No Roses for Harry

Harry was a white dog with black spots. On his birthday, he got a present from Grandma. It was a woolen sweater with roses on it. Harry didn’t like it the moment he saw it. He didn’t like the roses. When he tried it on, he felt cozy and snug. But he still didn’t like the roses. He thought it was the silliest sweater he’d ever seen. The next time when Harry went into town with the children, he wore his new sweater. When people saw it, they laughed. When dogs saw it, they barked. Harry made up his mind then and there to lose Grandma’s present. When they went into a big store to shop, the children took off his sweater and let him carry it. This was just what Harry wanted. First, he tried to lose it in the pet department- but a man found it and gave it back. Then he tried to lose it in the grocery department- but a lady found it and gave it back. He tried to lose it in the flower department- but a little boy found it and gave it back. The children didn’t let Harry carry it any more. They made him wear it. As they started home, Harry was beginning to think that he’d never lose it. When he got home, his friends were waiting to play with him. But Harry didn't feel like playing, so they left him alone. As he sat wondering what to do, Harry noticed a loose stitch in his sweater. He pulled at the wool-just a little at first- then a bit more-and a little bit more. Harry didn’t know it, but a bird was watching. In a minute, Harry had pulled out quite a long piece of the wool. The end of it lay on the grass behind him. Suddenly the bird flew down. Quick as a flash she took the end of the wool in her beak and flew away with it. It all happened before Harry could even blink. The sweater began to disappear right before Harry’s eyes. First one leg-then the neck- then the other leg-then the back-and finally the whole thing was just one long, long piece of wool flying off into the sky. The sweater was gone! Harry could hardly believe it. He barked and jumped with joy! Then he ran out of the garden. He ran down the street barking thank you to the bird over and over again. The bird and the wool were just a tiny speck in the sky, but Harry kept following them. He came home thirsty and tired, and was having a drink in the kitchen when the children ran in. We’ve got a letter from Grandma!” said one. “She’s coming to visit us!” shouted the other. Harry thought of the sweater and his tail dropped. Before Grandma came, the family looked anywhere for the sweater. They wanted to see how nice Harry looked in it. Of course they couldn’t find it. Only Harry knew why. That afternoon , Harry and Grandma and the children started off on their walk. Harry barked happily and pulled towards the park. When they got to the park, Harry pulled harder. The children let him off his leash and ran on ahead. He seemed to look for something. All at once, he stopped under a big tree. He looked up and began to bark and wag his tail. Grandma and the children came running. They got to the tree and looked up, too. Suddenly, one of the children said: ”I see a nest!” “It’s made of wool” said the other, “and it’s the very same colour as-“ “Harry’s sweater.” They shouted together. “It is Harry’s sweater!” exclaimed Grandma. Just then a bird looked out of the nest. “Look Grandma, look!” shouted the children. “Harry gave his sweater to a bird!” “I wondered how he did that!” said Grandma. The bird sang and Harry wagged his tail even harder. At Christmas, Harry got a present from Grandma. It was a new sweater! Harry liked this one very much. When he tried it on, he felt as cozy and snug as the bird in the nest. But best of all-it was white with black spots.