Treasure Hunt

CHAPTER

1

The day began like any other Saturday morning.

When I padded downstairs, the sun was just coming up. Mom was already in the Welcome Area with a cup of coffee in one hand and a to-do list in the other.

Leopold was on his perch, his feathers neatly groomed. Leopold always likes to look his best.

“Good morning, Leopold,” I said. “Nice day, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Leopold agreed. “Nice and quiet.”

Dad soon came downstairs with an armload of camping equipment.

“Did you find the poles?” Mom asked him.

Dad held up the tent poles. “Got ’em,” he answered. “Are you sure you can manage here alone?”

“I’ll be fine,” Mom said, checking her to-do list. “It’s going to be a quiet day.”

I looked at Leopold. Leopold looked at me. Saturdays at Animal Inn are rarely quiet.

In fact, Saturday is our busiest day. Mom teaches her Polite Puppies class. Dad and Jake host the Furry Pages. That’s when children read aloud to an animal buddy. Then there are grooming appointments and usually a birthday party or two.

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Excerpted from Treasure Hunt by Jennifer Swender, Paul DuBois Jacobs
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