Hotel for Dogs by Lois Duncan ch 1-1
CHAPTER ONE The house was white and square and too small and too perfect. Bruce studied it from the car window. “Do you suppose there's really room for all of us?” he asked skeptically. “It looks smug,” Andi said. “It has a stuck-up look, as though it thinks it's too good for ordinary people. Even the grass looks fake. I bet it's made of plastic and comes from Home Depot.” “Andi, that is enough!” Mr. Walker pulled the car into the driveway and brought it to a stop, but he did not turn off the motor. “You have been acting this way ever since we left New Mexico. We're here now, and in another minute you're going to meet Aunt Alice. I don't want one more unpleasant remark — not one.” “Just remember how lucky we are, dear,” Mrs. Walker said. “Nobody wants to rent to a family that may only be living in a town for a short time. If Dad's aunt didn't live here and hadn't invited us to stay with her, we might have had to stay behind. You wouldn't have wanted that, would you?” “Yes,” Andi muttered, but she said it under her breath. She did not want to push her luck too far. Besides, she knew she was being unfair and was a little ashamed of herself. The two-story white house in front of them was a perfectly nice place. Actually, some people might have preferred it to the sprawling old adobe they had left behind.
The truth of it was, it was not the house itself that she resented. It was the fact that Bebe would not be allowed to live in it with them.
Until she had discovered that, she had been almost as excited about the thought of the move as Bruce was. Their father's assignment to a new branch of his company meant a big promotion, and they were proud of him and pleased that he was going to Elmwood, New Jersey, for a training program. New people, new experiences, a car trip all the way across the country — how could they not have been delighted about those things!
And then their mother had broken the news. She had done it in what Andi thought was a very sneaky way, remarking casually in the middle of packing, “I talked to the Arquettes about keeping Bebe while we're in Elmwood. They say they'll be glad to have her.” “What do you mean?” Andi asked in bewilderment. “Why would they keep Bebe?” “We won't be able to take her east with us, I'm afraid,” Mrs. Walker had said. “Your father's aunt Alice is terribly allergic to dogs.” “We can't take Bebe!” Andi had stared at her mother incredulously. Surely she must be joking! Still, this was hardly the sort of thing you joked about. “Bebe's part of our family!” “She's only a dachshund,” Bruce remarked. He was bent over his suitcase, trying to arrange his camera equipment so that nothing would get broken. “That's hardly even a dog. It's more like a noodle.” “It's dog enough for people who are allergic to animals,” Mrs. Walker said. “I'm sorry, Andi. I know how you feel, but there's nothing we can do about it. Bebe will have a fine time at the Arquettes'. Holly and her brothers will take good care of her.” “No way! I won't go without her!” Andi had run to Bebe, who was watching all the excitement with interest, and snatched her up in her arms. “If Bebe stays, I will, too!” “Don't be ridiculous,” her mother had said firmly. “As soon as Dad is through with his training and we know where he'll be working, we'll find a place of our own and send for Bebe. I'll be as glad to see that day come as you will. It wasn't easy giving up my teaching position and not being able to apply for a job somewhere else, because we don't know where we're going to end up living.” “I won't go without you, Bebe!” Andi had cried miserably, but, of course, when the time came, she did. When you're ten years old, you go where your parents take you. Now Mr. Walker turned off the engine and opened the car door.
“Hop out,” he said. “And no more sulking. Put on a pleasant face to meet Aunt Alice.” It was at that moment that the door of the house flew open and Aunt Alice herself came rushing out to greet them. Bruce was the first out of the car, and so he was the one Aunt Alice grabbed first.
“So this is my darling great-nephew!” she cried, clutching him to her. “I haven't seen you since you were a baby, and here you are, almost grown up!” Bruce, who was actually rather small for his age and embarrassed about it, said, “Hello, Aunt Alice,” and tried to pretend he hadn't heard. Aunt Alice hugged and kissed Mr. and Mrs. Walker next and then fluttered over to Andi.
“And this is sweet little Andrea, who writes such adorable poetry! Your mother sent me one of your dear poems last Christmas!” This time it was Mrs. Walker who looked embarrassed, because she knew that Andi did not like outsiders to read her poetry, and she had not told her that she had sent a poem to Aunt Alice. Andi scowled and let Aunt Alice hug her, but she did not hug back.
The inside of the house was just as perfect as the outside. It was so perfect, in fact, that there didn't seem to be any place to sit down that wouldn't get dirty if you touched it. Mrs. Walker glanced hastily around at the white carpets and lemon-colored sofa and then at the children, who were mussed and grubby from long hours of travel.
“Wouldn't you two like to go outside and explore?” she asked them. “This is a lovely neighborhood for children,” Aunt Alice said. “My neighbors, the Gordons, have a boy just about Bruce's age.” “Do they live in the brown house?” Bruce asked with interest. He had noticed the house as they drove past it and had liked the way it was set off by itself and overgrown with trees and bushes. The grass at that house had not looked fake at all.
“Goodness, no!” Aunt Alice exclaimed. “That old place down by the end of the street? That eyesore has been up for sale for six months now and nobody even stops to look at it. No, the Gordons live right next door in that lovely big house with the garden. Jerry's very popular. There's always a group of boys playing over there.”
