6. Jump, Frog, Jump!

Chapter 6 Jump, Frog, Jump! We decided to play fetch with Goofy in the front yard. We threw lots of tennis balls. Sometimes Goofy brought them back. But mostly he just chewed them. He even got three balls in his mouth at once. He had a big, hairy clown smile. When a boy walked by with his dog, Goofy ran over to say hello.

The dog was a little white poodle. He was wearing a silly doggie sweater with kitties on it. "Sit, Edward," the boy said to the poodle. Edward sat down. He did not move. He looked like a puffy statue. Goofy raced around Edward in crazy circles. He barked. And sniffed. And barked some more. He looked goofy. "I'm Martin," the boy said. "I just moved here a couple weeks ago. We used to live in Alaska."

"Did you live in one of those ice cube houses?" I asked. "He means an igloo," Emma said. Martin laughed. "Nope. Just a regular old house." "Yeah," Gus said. "We live in regular old houses, too." Martin pointed to my sweater. "Is that a poodle on your shoulder?" "We're still trying to figure that out," I said. "I really like animals," Martin said. "It's a cool sweater." I waited for him to laugh. But he didn't. "I'm Roscoe," I said at last. "And that's Gus and Emma." "Shake hands, Edward," Martin said.

Edward held up his paw. Gus shook it. Emma shook it. I shook it. Goofy licked it. "Say hello, Edward," Martin said. "Arf-arf," Edward said. It was not exactly "hello," but you could tell what he meant. "Wow! Your dog is amazing," said Emma. "I was going to enter him in the Truly Terrific Trick Contest this weekend," Martin said. "But I have a tuba lesson." "Do you mean the contest at the street fair?" Emma asked. "I saw a poster for that. Kids and their dogs can enter. And the winner gets a trophy." "A trophy?" I asked. "Really?"

"Do they have a prize for Stupidest Pet Trick?" Gus asked. "I'll bet Goof could win that one!" Goofy lay on his back on the sidewalk. I think he was ignoring Gus. "What's your dog's name?" Martin asked. "Goofy," I said. It sounded kind of lame next to a name like Edward. Goofy wriggled on his back like a snake. His tongue was hanging out. "What's he doing?" Martin asked. "Itching," I said. "Edward is never itchy," Martin said. He reached into his backpack. "Watch this." Martin took out a book. "Just a regular book, right?" He showed it to me. "Now read it." "I've already read that," I said.

"Not you," Martin said. "Edward." I laughed. "Your dog cannot read!" "Why not?" Martin asked. "Because he is a dog," I said. I said it very slowly and clearly. Since apparently Martin was a little crazy. "Just watch," Martin said. He put the book on the ground. It was called Frog on a Log. "Open the book, Edward," said Martin. Edward put his little white poodle paw on the book. He pulled on the cover. The book flipped open.