FIFTH GRADE

Bone Appetit

Sierra Taketa

It was eight o’clock, and all the students and teachers of Harbor Day School had gone home. One little dog and one big puppy had just woken up. Their names were Honey and Haley. Haley was a cheerful four-year-old King Charles Spaniel who belonged to the class of Mrs. Hahn. Honey was a two-year-old Golden Retriever who belonged to the class of Mrs. Kelly. Haley and Honey would wake up every night after the teachers had left and go on crazy adventures, and then sleep all day.

“Honey! Wake up!” yipped Haley playfully. “Mmm, fine…” Honey grunted quietly. This was not like Honey at all. Honey was always energized and, if anything, Honey would wake Haley up early.

“What’s wrong?” Haley woofed back. “I-I don’t know. I just feel sad.” Honey was young and stubborn. Honey had never admitted her sadness to Haley, and she was rarely sad. This worried Haley.

“Is there anything we can do to make you happier?” asked Haley as she scratched the back of her ears. Haley did that a lot.

“Well, a couple of nights ago, I saw a book with a bone and a dog on the cover in the library. Maybe if I had a bone I could be happy,” answered Honey. Haley remembered Honey looking at the book with longing eyes. She had heard it was called Bone Appetit What Haley did not know was that Honey was just looking at the bone.

“Okay! Then a bone we shall find! C’mon Honey, let’s go!” barked Haley. So the optimistic King Charles Spaniel and the discouraged Golden Retriever set out on their journey. Honey and Haley explored the kindergarten playground first, finding no bone. After searching the blacktop, Middle School classrooms, Lower School classrooms, and teachers’ lounge with no luck, Honey was more discouraged than ever. >>

“I’m never going to find a bone,” said Honey sadly.

“We will find a bone. You can count on me!” insisted Haley. She needed to think quickly, for her friend was miserable. Haley’s brain thought of all the places she had explored before. Then it hit her. “Honey! I know just the place! It’s a bit risky, but it’s our most promising chance!” yipped Haley as she bolted to the quad. Honey followed behind her. The quad was filled with fake, flawless grass. It was not a scary place for the children of Harbor Day, for this was where they spent their recess time. For the puppies, on the other hand, this was a place they never dared to go. Once they had seen a lightning bolt hit the quad. Another time, Haley bumped into a metal railing and got shocked. Haley had never felt anything like it. Haley had to stay inside that whole night to heal. Soon, the two dogs made it to the quad.

“T-the quad?” whimpered Honey as soon as she realized what was happening.

“The quad,” answered Haley. “Doesn’t it just look perfect? I’ve never seen perfect grass like that! There’s no way we won’t find a bone!”

“B-but! It’s scary and dangerous! Remember what happened last time?” replied Honey.

“It’s fine!” lied Haley. The truth was, Haley was just as scared as Honey. She could feel herself getting shocked all over again. Haley shook her head. Now is not the time to think about this, Haley reminded herself as she stepped onto the grass. Haley shut her eyes and waited for the shock. Nothing happened. “Are you okay?” asked Honey with frightful eyes.

“Better than ever!” replied Haley. “C’mon! It’s safe, I promise,” barked Haley. Honey jumped down the staircase, careful not to touch the metal railing. Honey was awed by how perfect the grass was.

“We need to get digging!” Haley called as she scratched the grass. Honey nodded her head as she, too, scratched the grass.

A whole fifteen minutes had passed. Fifteen minutes might not seem a lot to you, reader, but for dogs, that is a long time.

“Why isn’t this working?” asked Haley as she watched Honey biting at the grass. Honey’s face turned pale. She had just figured out that the quad was filled with fake grass, not real grass.

“Is everything all right?” asked Haley, as she saw Honey’s face pale.

“It’s not real grass,” answered Honey.

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry, Honey,” said Haley quietly. Haley wanted to cheer Honey up.

“It’s okay. I still had lots of fun hanging out with you,” woofed Honey with a small smile.

“That’s all that matters,” continued Honey.

Haley smiled. She cheered Honey up in the end. She was able to nurture their friendship even more.

“I had fun with you, too. We should play in the quad more!” barked Haley.

“Yeah, but I’m tired right now. Let’s go to bed. It’s five a.m.!” Honey woofed back. The two little dogs went back to their classrooms and dozed off to a heavy sleep.

In the morning, Mrs. Hahn and Mrs. Kelly placed a single bone by each of their beds. Bone appetit.