'Penelope, the Purple Polka-dot Puppy'

"Look, she picked me. She's so pretty. Can I have her, Papa? Please?"

Papa looked at Patricia's pleading face and couldn't protest. "Yes, you can have the pooch."

"I'll name her Penelope. Come on, Penelope, let's play."

When they got home, Penelope investigated the house and the yard and the garden.

Patricia poured water into a pail. She got a pan for food. Penelope drank the water. She ate the food. She licked her paws and strutted down the path to the patio. She ran in perfect circles. She puffed and puffed.

"Oh, Papa," said Patricia. "Thank you for my present." She hugged Papa. Then she hugged the purple polka-dot puppy.

"You must protect her," said Papa. "Don't let her run out of the yard. She might get lost."

"Oh, I'll be especially careful. I would never want to lose her."

Patricia pushed open the screen door and passed into the house. "Penelope," she said, "stay right there. I'm just going to get a peanut butter cookie. We'll have a picnic. I'll be right back."

Patricia got the package of cookies, put plenty on a plate and went back to the patio.

She looked around and didn't see Penelope.

"Penelope," she called. "Where did you go?" Patricia began to feel panicky because she couldn't see the pretty purple polka-dot puppy any place.

She called again, "Penelope!"

There was no answer.

Poor Patricia turned pale. Her heart went pit-a-pat. "Papa, where did Penelope go?"

"She didn't go out of the yard. The gate is still padlocked," said Papa.

Patricia poked under the shrubs. "She didn't go under the fence or into the house. Where could she be?" Patricia sobbed.

Then Patricia heard Papa laugh. "Look here, Pat. No wonder we couldn't see her. It's like a puzzle."

He pointed to the flower bed. Penelope had fallen asleep among the purple pansies and purple petunia plants.

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