Training Max

Training Max

Susie worked on a jigsaw puzzle in her kitchen. “ Meow! ” Her cat pawed at the back door. “ You can’t go outside right now, Snowball, ” said Susie. “ Meow! ” Snowball pawed some more. “ Not right now, Snowball, ” said Susie.

" You just had a haircut and—” “ MEOW! ” Suddenly Snowball grew sharp fangs and spiky hair. Phwoof! She spit out a flaming hairball. Smoke filled the kitchen. When the smoke cleared, the door was gone. And so was Snowball.

“ Sit, Max! ” said Mara. “ Sit! ” Roxy and her friends were at Metro City Park. They were trying to train Mara’s new dog, Max. But Max wasn’t listening. “ Max, you need to sit, ” said Mara. “ Woof! ” Max barked. Then he lay down and yawned. “ Maybe sitting is too boring for Max, ” said Jack.

“ We should teach him some exciting tricks. ” Jack ran to a tree. “ Max! ” he called. “ Come! ” Max rolled onto his side. Terrell held out his hand. “ Give me your paw, Max. ” Max sat up.

“ He likes this trick! ” said Terrell. But Max just scratched behind his ear and then lay back down. Mara sighed. “ This is hopeless. Max can’t learn any tricks. ” Jack sat down next to Max and patted his head. “ I’m sure Max can learn tricks. He just needs more time. ”