Page 9 - Highlights for Children (April 2020)
P. 9
ears popped up. He turned to Mrs. Yang’s
the sound of footsteps walking groceries spilled
past our driveway. It was
Mrs. Yang, our next-door all over the
neighbor. She was Chewy’s sidewalk.
favorite, probably because she
loved to give him treats.
Chewy bolted across the yard
and down the driveway. He
greeted Mrs. Yang with a bark
and playfully jumped in circles
around her.
“You must smell the doggy
biscuits I just bought for you,”
she said to him. That’s when
Chewy noticed her grocery bag.
As if it were one of his toys, he Dad when I was done with the to chew Dad’s shoelaces.
grabbed it with his mouth and story. “I think a week off from I nodded.
pulled. I watched in horror as using the camera should give “Well, I’d love to see it when
Mrs. Yang’s groceries spilled you enough time to figure out it’s finished. In fact, my son
all over the sidewalk. how to stick to our rule—and owns a coffee shop nearby, and
I wanted to apologize. I still make a good movie.” he has a screen and projector.
wanted to help Mrs. Yang I’ll ask him if we could have a
pick up her things. But then I In a panic, I viewing party there,” she said.
remembered something. If Dad grabbed Chewy “That would be incredible,” I
found out I had taken Chewy’s said. “Maybe Chewy could come
leash off, I wouldn’t be able to and ran inside see himself on the big screen.”
use his cell phone anymore. the house. Mrs. Yang chuckled. “Well, I’ll
Without a camera, I wouldn’t be be sure to bring some of those
able to finish my movie. In a I nodded. “I also need to talk doggy biscuits he loves. We
panic, I grabbed Chewy and ran to Mrs. Yang.” certainly wouldn’t want the
inside the house. Dad stood on the sidewalk movie star to go hungry during
All afternoon, I replayed the holding Chewy while I walked his own premiere.”
scene in my head—not the up to Mrs. Yang’s front door. My
heroic one from my movie of hands shook as I knocked.
Chewy saving the day but To my surprise, Mrs. Yang “Did you say you’re
the one of him tearing into answered with a smile. making a movie?”
Mrs. Yang’s bag. Over and over, I apologized to her for
I watched myself run away running away, for not helping
without apologizing or offering pick up her groceries. “I was
to pick up the mess. scared,” I admitted. “I was so
When Dad arrived home focused on trying to finish
that evening, I handed him his my movie that I made some
cell phone. bad decisions.”
“Did you finish shooting your “Apology accepted, Li,” said
movie already?” he asked. Mrs. Yang. “Did you say you’re
I shook my head and told him making a movie? About that
everything that had happened. puppy of yours?” She pointed
“Thanks for telling me,” said to Chewy, who was now trying
