The Friendship Club

For the umpteenth time, Charlie tossed a bone for his dog Pepper. In a flash Pepper scooped up the leathery bone before returning it happily to Charlie’s outstretched hand.

Stroking the sandy colored tail-wagging dog, Charlie sighed. “I wish I could be as happy as you with nothing to do but retrieve sticks,” he said.

Summer had just begun, but it didn’t look promising. Charlie missed his school friends and almost wished he was back in the second grade at school. There were not many kids living close by, and the few that were had gone on vacation.

The squeaky lid of the mailbox triggered a bark from Pepper. He looked at Charlie with brown eager eyes.

“It's just the mail, Pepper,” Charlie said. “Let’s bring it inside. Maybe the cookies are ready to eat.”

Charlie grabbed the mail and opened the door. Suddenly, Pepper gave another bark. Charlie's looked in the direction of Pepper’s alarm. A girl and a boy were walking towards him.