“Where will the dogs sit?” Benny asked.
“Don’t worry about the dogs,” said Marianella. “They will romp, chase, and take naps wherever they choose. It’s a big yard!”
“I’ll make sure there are bowls of water for them,” said Benny.
It turned out to be a beautiful sunny afternoon in Sunriver. The Alden children greeted Rick, Adelita, and Jason. Jason introduced them to other SAR team members that joined the picnic. Soon the yard was full of people and dogs.
“One, two, three, four, five, six…” Benny counted. “Seven, eight, nine—wow! There are twelve dogs in the yard!”
“And they are all good friends,” said Marianella. “Even if they just met, they know how to get along with one another.”
“Dogs are smart about a lot of things,” said Benny.
“It helps to have smart people around them,” said Marianella. She nodded to all the Alden children. “You all did a great job solving the mystery.”
“And it won’t be their last,” said Grandfather, chuckling. He hugged his grandchildren close. “I never know what mystery they will solve next!”
Everyone gathered at the food table and filled their bowls with fish chowder. They helped themselves to homemade bread and fresh fruit. It didn’t take long for most of the food to disappear.
“I would like to propose a toast,” said Jason. He stood up at his table and everyone became quiet. “To Rick and Adelita! May they have a happy life together—both on the ground and in the air!”
Everyone held up their drinks and shouted, “Hear, hear!”
Rick and Adelita stood up and smiled. Suddenly Bounce leapt up on Rick and almost knocked his drink out of his hand. Bounce barked happily and wagged his tail. Goyo and Watch started barking and soon the other dogs at the party joined in on the fun. Rick and Adelita plopped down on the grass and let the dogs lick and paw at them like they were part of their pack. Everyone laughed and clapped.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Albert Whitman & Company.
Cover art copyright © 2013 by Tim Jessell
Interior illustrations by Anthony Van Arsdale
Published by Albert Whitman & Company
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THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES
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