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Stacy’s new yo-yo had a rainbow of colors on one side. There was a happy face on the opposite side. The gift had been in her Christmas stocking. It was one of her favorite new toys.

After lunch she played with the yo-yo. And with her cockapoo dog.

“Jason Birchall oughta be bored with his fits,” she said.

Sunday Funnies cocked his head. Like he was really listening.

“But you know what?” Stacy continued. “I think something’s gonna happen. And real soon.”

Sunday Funnies barked, wagging his tail.

“Don’t you understand?” she asked. “I mean something wonderful is going to happen to Jason. I just have a feeling.”

She looked out the living room window. The street was dusted with clean, fresh snow. Like a frosted cul-de-sac—all fleecy white.

“The world looks white and fluffy, just like you,” she whispered. She picked her puppy up and held him close.

“Mm-m, you smell good!” She buried her face in his soft, curly coat. “Did Mom give you a bath yesterday afternoon?”

Sunday Funnies didn’t bark yes. But he did bark something. She wasn’t exactly sure what he was trying to tell her. Maybe he wanted to go outside.

Yes, that’s probably what he wanted.

Stacy waited for her puppy to go out. She thought of yesterday’s club meeting. Mom must’ve given Sunday Funnies a bath during the meeting.

She decided to take better care of her dog. After all, he was her responsibility. In fact, she decided to help around the house more. A lot more!

Soon Sunday Funnies was whining at the door.

She let him inside. “Wanna help me clean house?” she asked.

But he followed the scent of the newspaper. He sat down on the living room floor. Right next to the paper.

“Now, that’s a very good way to help,” she said. “If you stay out of my way, I’ll get the cleaning done much faster.”

She went to the hall closet and lugged out the vacuum sweeper. Then she found the plug and turned it on.

Mom will be surprised, she thought.

She could hardly wait to see her mother’s face!

Minutes later, the doorbell rang.

Stacy didn’t really hear the bell. But she knew someone was there just the same.

Sunday Funnies had run to the door. He was howling now.

Quickly, she switched off the sweeper. “I’m coming,” she called. And she dashed to the door.

There stood Jason Birchall, carrying a cardboard box. “Hi, Stacy,” he said.

“Hi.” She was very surprised to see him.

“I’ve got something to show you,” he said. He looked down at whatever was in his box.

She stepped back, away from the door. Jason was known to collect strange pets. Things like tarantulas and croaking bullfrogs.

“Uh . . . I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe not.”

“Come on. Just take a look,” he said. “This box won’t bite.”

“But what’s inside might, right?” She didn’t trust Jason. Not one bit!

He shoved the cardboard box at her. “Surprise!”

“Yikes!” she gasped.

But it wasn’t really so bad when she looked inside.

There was no scary, furry spider. Not even a green frog with blinking eyes!

Instead, a shabby little puppy looked up at her from the box.

“Pee-uu-wee,” she said, backing away. “Whose dog?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” he said. “This pooch needs a little kindness. Wanna help me hunt for its owner?”

Stacy was shocked. “What did you just say?”

It sounded like Jason had picked a fruit, after all.

“I asked if you wanted to help me find the dog’s owner?” he repeated.

“That’s very kind of you,” she replied.

He smiled and set the box down. “I knew you’d think so. But don’t get any fruity ideas about . . . well, you know.”

She knew, all right.

Still, she hoped Jason would change his mind.

Before New Year’s Eve!