Muffin was Sarah's companion and best friend. Muffin came to live with Sarah as a puppy. She was there for her through the move, through the death of her father, the remarriage of her mother to that horrid man, and everything else. 

      Muffin sat on the lawn to wait for Sarah to return from school. She soon grew tired and took a nap.

      Her hearing was not as good as it used to be.

   The man sat on the lawn mower. He saw the dog and scowled at it.

The animal did not move.  The man took the pooch inside the house and locked it in the back room.

     He mowed the grass, wedded it, and mowed some more. He put away the tools.

     He did not notice when the dog escaped from the room. He was too busy watching tv eating some chips, and queso, and drinking some lemonade.

    He did not see the red car go fast around the corner. He did not pay attention to Muffin's reaction to the car.

    Muffin barked at the funny shinny red blur. She did not like the car or its owner. She sensed it meant danger for Sarah's mother, stepfather, and Sarah. She barked and barked. She suddenly stopped barking and began to whimper.

    Sarah left school as soon as the bell rang. She went to her locker, gathered her homework, and went home. She frowned when she saw the freshly mowed grass. She frowned more when no Muffin came to greet her. Something was wrong, dreadfully wrong.

   "Muffin, Muffin, come here girl!"

     The muffin did not come.

    "Muffin, where are you? Muffin!"

   Panic began to set in when Sarah realized Muffin was missing. She had no idea what had become of her beloved hound. She only knew she could find her.

    She searched the backyard, but no muffin. She looked for the neighbors and everywhere else, but found her pooch was still gone.

    She felt the tears fall as she entered the house. She refused the cookies and milk her mother offered.

No one understood her like Muffin did, but Muffin was missing.

No one seemed to care.

 Sarah was hurt. She feared the worst.

 She heard herself whimper as she finished her homework, went without supper, and got ready for bed.

     Late that night, she checked the yard when she thought she heard a whine.

    She saw a cat.

    It was not her muffin.

She shouted out at it, "Shoo, go away you nasty cat! I want my Muffin, not you. Now, be gone with you."

Find out more in Chapter 3

Until then,

bye-bye, Little owlets!

Summer out!