of Frank, for after all, Frank was very short and tiny compared to Puma. (Also Frank couldn’t see very well without his glasses.) Puma must hurry.
“Everybody help!” barked Puma. “Frank is hurt. I think he’s dying. Help, help!”
Tyler came running out of the house with Kinga. “Puma, stop your barking,” Tyler sternly warned Puma.
I forgot. They cannot understand me, thought Puma. I will have to take drastic measures.
With that, Puma ran up to Tyler and put his mouth around Tyler’s wrist. He clamped down gently but firmly and started pulling him toward the trail.
“Puma is acting very strange. I think something must be wrong,” said Tyler as he was following Puma’s lead.
Shortly Tyler saw what the problem was. “Kinga, get a blanket. Frank has been hurt.”
Tyler knelt next to Frank. He could see that the stick had punctured Frank’s chest indeed but had not gone in very far. It was merely a superficial wound. Frank would be fine. He touched Frank. Frank lay limp. His glasses lay askew across his face. Frank had fainted.
When Spencer arrived, Tyler sent him down to retrieve some water from the lake. “Splash some on Frank’s face. That should revive him,” directed Tyler.
Sure enough, Spencer splashed some water on Frank’s face. Frank sputtered awake. “Am I in heaven?” said Frank dreamily. “Where am I?”
“Oh, Frankie, you gave us quite a scare,” said Kinga as she wrapped Frank in a blanket and carried him up the trail. “You are going to be just fine after we bandage you up. That’s what happens when you are so low to the ground.”
What did she mean by that? In Frank’s mind, he was a tall dog.
Back Home
Frank was feeling better once he was back home. His bandages were taken off, and Spencer found that Frank’s wound had healed up nicely.
“You don’t have much of a scar, Frank,” said Spencer. “You are a very lucky dog.”
Being summer, Frank and Spencer were able to sleep in every morning. Usually they would awake around ten. This particular morning, Darryl woke them up early. “Hey, guys, I thought you might like to go with me to Tyler and Kinga’s house. Frank, you will like to play with Puma.”
With that last word coming out of Darryl’s mouth, Frank bounded out of bed barking happily. “I’m going to Puma’s. I’m going to Puma’s.”
Frank found his glasses and ran out to the kitchen. He barked for his breakfast. Hurry, he thought. The sooner I eat, the sooner I can go play.
After Spencer ate breakfast, they left for Tyler and Kinga’s house. Tyler and Kinga lived on a small farm. They had a pond full of fish, trails through the woods, a mountain view, and acres of fields to run through.
Frank could hardly wait to get there. He always loved a ride in the car, but he couldn’t wait to get to Puma’s so he could play. “Are we there yet?” barked Frank.
They pulled into the driveway. Kinga was out in her dahlia garden. She had the most beautiful dahlias in her garden. Frank had never seen such bright and colorful flowers.
Tyler was out in the field on his tractor. He was mowing the fields. He liked to mow the fields because he said it was relaxing. Sometimes Puma got to ride on the tractor too. Puma sat so proudly when he was on the tractor. I’m sure people who see me on this tractor assume I am the one driving, mused Puma.
Where was Puma? Frank looked left; he looked right. Where was Puma? Just then, out the corner of Frank’s eye, he saw the ever-familiar black, blurry streak across the field just behind the tractor. Puma was chasing rabbits and field mice! The mower would scare them, and when they ran, Puma ran after them. Puma didn’t want to hurt them. He just wanted to talk to them. They aren’t very friendly, thought Puma.
“Puma,” yelled Frank, “I’m here!”
Puma ran his fastest to reach Frank’s side. “Let’s run in the fields. It is so much fun.”
Frank and Puma ran through the fields. They ran until they were both too tired to do much more than walk back to the house.
Petrie
Frank had never been to Puma’s house before. Puma said, “Watch this, Frank. When I bark, the door opens.”
Puma barked once, and immediately Tyler opened the door for him. “See, it works every time.” Puma beamed.
Inside the house, Frank was looking from room to room. Frank walked into a darkened bedroom. He could barely make out anything. He pushed his glasses closer on his nose. Still he could not see anything.
“Hello?” said a melodic voice coming from the corner.
“Who said that?” questioned Frank. “Who’s there?”
The melodic voice said, “I am here in the corner. Can you see me?”
Frank could not see whoever was talking to him. He thought for a minute, When Puma barked at the door, Tyler opened it. Perhaps if I barked in this room, he would turn on the light.
Frank started barking softly at first. When nobody came, he started barking louder. Finally, Tyler came into the room flipping on the light as he entered. “What is it, Frank? What are you barking at?”
Frank didn’t hear anything that Tyler said because as the light came on, Frank saw the most beautiful creature he had ever set eyes on. He couldn’t help but stare.
“Who are you?” asked Frank
“I am Petrie,” said Petrie. “I am a guinea pig.”
“Y-y-y-y-ou don’t look like a pig,” said Frank.
Petrie giggled. “I’m not a pig. I am a guinea pig. There is a big difference, you know.”
Frank had no clue what the difference was. All that he knew was that Petrie was the most beautiful animal he had ever seen. He kept staring.
“Frank, let’s go,” said Spencer.
Frank didn’t respond. He was still staring.
“Frank, let’s go,” said Spencer again.
Still no response from Frank.
“Frank, let’s go!” said Spencer one last time.
Frank snapped out of his trance. “What…what did you say?” barked Frank.
“Let’s go. We must get home because Mom is going to have a surprise for us.”
Frank did not want to take his eyes off Petrie. He backed out of the room, his eyes never leaving Petrie. He backed right into Puma who had been standing in
