‘Sometimes I think dogs are smarter than people ...’

Editor’s note: Below is an excerpt from the children’s book, “The Case of the Dancing Cowboy,” written by John R. Erickson and reprinted with permission via Newspapers in Education. To catch up on the story, read the previous excerpt in the e-paper editio

Chapter 10 (cont.)

My goodness, she almost wrecked the car when I appeared so suddenly. She looked at me through tear-filled eyes ... and started laughing.

“Hank, what on earth are you doing in here!”

Well, I ... uh ... it was a little hard to explain, actually.

She gathered my head into her right arm and gave me a big hug. “Well, you rascal, I guess we’re pretty good pals, aren’t we? And maybe you knew that Viola made a fool of herself and needed a shoulder to cry on.”

She pulled over to the side of the road, thank goodness, because I had begun to worry about her hitting one of those big cottonwood trees.

She fished a tissue out of her purse and dabbed her eyes, then blew her nose. To tell you the truth, I was a little shocked that such a cute lady could make such a loud honk with her nose.

Then she stroked my ears and began talking. “You see, Hank, my parents are up in years and need my help. I love them dearly and I’m glad I can help them, but ... sometimes I want to go out and hear music and laughter. And kick up my heels, just to see if I can still do it.”

She took my face in her hands and looked into my eyes.

“You understand, don’t you? Sometimes I think dogs are smarter than people, and I’ll bet a silver dollar that you would have invited me to the dance, wouldn’t you?”

Yes ... ump ... ma’am, and what a lousy time to burp sardine fumes in a closed car. All at once her nose wrinkled up and her eyes crossed. She rolled down the window and began fanning the air with her hand.

“Hank, what on earth have you been eating!”

Well, uh, a can of rotten fish, it seemed. And no one regretted it more than I.

I hate sardines, always have. She leaned her head back against the seat and laughed and laughed. “Oh Hank, this is too funny for words! At last I find a fellow who adores me, but he turns out to be a dog who’s been eating sardines!”

She was laughing so hard that she didn’t notice the dark shadowy form that had suddenly appeared at her window.

It was a man.