Prince for a Princess

Chapter One

Christina walked hand in hand between her parents. They swung her back and forth as they walked up the gravel road. Christina was seven and a little old to be swung. But she was small for her age, and it was something they all loved to do. They stopped in front of a barn. It had been a long drive out to the country. Christina was excited to be on a farm. “Now, Christina,” her mother said, “before we go in, I want you to remember we’re only here to look.” “I know. Only to look,” Christina said, but she hoped for much more. “Your mother’s right. Just because we’re here doesn’t mean we’re going home with a dog,” her father added. “We both know how much you want a dog,” her mother said. Christina nodded. “I do, I really do.” She paused. “But if not a dog, I’ll settle for a horse.” “I don’t think a horse would work in the city,” her father said. “A little sister would be almost as good as a dog.” “Let’s look at the dogs,” her father said. They walked into the barn. It was big and smelled fresh and clean. It was quiet inside except for some soft music. If this is a kennel, why isn’t there any barking? thought Christina. “Hello!” her father called out. There was no answer. A little man appeared. He was wearing rubber boots and faded jeans. He waved and smiled as he came forward. “Good afternoon, we’re the Campbells. We phoned earlier about coming to see the dogs,” Christina’s father said. “Hi, I’m Bert. I’m glad you could make it. But I’m hoping you’ll do more than just visit them. Maybe I could put you all to work? Come on!” Before they could answer, Burt turned around. They followed him through a second door. The big room was filled with cages. There were dozens and dozens of cages on either side of a wide aisle. A set of eyes stared back at Christina from every cage. “Your timing is perfect. It’s time to turn the dogs out,” he said. “Turn them out?” Christina’s mother asked. “To let them play in the exercise yard,” he said. “Children aren’t the only ones that need to play!” Bert opened up a cage, and a big dog popped his head out. He clipped a leash onto its collar, and the dog trotted out. Bert greeted the dog like a close friend, dropping to one knee and petting him on the head. “How you doing, boy?” The dog pressed up against Bert. Bert handed the leash to Christina. The dog was almost as tall as she was. Christina’s father took a step closer. “He certainly is big.” “Bigger than most, smaller than some,” Bert said. “Don’t be afraid.” “I’m not afraid,” Christina said. Bert chuckled. “I was talking to your parents. Now, bring him out to the yard,” he said, pointing at an open door. “You can take the leash off once you’re outside.” Christina and the dog trotted away. “She wasn’t afraid at all,” Bert said. “And neither of you should be either. Greyhounds are the gentlest dogs in the world.” He opened a second cage and put a leash on another dog. He handed the leash to Christina’s mother. She hesitated but took the leash and led the dog away. The family took turns leading the dogs out to the yard until all of them were outside.

Chapter Two

There were thirty-six dogs in the yard. “There are so many of them,” Christina’s mother said. “Are they all former racing dogs?” Christina’s father asked. “All of them,” Bert said. “They only race for a few years, and then they have to retire.” “It’s hard to believe they retire before most humans even start school,” Christina’s father joked. “For racing dogs, it’s all about winning. Older dogs are just that little bit slower. When they retire, we have to find new homes for them.” It was amazing to see all the dogs together. There was no barking or snarling or fighting. The dogs ran and pranced and played with Christina. Some of them ran big circles together, as if they were racing. “It’s wonderful to watch them run,” her mother said. Bert nodded. “It is. It’s like watching a painting in motion.” “Why aren’t they barking?” her mother asked. “Greyhounds are pretty quiet. They’ll occasionally bark or growl like all dogs do, but mostly they just rooo.” “Rooo?” asked her mother. “It’s the sound a greyhound makes when it’s happy. You’ll hear it soon enough,” Bert said. “They’re all so beautiful. How does anybody ever choose one?” her father asked as Christina approached. Bert smiled. “Well, you don’t have to choose just one.” “You mean we could have two or three?” Christina asked. “Three is a bit much, but people often end up with two. The dogs aren’t used to being alone,” Bert said. Her father put his hands in his pockets. “I don’t think our house is big enough to hold two greyhounds.” “One is definitely enough!” her mother said. “So I can have one?” Christina asked. Her parents nodded. Christina squealed. “Princess, you go and play with the dogs and let us talk,” her father said. Christina raced over to the dogs. Her parents watched as she ran and played with them all. “The first thing you have to know about racing greyhounds is that they have no experience being pets,” Bert said. “So there are problems with them?” Christina’s mother asked. He laughed. “If you’re looking for a dog that doesn’t do anything wrong, go to a toy store and get your girl a stuffed one.” Christina’s parents grinned. Their daughter’s room was filled with stuffed dogs. “These dogs have spent their entire lives in a kennel, so being in a home is new to them. There are things they need to be taught, things all of you have to be taught.” The greyhounds were so big and moved so fast, but they were gentle with Christina. It was amazing to see the little girl in the middle of them. “Do they need a lot of exercise?” Christina’s father asked. “They love to run, but they love to sleep even more,” Bert said. “Greyhounds are the world’s fastest moving couch potatoes.” “They’re a little big for our couch,” Christina’s mother said. Bert laughed. “Maybe you need bigger furniture. Or, at least, you will need to put a big doggie bed on the floor.” He smiled. “Although all bets are off as to where a dog will sleep when you leave him home alone. They do like comfy furniture.” “There are so many of them. How will we choose the right dog?” Christina’s father asked. “You don’t understand,” Bert said. “You don’t choose the dog. The dog chooses you.” Bert pointed. Christina was standing off to the side with a dog. He was white and brown and very big—maybe the biggest dog of them all. He was almost the same height as Christina. He looked into her eyes as she scratched him behind the ear. “I heard you call your daughter Princess,” Bert said. “Her name is Christina, but we call her Princess sometimes,” her father said. “Well, then it seems right that she and that dog belong together,” he said. “His name is Prince.” “A Prince for a Princess,” her mother said. “That does seem right.” Christina’s family was now a family of four.

Chapter Three

Christina’s father parked in the driveway. “We’re home, Prince, we’re home!” Christina said. She jumped out of the car, raced to open the back of the SUV and reached in for Prince’s leash. The big dog jumped down, landing right beside her. She led him, skipping and prancing, up the walkway. Christina ran up the stairs. But Prince skidded to a stop at the bottom. “Oh, I forgot. You don’t know about stairs,” she said. That was one of the things Bert had explained. Racing greyhounds live a flat life. They have to be trained to climb stairs because they have never used them before. Christina walked down the stairs and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s all right, Prince. I’ll teach you.” “Should we help?” her father whispered. Christina’s mother shook her head. “It’s her dog. Let her do it.” Christina remembered what Bert had told them about showing Prince how to climb stairs. She held onto his collar with one hand. With the other, she took one of his front paws and carefully placed it on the first step. She pulled his body up. Then she reached over and placed his other front paw on the next step. She repeated this action over and over, until the two of them were standing together on the porch. Christina smiled, and it looked as if Prince was smiling too. Christina opened the front door of the house and led Prince inside. “Welcome to our home. Your new home,” she said.