Addison makes a Friend

ADDISON MAKES A FRIEND?

Addison stared out of the window and sighed. Addison has shinny blonde hair and sky blue eyes. Addison and her parents have just moved into a town house in a new city.
“What’s the matter?” asks Addison’s mom.
“We have been here for over a week and I don’t have any friends,” says Addison.
“It’s lonely here in the city. All my friends live far away,”
“I know sweetheart. It takes time to make friends, “ says Addison’s mom.
“But, Mommy, I don’t even know how to make friends!” replies Addison.
Addison sighed and said, “Mommy, I am going outside and play on the swing.”
“MEOW!”
A beautiful Siamese cat sits on the fence and watches Addison as she plays in her yard. As Addison goes to pet the cat, it disappears. This makes Addison very sad. All she wants is a friend. She notices the cat is now licking its paws next to the friendly old man who lives next door.
“What’s the name of your cat?” asks Addison.
“Missy,” says the old man. “What’s your name?”
“Addison, “she replies, “Can I pet Missy, Mister?’
“Sure.” he replies. “She would like that and my name is Mister Atkinson.”
Addison enters the yard and reaches for Missy, but the cat runs away and hides behind a tree.
“You need to bend down and turn your hand so your palm is up,” says the old man.
“Why?’ asks Addison.
“If you bend down then Missy will not fear you. If you turn your hand up, she may think you have something for her. Then she will come to check your hand out,” answers Mr. Atkinson.
Addison does as she is told. Slowly Missy comes forward and nuzzles Addison’s hand.
“Now what do I do?” asks Addison.
“Now scratch her chin,” says Mr. Atkinson.
Instead, Addison tries to scratch Missy’s ear. As she moves her hand, Missy runs away.
“Why did she do that?” asks Addison.
“Until Missy knows, you she will be afraid of anything that moves towards the top of her head,” answers Mr. Atkinson. “Try again, but remember to scratch her chin first, then her ears.”
“Okay,” says Addison.
Slowly Missy comes back to Addison. This time Addison scratches her chin and in a few minutes, Addison is able to scratch her ears.
“Addison, now you can start petting Missy.
Just then, Missy lies down and rolls onto her back.
“What’s Missy doing now?” asks Addison.
“She wants you to rub her tummy,” laughs Mr. Atkinson. “That means she likes you.”
From that day on whenever Addison came outside, Missy would play with her. Addison enjoyed playing with Missy but was very sad whenever she had to go in the house.
“I wish Missy could come live with us, but then Mr. Atkinson would be sad,” thought Addison.
One day Addison asks, “Mommy, can we have a pet?”
“I don’t know,” answers Addison’s mom, “We can ask Daddy when he comes home.”
Addison sits and waits for Daddy to come home, but today it takes him a
L-O-N-G time getting home.
“Why isn’t Daddy home, Mommy?” asks Addison.
“Daddy had to pick something up before coming home,” says Mommy.
“What?”
“Why don’t you ask him? Daddy is coming up the drive way.”
Addison runs out to meet her daddy. He is carrying a blanket and it is wiggling!
“What’s that?” asks Addison.
“Let’s go inside and I will show you,” replies Daddy.
Once inside, Addison’s dad puts the blanket on the floor and out wriggles a white spotted fur ball. As Addison’s mom reaches down to pet the fur ball, it stops, piddles, and runs to hide behind the couch.
“What’s wrong with that puppy?” asks Addison’s mom.
“It’s scared,” says Addison, “because you reached down instead of bending down. What’s her name?” inquires Addison.
“Her name is Brandy,” answers Addison’s daddy.
Addison gets on her knees and puts her hand out, just like Mr. Atkinson had taught her.
“Brandy, are you a good puppy?” asks Addison. “Look what I have for you.”
Slowly the puppy crawls out from under the couch and cautiously approaches Addison. Addison scratches Brandy’s chin.
“Look at that!” says Addison’s mom.
“Hard to believe that Addison was able to do that so quickly,” says Addison’s dad.
Brandy wags her tail. Addison slowly moves her hand and scratches Brandy’s ears. In a short time, Brandy is lying in Addison’s lap. He lets Addison pet her while she gives Addison a face full of kisses.
Addison’s mom and dad both bend down to join Addison and Brandy on the floor. Just then, Brandy rolls over on her back.
“Why is she doing that?” asks Addison’s dad.
“That means she likes us and wants us to scratch her tummy!” answers Addison.
The next day Addison and Brandy are playing in her yard when a little boy, who lives on the other side of the courtyard, comes running over.
“Hi. What’s your name?” asks the boy.
“Addison,” replies Addison. “What’s yours?”
“Timmy” says the boy. “Can I play with your puppy?”
“Yes, but you have to bend down,” says Addison.
“Why?”
“Because, Brandy will be afraid of you if you don’t
“Okay.” says Timmy.
In no time Timmy, Addison and Brandy are playing. Soon Missy comes over and the four of them play together all day long.
That night as Daddy tucks Addison into bed he says.
“Well, Addison, you certainly have made a nice friend in Timmy.”
“Making friends is easy once you know how!” Addison says with a smile.