Prince for a Princess (4 page)
Christina took a deep breath. “Greyhounds have bigger hearts, more blood and more red blood cells than other dogs. They also have long legs and a very flexible spine. This is why greyhounds are the fastest dogs in the world.”
As she talked, Christina pointed at Prince's legs and ran her hand down his back. Prince pressed into her and rubbed his head against Christina's shoulder.
“People love to watch greyhounds race. There are racetracks in countries all over the world. Some people think that dogs should never be made to race. They believe it's cruel. One problem is that when the dogs can't race anymore, they need a good home and people to care for them. That's how we got Prince. He was a race dog who got too old to race. Now he's a part of our family. Every year there are thousands of dogs just like Prince that need new homes. I told you greyhounds have big hearts. Well, their hearts are big enough to hold any boy or girl who wants a dog to love. Thank you.”
After school, Christina's mother was waiting for her at the schoolyard gate. Christina and Prince bounded down the school's front steps.
“How did your speech go?” she asked.
“Mrs. Martin said my speech was very good.”
“In that case, maybe we should stop for an ice cream cone to celebrate,” her mother said.
“Do you think it was good enough for two scoops?” Christina asked.
“Good enough for two scoops and a dog treat,” her mother said. She patted her pocket to show there was something special in it for Prince.
The three of them set off. They walked slowly so Prince could stop and smell things along the way. Kids gave Prince a pat or said his name as they passed. Everybody liked Prince. And he liked them too.
“Was Prince nervous about being in front of the class?” her mother asked.
“I think a little, but just at first,” she said. “He knew I was there to take care of him.”
Her mother nodded. She knew it wasn't only Christina who took care of Prince. Prince took care of Christina too. “It's important to know you have people to take care of you. And was he well behaved?”
“He's
always
well behaved.”
“It would be hard to argue with that.” Walking hand in hand, they turned off the street and cut through an alley that ran behind a row of houses. Suddenly a growling, snarling big dog charged at them from the other side of a fence. Christina and her mother screamed and jumped back. But Prince jumped toward the fence! He growled and snarled and let out a deep, loud bark that startled them and sent the other dog running.
“He barked!” Christina said.
“He did more than that. He was defending us from the other dog,” her mother said. “Did you see the way he tried to protect us? He really is a good dog.”
“No,” Christina said. “He isn't a good dog. He's the best dog.”
The three of them set off to get their ice cream and a dog treat.
“Mom, do you think I could get a triple scoop?”
“A triple scoop would be bigger than you.”
“Please.”
“Are you sure you can eat that much ice cream?” her mother asked.
“Wellâ¦I was planning on sharing some of it.”
“I think I'm going to get my own cone,” her mother said.
“I wasn't going to share it with you, Mom. What flavor do you think a greyhound would like?”
“Strawberry, for sure.”
“But that's
my
favorite,” Christina said.
“I have a feeling your favorite is going to be
his
favorite too. So three scoops of strawberry it is.” She paused and looked at Prince. “He is awfully big. Maybe we better make that
four
scoops of strawberry.”
Christina's mother pulled the car into the driveway and quickly got out. It was three fifteen in the afternoon. She had only ten minutes until she had to meet Christina outside the school. If she and Prince walked quickly, they could make it. He wouldn't have time to smell every bush on the way, but she was sure Christina would make up for it on the way back.
She left the groceries in the car and entered the backyard. Before she left for the market she had put Prince in the backyard. There was plenty of shade, and she had left a big bowl of water for him. She knew Prince liked their backyard, and it was much better than him being inside clawing at the front door.
She grabbed his leash, which was clipped to the fence. “Come, Prince, we have to hurry!” she sang out as she opened the gate.
He didn't come. She looked around, but she didn't see him.
“Princeâ¦where are you?”
He was nowhere.
“Prince, where are you!” she yelled.
She had a bad feeling in her stomach. Where was he? Was he all right? She ran up the driveway to the street. She looked both ways. He was nowhere to be seen. She yelled his name, again and again.
She grabbed her phone and dialed her husband's number. “Prince is gone!” she said. “I put him in the yardâ¦I was only away twenty-five minutes and now he's gone!”
She burst into tears.
“It's going to be okay. We'll find him,” Christina's father said. “I'm coming home. He couldn't have gone too far. We'll find him. You go pick up Christina.”
“Christina. What am I going to say to her when she sees Prince isn't with me?”
“I don't know,” her husband said. “We'll all look. We'll look until we find him.”
She hung up and hurried off toward the school. As she walked, she called out Prince's name, looking in every direction. He couldn't have gone far, unless he was running. He was a greyhound, after all. It wouldn't take him long to get far away.
“Prince!” she yelled. “Where are you, Prince?”
She crossed the street. The school was ahead, but there was still no Prince in sight. What was she going to say to Christina? If anything had happened to Prince, it would break her heart. And then she saw him.
Prince was standing at the schoolyard gate. He was surrounded by people waiting for their children to appear. It was as if he was waiting for his own child to appear.
She called out his name, and Prince turned. He had a quizzical look on his face, as if he was saying, “Where were you? We were almost late!” She rushed up and threw her arms around the big dog.
“Sorry I was late,” she whispered into the dog's ear. “I'm so glad to see you.”
Prince pressed his nose against the living-room window and stared outside. Cars passed, and now and then a person with a dog. Prince wasn't interested in any of it.
He trotted into the kitchen, his toenails clicking on the floor. Christina's mother was sitting at the table, sipping her coffee and reading the paper. Prince pushed his head under her arm and lifted it.
“Hey!” she exclaimed as her coffee sloshed onto the paper.
Prince pushed her arm up again. She put down her mug and patted him. It was hard to get mad when all he wanted was affection.
“They'll be back soon,” she said as she rubbed him behind his ears.
She was so happy to have him back. Even though it was hard, her parents had told Christina what had happened. They promised never to leave Prince alone in the backyard again. But there would still be times when he would have to be left alone at home.
Prince's ears perked up. Car doors slammed in the driveway. His paws skidded on the slick floor as he ran to the front door. He got there just as Christina opened it.
“Good boy!” she said.
Prince bounced up and down, ran to his bed, grabbed his favorite stuffed toy and brought it to her. He let out a big
rooo
. Christina
rooed
back at him.
“Well?” her mother asked.
Christina nodded. “Dad's in the backyard. We thought that would be the best place for it to happen.”
The three of them went out the back door. Christina's father was waiting for them. In his arms was a small bundle.
“Prince,” Christina said as she led him over to her father, “I'd like you to meet the newest member of our family. His name is Chancho.”
The big greyhound and the little Chihuahua in her father's arms touched noses.
“He's a Chihuahua and his name means
pig
,” her father said.
“Pig?” her mother asked.
“That's the name he was given by the rescue people. He knows it's his name,” Christina said.
“We didn't want you to be alone anymore,” Christina said to Prince. “Now, you'll have Chancho with you whenever we're gone.”
“He's just a
little
piggy. There really wasn't space for another greyhound,” her mother said.
