Biscuit Is in Charge Today

On Saturday morning, Ava found a note beside her bed.

It had one muddy paw print at the bottom.

Ava could not read every word.

But she could read the biggest ones.

BISCUIT IS IN CHARGE TODAY.

Ava looked at Biscuit.

Biscuit sat very tall.

“Woof,” he said.

Biscuit marched to the kitchen.

Ava followed.

Biscuit sat beside his bowl.

“Breakfast?” asked Ava.

Biscuit shook his head.

He carried his bowl to the table.

Then he pointed his nose at Ava’s chair.

“Oh,” said Ava.

“You’re serving breakfast.”

Biscuit wagged.

THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.

Biscuit brought Ava one biscuit.

A dog biscuit.

Ava stared at it.

Biscuit stared at her.

“No, thank you.”

Biscuit sniffed the biscuit.

He ate it himself.

Then he brought Ava a banana.

“Much better.”

THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.

After breakfast, Biscuit carried over his leash.

“Walk time?”

Biscuit dropped the leash.

Then he picked up Ava’s yellow rain boots.

He put one boot beside each of her feet.

Ava giggled.

“You’re very bossy today.”

Biscuit wagged.

THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.

Outside, Biscuit chose the way.

First, they went left.

Then right.

Then left again.

Then—

STOP!

Biscuit sniffed a bush.

He sniffed a post.

He sniffed one tiny purple flower for a very, very, very long time.

Ava waited.

And waited.

And waited.

“Biscuit,” Ava said, “we’ll be here until Tuesday.”

Biscuit looked up.

Then he hurried on.

At the next corner, Ava spotted a puddle.

A BIG puddle.

A PERFECT puddle.

Ava pointed.

“My turn to choose!”

SPLASH!

Ava jumped right into the middle.

Biscuit stopped at the edge.

His ears went up.

His ears went down.

Ava splashed again.

Biscuit backed away.

“What?” said Ava.

“You don’t like puddles?”

Biscuit sat down firmly.

Ava remembered the note.

BISCUIT IS IN CHARGE TODAY.

She folded her arms.

Biscuit folded nothing.

He just looked at her with enormous brown eyes.

Ava sighed.

“All right. Boss Biscuit. Which way?”

Biscuit chose the dry path around.

Then a squirrel zipped across the path.

Biscuit forgot he was the boss.

“WOOF!”

He dashed one way.

Ava held the leash.

Biscuit dashed the other way.

Ava spun around.

Biscuit spun around.

The leash wrapped gently around both of them.

They stopped.

Blink.

Blink.

Ava started to giggle.

Biscuit sneezed.

Ava giggled harder.

Biscuit licked her nose.

“Bosses need help sometimes,” Ava said.

She untangled the leash.

Biscuit gave her one grateful—

THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.

On the way home, Biscuit chose one corner.

Ava chose the next.

Biscuit stopped for a quick sniff.

Ava stopped for one quick splash.

Biscuit found a stick.

Ava found a shiny leaf.

They took turns all the way home.

Back inside, Ava found another note on the floor.

This one had TWO muddy paw prints.

Ava sounded out the big words.

AVA AND BISCUIT ARE IN CHARGE TOMORROW.

Ava smiled.

Biscuit wagged.

THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!

Then he carried her a dog biscuit.

“Nice try, Boss Biscuit.”