Don't Swap Your Sweater for a Dog (4 page)

I held the trophy high in the air. Edward and I ran across the field to my family.

There was lots of back patting.

And high-fiving.

And way-to-going.

I felt pretty amazing. I was definitely going to be the star of show-and-tell.

Something cold touched my hand.

I looked down, and there was Goofy.

He was nudging me with his nose.

He wagged his tail like he was happy for me.

He even touched noses with Edward.

Good old Goofy.

I gave him a hug.

“Will the contestants please return to the judges' table for photographs?” said the loudspeaker guy.

“Come on, Edward,” I said. “They want to take our picture.”

Edward and I walked back to the judges.

“Sit, Edward,” I said. And of course Edward sat.

“Congratulations, Roscoe,” the lady judge said. “You and Edward must have a very special relationship.”

“Well, I—,” I began. “He's a nice dog, yeah.”

I looked back at my family.

Goofy was watching me. He wagged his tail. Just a little.

I held up the trophy. It glittered in the sun.

Just like I'd imagined.

Then I set the trophy down on the table.

“Edward's a nice dog,” I said, “but he's not
my
dog.”

“What do you mean, son?” another judge asked.

“That's my dog,” I said. “Over there. I just borrowed Edward because I wanted a trophy, but he's not mine, he's Martin's, and I really want my sweater back too.”

The judges just looked at me.

“What sweater, sweetheart?” asked the lady judge finally. “I'm afraid you've lost us. And which dog is really your dog?”

I handed her Edward's leash. “I'll show you,” I said.

“Goofy!” I called. “Goofy! Come here, boy!”

Goofy yanked free of Max. He dashed across the field like he was going after Hector.

He leaped into my arms.

We fell back.

We rolled and rolled and rolled and rolled.

It was great.

Goofy licked my nose.

The crowd went wild.

“This,” I said, “is MY dog.”

They gave the trophy to the homework-eating dog instead.

But Goofy and I got a special white ribbon.

On the bottom, one of the judges wrote WORLD'S BEST BACKWARD SOMERSAULT TEAM.

When Martin came to pick up Edward, I told him the whole story.

I also told him I was really sorry, but I wanted my sweater back.

I told him I would pay him my allowance for as long as it took.

Martin said that was okay. Because even though he liked the sweater, it was awfully itchy.

When I told my mom and dad about trading Grandma's sweater for Edward, they were not happy.

They were also not happy about the part where I fibbed about Martin wanting me to enter Edward in the contest. Although they were proud of me for telling them the truth eventually.

Also, for telling the judges the truth.

They said I was getting very mature.

So I asked, Does that mean no more time-outs?

Here I am. So I guess you can tell what their answer was.

It felt good to get Grandma's sweater back. In fact, I'm wearing it right now. I found a baby turtle and a worm on it while I've been sitting here.

It really is a work of art.

Too bad it's so itchy.

I don't even mind being in time-out so much today.

'Cause Goofy's here with me.

He got sent to time-out, too.

Something about eating the hot dogs we were going to have for dinner.

Good old Goofy.