinkles it open.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI leap on her legs and lick my chops.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie bites into a squishy doughnut. A lovely glob of goo drips right into my mouth. Mmmmm. Vanilla. I swallow quickly. “More, please,” I bark, jumping on her legs again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie giggles. But when Food Lady crosses her arms, she stops.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRight then, a rattling sounds at the front door. Intruders? I charge into the Lounging Place as the door swings open. I’m ready to pounce.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt’s Fetch Man! He was gone? I spring up and paw his knees. “I missed you so much,” I bark. “Is it playtime?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut he’s all business. And he’s not alone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA group of Large Strangers follows him in. One after another, they come through the door, reeking of coffee and sweat. A suspicious combination! And Fetch Man is not making one move to stop them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Hey! Who are you? Why are you here?” I bark, lunging toward them but stopping a safe distance from the first stranger. He is a lot bigger than Fetch Man.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Shhhh,” Fetch Man says. He grabs me by the collar and pulls me to the far side of the room.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Watch out!” I bark. “These guys are probably dangerous!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs if to prove my point, the very large strangers begin lifting the boxes. One of them takes the Flashing Screen right off the wall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Can’t you see they’re stealing our stuff?” I bark, wiggling and kicking. “Let me go! I must be free to do my job!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut my warnings aren’t doing one bit of good. Fetch Man and Food Lady just stand there, watching these Evil Humans loot everything.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Let me at ’em! Seriously, I can take these guys!” I pull. I twist. I’m desperate to get loose. I’m about to choke myself when Fetch Man deposits me into the Eating Place. “Can’t you see what’s happening?” I bark. “If you ever needed a dog to protect you, it’s now!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnfazed, Fetch Man snaps The Gate across the doorway. I’m trapped! “What are you doing?” I bark. “Are you nuts?” I jump my highest, but I’m no match for The Gate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI can’t keep this up for long. My legs are getting tired and my bark is wearing out. Danger is happening right here in our home and all I can do is watch.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd worst of all, I got separated from Hattie when I was supposed to be sticking by her side. There goes the plan!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter Two\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eIt’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I  will not rest until I’m reunited with Hattie. I spin around and around. I stretch and leap up again and again. I race back and forth from one end of the Eat-ing Place to the other, stopping only once to lick a tasty drip on the floor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMmmmm. Vanilla!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt last, there’s only one thing left to do. I whine in my most pitiful voice. “Hey, everybody! Remember me? I’m all alone and I’m trapped.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFinally, my efforts pay off. Hattie rushes over, her backpack strapped to her back. Her face is weary and happy at the same time. “Ready?” she asks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I’m so ready! I’m so ready!” I bark, my tail going wild. Hattie removes The Gate, and I sprint into the Lounging Place.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI’m too late! The Evil Humans are gone. And so is the rest of our stuff. But the good news is I’m back with Hattie. If she’s leaving, I’m leaving, too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy chest heaves with excitement as Hattie clips the leash to my collar. Fetch Man and Food Lady head for the door, lugging suitcases. I pull Hattie after them, down the hall and into the elevator. Where we go all . . . the way . . . down to the bottom. Ding!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen we get to the car, Hattie opens the door. I shoot inside before anybody can stop me. I lick Hattie’s cheek. It’s wet and salty. “It’s all right. I’m here to pro-tect you,” I bark. “Nothing can go wrong now.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe zoom along for a Long, Long Time. I climb higher on Hattie’s chest and poke my head out the window. We’re on a road that’s slower and bumpier. With trees that are leafier, smells that are flowerier, and air that is breezier. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe pull into a grassy park and stop. As the car goes quiet, Fetch Man smiles and squeezes Food Lady’s hand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy paws are all over the window. “Somebody let me out!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie grabs my leash, and we burst out of the car. I bury my nose in the cool, refreshing grass. It smells of wild animals. Like squirrels, chipmunks, mysterious birds . . . and not one single pigeon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI raise my head, my ears perked and listening. But I don’t hear any traffic rumbling or honking or snort-ing. Or music drifting from cars or stores. All I hear are birds chirping and squirrels chattering. A motor buzzes in the distance. Short humans squeal somewhere down the street. What is this place?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFetch Man and Food Lady hurry up a walkway that leads to a house. They’re acting awfully excited, like it’s the most wonderful house they’ve ever seen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie yanks me out of the grass mid-pee, and we follow along up the front steps. She must be eager to check out the house, too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOh boy! Whatever’s inside must be really amazing. Like a pile of bones! Or a slab of meat!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFetch Man opens the door and we all race in, full of anticipation. Hooray! Hooray! I can hardly wait!