Ch8-Dogs for an Hour

CHAPTER EIGHT Dogs for an Hour "Ready?" said Jack. Annie nodded. "Ready," she said. Jack took a sip of the potion and handed the bottle to Annie. She took a sip and put the bottle down on the ground. They looked at each other. "Okay. Together," said Jack. "One, two, three…"

"Turn us into Saint Bernard dogs!" they shouted into the cold wind. Nothing happened. Then suddenly, Jack was hurled face-first into the snow. The world went black, and Jack felt his body shaking uncontrollably. When the shaking stopped, Jack opened his eyes. He wasn't dizzy. He wasn't scared or worried or tired. He felt enormously happy. He looked down at himself. He was covered with thick red and white fur. He had four furry legs with big paws. Something moved behind Jack. He turned and saw a fluffy tail waving. He leapt toward it. The tail moved away! Jack realized the tail was his! Still, it was fun to try to catch it. He turned in a circle, around and around and around. Jack noticed fat snowflakes floating like feathers through the air. He stopped chasing his tail and bounced around clumsily, trying to eat the swirling flakes. He snapped at the air, until he heard another dog barking. Jack understood the dog's language right away: "JACK! JACK!"

Jack looked at the Saint Bernard running toward him through the snow. She was a little smaller, with smoother fur and bright, lively eyes. She barked, "WOW! WOW! CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?" Jack and Annie laughed with short bursts of loud panting. Their tongues hung out of their mouths, and their breath billowed into the cold. The world was alive with exciting sounds Jack had never heard before. The sounds weren't loud, but they were clear and distinct. Along with the HEH-HEH-HEH! of their heavy breathing, Jack heard the swish-swish of the wind

driven snow and the crick-crack of ice on the mountain slopes. "SMELL!" barked Annie. She and Jack lifted their big black noses into the air and sniffed. Strong scents wafted from all directions. Jack stepped forward, sniffing this way and that, his nostrils quivering. The smells changed with every step and every turn of his head. The sky had a scent. The distant chimney smoke, craggy rocks, and mountain slopes—all had different scents. Jack smushed his nose into the newly fallen snow. The snow held a dozen different smells, all wonderful and amazing. Jack licked the snow like ice cream. It was so cold, it felt hot! "JACK! JACK!" Annie barked again. Jack looked up at her, his nose covered with snow. Annie stood perfectly still, her paw up. Jack sniffed the air. The wind now carried different smells that stood out from all the others: a whiff of fish and crackers mixed with wet fur. Amid the sounds of wind and ice, Jack heard distant barking.

"BARRY!" Jack barked. He had been so busy discovering what it was like to be a dog, he'd almost forgotten Barry! Jack and Annie started yapping and bumping against each other. They bolted into the wind and the flying snow, scrambling over rocks and plowing through snowdrifts. Jack's four legs were nimble and strong. The freezing cold didn't bother him at all. He didn't feel a bit stiff. None of his muscles ached. Jack and Annie ran this way and that, through the fresh mountain air, following sound and scent. As Barry's barking grew louder, they slowed down. And then they saw him! "BARRY!" Jack barked. Barry stood on a small ridge above them, his tail high in the air. When he saw Jack and Annie, he looked surprised. He sniffed the air. He cocked his head to the side. "IT'S US!" barked Annie. Barry began yelping with glee. He leapt off the ridge, half tumbling, half running down the slope to greet them.

Barry's giant head pushed against Jack and Annie. His eyes shone in the snowy afternoon light. As they all nudged each other and sniffed, three tails wagged in the air. Barry yowled and whined, "YOU'RE DOGS! HOW? HOW?" "MAGIC!" barked Annie. Barry sneezed, "OH! OKAY!" Then he went down on his front paws and barked, "LET'S PLAY!" The three of them started play fighting. They stood on their back legs and pushed each other around. Jack nipped at Barry's fur. Annie nibbled his ears. Jack, Annie, and Barry bounced and barked and fell and fought, until finally they all collapsed into the snow and rolled over onto their backs, sticking their paws in the air. Rubbing his furry back against the crunchy snow felt wonderful to Jack. He wiggled and rocked from side to side. Then he and Annie and Barry stood up and gave their wet bodies good shakes. They shook their heads, too, flinging drool and snow on each other. But Jack didn't mind drool a bit now. He was completely happy to be a big, furry dog playing in