Sundays were big breakfast days at the Aldens. The smell of bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs filled the kitchen. The children sat with their grandfather and talked about their new jobs.
“Today’s Mr. Fowler’s day off. We get to do his pet-sitting jobs,” Benny said between gulps of orange juice. “But know what?”
“What, Benny?” Mr. Alden asked.
“We have to feed Buster and Beau while they guard Jerry’s Gas Station,” Benny said. “And know what else? There’s a little door where we have to put the food. We don’t want the dogs to think we’re burglars and chase us by mistake.”
Mr. Alden put down his coffee cup. “That sounds like an important job, Benny.”
On Sundays it was Henry’s turn to clear the table. “Mrs. Tweedy told us the dogs are kept in a dog run,” he explained to his grandfather. “We won’t be getting close to them. Still, we can’t bring Watch along. Buster and Beau might get too excited.”
Mr. Alden sat back and poured himself another cup of coffee. “I’ll get Watch out for a walk in the woods this afternoon. He misses going out with you children now that you’re so busy at the pet shop.”
Jessie scratched Watch behind his ears. “Good boy. We’ll be back early.”
“Greenfield is so sleepy on Sundays,” Violet said after the Aldens picked up Soo Lee on their way to town. “Hardly anyone is out.”
“I’m not sleepy,” Soo Lee said. “I can’t wait to see the talking birds.”
The children arrived at the Pretty Bird Pet Shop to pick up supplies. As soon as Henry unlocked the back door, the chattering, yipping, squawking, and twittering started up, just like an animal chorus.
“Tweedy, Tweedy, Tweedy,” Grayfellow squawked from his cage.
“We’re not Mrs. Tweedy,” Violet said, laughing.
“Tweedy, Tweedy, Tweedy,” Grayfellow repeated.
Violet stopped by the parrot’s cage. “I guess he thinks anyone who comes in here is Mrs. Tweedy. I’m Violet.”
Grayfellow tried to peck at Violet’s bracelet right through the bars of his cage. He couldn’t say “Violet” yet.
Violet, Benny, and Soo Lee went around the shop to make sure all the animals had enough water and food. When Violet stopped by George’s cage, the little monkey reached out.
Violet handed him a piece of fruit. “Here’s some banana from my breakfast, George. I’ll miss you.”
“Yip, yip,” George said back.
“’Bye, Rainbow,” Soo Lee whispered to the macaw. “Do you think today is the day Rainbow and George have to go to the zoo, Jessie?”
Jessie filled a box with supplies. “Mr. Fowler said it might be this weekend. But maybe not, since he’s off today. In a way, I wish George and Rainbow could stay here, even though they’ll be happier in the zoo.”
Henry waved everyone toward the back door. “Time to go. Let’s lock up tight.” He looked over the delivery list. “Our first stop is on Magnolia Street. There’s a cat named Kit Kat that we have to feed. I’ve got the house keys Mrs. Tweedy left us.”
A few minutes later, the Aldens stood in front of a small white house. “This is where Kit Kat lives,” Jessie said. “The job sheet says that we should bring in the newspaper, check the mail, take in any garbage cans, and, of course, feed Kit Kat.”
“Can you and Violet and I feed her?” Soo Lee asked Jessie.
“That’s just what I was thinking,” Jessie said. “Here’s a new box of cat food, a cat treat, too.”
While Henry and Benny checked the outside of the house, the three girls let themselves in. Right away, a plump white-and-orange cat rubbed against the girls’ legs and purred like a little motor.
Jessie laughed. “I guess we don’t have to worry about Kit Kat being afraid of us, do we?”
Kit Kat got all excited when she heard Violet tear the wrapping off the cat food box. She purred so loudly that the girls expected her to start talking any minute.
“Cats are easy,” Jessie told Henry and Benny after the girls had fed Kit Kat. “Kit Kat practically ate out of Soo Lee’s hands.”
The Aldens headed for Jerry’s Gas Station next. This was a favorite stop whenever Grandfather Alden had to get gas. The children liked to get peanuts from the machine inside while they watched Jerry work on cars. But Sunday was Jerry’s day off.
Only Buster and Beau were on duty. As soon as the two dogs heard the Aldens, they began to snarl and bark in the most awful way. The younger children stayed close to Henry and Jessie.
“Not to worry,” Henry said. “They’re locked up in their run.”
Violet, Benny, and Soo Lee wanted to believe what Henry said. Still, that barking sounded awfully loud!
Jessie took Soo Lee and Benny by the hands. “Since Buster and Beau are guard dogs, they are trained to growl.”
Violet tiptoed behind the others. “They sound so close, Jessie. Are you sure they’re always, always kept inside?”
“Of course they are, Violet. Don’t be—” but Jessie’s comforting words were interrupted by Henry yelling.
“Run, Jessie! Run! Go back to the front with the others. The dogs are loose!”
Jessie hurried the children down the alleyway. She turned around to make sure Henry was all right. He was running right behind them and made it through the gate, locking it behind him.
“Grrrrr. Grrrr,” the dogs growled from the other side of the gate.
“Here, Henry, I brought some treats. Maybe the dogs will eat them if we toss them over the fence,” said Jessie.
Henry threw them into the dogs’ pen, which was just over the fence. The dogs ran excitedly into their pen and lay down to eat their snack. Then Henry went back through the gate, quietly, and shut the dogs into their pen.
“That was close,” he said aloud. He called down to the other children. “All clear. Bring the water and dog food over here.”
Jessie and Violet led Soo Lee and Benny by the hands.
“Henry says it’s okay to feed the dogs now,” Jessie said.
Henry was right. All Buster and Beau wanted to do was eat lunch, not the Aldens! Their tails wagged at the sight of the dog food bag Violet was carrying.
“Benny, lift the small door here,” Henry said. “I’ll get their bowls out. Benny can pour in the dog food. And, Violet, you can fill the water bowls. They’re not growling anymore.”
“Is this enough water?” Violet asked after she finished pouring water from a big jug.
Henry pushed the bowls into the small opening to the dog pen. “Just right,” Henry said. “Everybody did great, just great. And thanks for thinking of the dog treats, Jessie.”
Jessie began to laugh. “Guess what, Henry? Those weren’t dog treats. They were cat treats! I brought them along so Kit Kat wouldn’t be afraid of us!”
Henry smiled. “Well, anyway, it worked. Buster and Beau are safe inside. They won’t be able to get loose again unless somebody lets them out on purpose.
“Again,” he added softly so the younger children wouldn’t hear him.