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI run a few circles around Hattie’s legs as she unclips the leash. “Hurry, Hattie!” I bark. I have to find out what’s so special.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI search around, but all I see is a big empty space. And it smells totally boring, like stale air and fresh paint and new carpeting. It must get better, right?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI start out trotting with my nose to the ground. Pretty soon, I’m sprinting down the hall on a Per-fect Running Surface that I wish would go on forever. But then I make a sharp turn and cruise into a bright and gleaming place where the floor feels different. Smoother. And slipperier.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSuddenly, the floor gives way. My paws lose their grip and—whoa!—I’m skidding and skidding, my legs scrambling out of control. And then—smack! I’m crum-pled up against a tall and shiny box that’s humming. Ouch! What happened?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie appears. “Fenway!” she cries, her voice sound-ing worried. She stoops next to me. She rubs my head and coos softly in my ear.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFood Lady rushes in and crouches next to us. She lifts my paws one by one, inspecting them like she’s looking for fleas.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI glance down and growl at the Wicked Floor. Talk about a sneak attack. I never saw it coming.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy defeat is so embarrassing. I can’t even look at Hattie or Food Lady. Instead, I gaze around the room. It reminds me of our Eating Place at home. Only much, much bigger. And emptier. And worst of all, it does not smell anything like an Eating Place should. It smells really bad. Like soap.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhich can only mean one thing—no food.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFood Lady gives me a quick rub, then abruptly goes to the counter. She starts opening drawers. She must be searching for nothing. Because that’s what she’s find-ing, and she’s acting rather happy about it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie continues stroking my back and kissing my neck. At least my short human understands how seri-ous the problem is. She wraps her arms around me and rests her head on my back.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFetch Man comes striding in like he owns the place. Hey! How are the humans moving around so easily? Does the Wicked Floor only terrorize dogs? Fetch Man sidles up next to Food Lady and wraps his arms around her waist. She tells him something, and he steps away, looking concerned.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe turns to me, his face full of surprise. Like he just realized the pathetic heap in the corner is actually a dog. He comes over and gives me a pat. “Okay, fella?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe swoops Hattie into his arms and lifts her up into the air. She explodes into a fit of giggles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHow can they have fun at a time like this?Well, I know one thing—I’m not about to sit around waiting for the Wicked Floor to strike again. But how to get away? I need an idea, but it’s hard to think when my tail is sagging and my ears are drooping. I gaze back at my humans, who are clearly busy with other things. Fetch Man is hugging Hattie like crazy, and Food Lady is at the stove turning the knobs, even though there’s no food to cook.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith no brilliant ideas and no help on the horizon, I try moving and barely manage to stand up. I clench my claws and take one step. Whoa! My legs slip out from under me again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI get back up, panting like a coward. I tense my whole body and try again . . . then—ooof! I’m splat back down on that glossy, sinister surface.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is pure evil.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI can’t just lie here. I must find a way to escape. I try again and again, slipping and scrambling the whole long way. But finally, I make it through the doorway and onto the safety of the carpet. Whew!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBack in the hall, it’s all I can do to catch my breath. Thank goodness that’s over. But right then, Fetch Man glances over and evidently decides it’s playtime.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe gives Hattie a long look. He squats down and slaps his leg. “Fenn-waay,” he calls, his eyes staring at me, wide and bright. What’s wrong with him? Does he think I’ve already forgotten about the Wicked Floor?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere must be somewhere I can hide. I turn tail and race around the corner. I discover steps that go up so high, I can’t see where they end. But they probably end somewhere, and anywhere is better than the Eating Place with that Wicked Floor. In a flash, I’m all the way at the top.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd somebody is right behind me. It’s Hattie! I know that devilish sound of her footsteps. She wants to play chase, our favorite game! “Ha, you can’t catch me, Hat-tie,” I bark. I turn and take off back down the steps as fast as I can. Hattie loves chase so much, sometimes I let her win. But this is not one of those times.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhew! I’m panting hard when I get to the bottom. But when I steal a look up over my shoulder...where is Hattie?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI must go search for her. I scamper back up, step af-ter step after step. My tongue hanging out, my sides heaving, at last I make it all the way to the top. “Hattie! Hattie!” I bark. I sure could use some water.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut first things first. I need to find Hattie! Nose to the carpet, I follow her minty-vanilla trail down an-other hallway. This one has doors. One room, another, and another . . . and they’re all enormous. And empty.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExcept the last room is not empty—Hattie’s in-side! She’s at the window. Is she looking for something outside?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Hooray! Hooray!” I bark, rushing in. “I found you!” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fenn-waay!” She turns and bends down. She scoops me into her arms. “Best buddies,” she sings, snuggling my fur.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI lick her chin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe twirl around the huge empty room. Hattie stretches out an arm, like she wants me to see how wonderful it is.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUm, okay. It doesn’t smell interesting at all. And there’s absolutely nothing in it. Not even one single toy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHattie hugs me tighter, swaying and dancing. Why is she so happy?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJust then ding-dong sounds float up from down stairs. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA doorbell! I squirt out of Hattie’s arms. We run through the hall and down the stairs. “Someone’s here! Someone’s here!” I bark.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFetch Man and Food Lady are already at the front door. And a Loud Truck is outside!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite my very vocal warnings, Fetch Man lets some Large Strangers stroll right in. They’re carrying big boxes. And they reek of coffee and sweat, just like—hey! It’s those same Evil Humans who stole our stuff!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFetch Man welcomes them in like they belong here. Food Lady bosses them around the empty rooms.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Go away! There’s nothing here to steal,” I snarl. “You already took it!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut instead of appreciating my hard work, Fetch Man smells annoyed. He pulls me farther from the door. As usual, he doesn’t get it. “Hattie,” he scolds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat? Does he actually think she’s the one at fault here?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fenn-waay,” Hattie sings in a playful voice, like nothing dangerous is happening. She snatches me up into her arms.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Let me handle this,” I bark, thrashing, desperate to get free. “I’m a professional.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e”But she holds me tighter and breezes to the back of the house. As she opens a sliding door, I can hardly believe my eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter Three\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eHattie lets out a little shriek, like she’s   surprised, too. Right behind the house is an open space with grass and a giant tree near the back. Clusters of bushes and a fence run along all the sides. My tail goes berserk. It can only be one thing—a Dog Park!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut it’s kind of plain. Where is the big water dish to splash in? Or the benches to jump on?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd it’s quiet. Too quiet. I turn my snout into the breeze, but all I catch are whiffs of leaves and grass and blooming flowers. Where are the romping dogs? Are we the first to arrive?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI look back at the door. Where is Fetch Man? Who’s going to throw the ball for me and Hattie to chase?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis place is curious, all right. But one thing’s for sure—it must be explored!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI wiggle out of Hattie’s arms and drop onto the porch. She chases me down the steps. Yippee! It’s time to play!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI tear around the Dog Park, zigging and zagging. If Hattie wants to catch me, she’s going to have to outrace the master!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut as I make a sharp turn, Hattie’s not behind me. She’s in the middle of the Dog Park, somersaulting through the grass. Is this a new game? I hustle over and slobber her face with licks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe flops onto her back, laughing. I sink down next to her and nuzzle her chin. “Come on, Hattie! It’s play-time,” I bark.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe closes her eyes and hums. She must be too com-fortable to get up.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt’s obvious she’s going to need some convincing. And I know just how to do it!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNose in the grass, I trot off in search of a stick. I haven’t gotten far when I start to realize something. I haven’t sniffed any messages from other dogs. How strange!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI stop to leave one or two, so new dogs will know I’m here and ready to play. Right as I’m watering a strategic spot, I get sidetracked by a horrible rodent-y smell. A squirrel!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI look over and spot his fat, nasty body up ahead. He’s sitting proudly in the Dog Park, his tail flounced up like he deserves to be here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy own tail shoots up. I race over to show him who’s boss.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut he’s not acting the least bit intimidated. He just sits there in the grass, glaring at me. Does he think I’m not serious?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI bare my teeth. I’m ready to pounce! I’m about to grab his squirrel-y fur when suddenly, he pivots and rockets toward the back fence. I’m hot on his tail. “A Dog Park is for dogs!” I bark after him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe scurries partway up the trunk of the giant tree, then pauses to flick his bushy tail at me. “Chipper, chat-ter, squawk!” he screeches, daring me to nab him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI spring up, furiously pawing the tree, but he’s just out of reach. “You coward!” I bark. I run in circles around the giant tree, every hackle on my back raised in alarm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe squirrel turns and creeps down the trunk, tan-talizingly close. “Chipper, chatter, squawk!” he screeches again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI leap and leap, scraping the bark with my claws. “It’s called a DOG Park for a reason!” I growl.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut instead of scampering away, he inches closer. His beady eyes are challenging me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDoes he not know who he’s dealing with? I jump higher and higher, my jaws ready to snap!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFinally, he gets the message. He scrambles way up the trunk.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI watch until he disappears in the rustling and sway-ing branches. I’m about to bark “Good riddance!” when I spot his flouncy tail shooting through . . . a window?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI leap back, straining for a better view. There, up in the giant tree, nestled in the leafy leaves, is a little house about as tall as Hattie. A squirrel’s nest that looks like a little house? Whoa! The squirrels around here are even more evil than the ones at home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt least that nasty squirrel’s up in the tree where he belongs. “Wait till next time, you pest!” I bark with one last snarl.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWow, that was a lot of hard work!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI turn to get Hattie, but she’s already headed over. Whoopee! I know that look in her eyes—she’s ready to play!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI snatch the nearest stick and gallop straight toward her. But at the last second, she darts out of the way. Ha! The chase is on!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI’m speeding along near the side fence when I hear a sound that stops me in my tracks. Clink! Jingle! Jingle!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHooray! Hooray! More dogs are coming! I peer through the slats.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI can hardly believe what I see. Two dogs—in an-other Dog Park. Two Dog Parks, side by side? They must notice me, too, because the Golden Retriever stops chasing her tail and lopes over. The other dog does, too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTheir noses sniff wildly, examining me as best they can through the fence. The smaller one’s mostly white like me, only with black patches.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeing checked out by a couple of ladies is not so bad, but after a while the silence can be kind of...humiliating.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI drop the stick. “Looks like an awesome Dog Park over there,” I say. “Not sure if you know this, but there’s another one right here.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe white one opens her mouth like she wants to say something, but the Golden speaks first. “A Dog Park?” she says, as if she cannot believe the news.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Yes, two right next to each other. Isn’t it funny? I don’t think anybody knows about this one, though. I probably discovered it.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Are you saying . . . ?” the Golden says. “I mean, do you actually think you discovered—”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Give him a chance, Goldie,” the white one says in a gentle voice. She turns to me. “So, young fella, you’re not from around here, are you?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Well, actually no, but—Goldie?” I glance from one dog to the other. “Did you call her Goldie? What an amazing coincidence. My humans used to have a gold-fish with that name.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Excuse me?” The Golden gets all growly. “Are you comparing me to a fish?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“No, never. I wouldn’t do that.” I slink back and turn to the second dog. She’s not nearly as big as Goldie, but she’s still a lot bigger than me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Of course you wouldn’t,” says the white dog. Even through the fence, I can smell how friendly she is. “Don’t mind her. By the way, I’m Patches.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePatches. What a pretty name. And her voice sure  is lovely.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGoldie shoots her a stern look.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Why don’t you tell us about yourself, young guy?” Patches says.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Okay. My name’s Fenway. I live in an apartment, way up high. Above the honking cars and snorting buses. Right next to the sidewalk that leads to the real Dog Park. Do you know it?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePatches cocks her head, like she’s not sure she heard me right. “Um, no . . .”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Well, it’s a really cool place. You’ll just have to trust me.”Goldie nudges her. “We’d better listen to this guy,” she says. “He sounds like he knows what he’s talking about.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Uh, so, anyway,” I say. “This awesome Dog Park won’t be a secret for long. Why don’t you ladies come try it out?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGoldie and Patches exchange looks like they’re not sure.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You really should,” I say. “Me and my short human came here to play. Why don’t you join in? It’s going to be amazing.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGoldie drops down and scratches. “Are you sure about that?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Look, I don’t want to brag or anything. But Hattie’s the best short human ever. She loves to play with me. And even though we’re super best friends and we do  everything together, you can play, too.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You do everything together, huh?” Goldie says. “Does that include climbing trees?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Climbing trees? Right. That’s a good one. What do you think we are, squirrels?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePatches glances at the giant tree. “Um, I don’t know how to tell you this . . .”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Tell me what?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fenn-waay!” calls a singsongy voice way above our heads. Hattie’s voice. But how could it be? Why would her voice be up in the sky?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI crane my neck, but I don’t see her. I scout around the Dog Park. Where did she go? “Hattie?” I bark.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fenn-waay!” floats down again. From the giant tree?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI look way up into","brand":"Puffin Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48338543706341,"sku":"NP9780147514905","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780147514905.jpg?v=1769572619","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/fenway-and-hattie-isbn-9780147514905","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}