About Friday the Dog
Introduction - Here are two brief excerpts from Friday: A Dog's Tale. This first excerpt is the beginning of the book which gives you an understanding of some of the main characters and how Friday comes in to the Powell family. The second excerpt is from Chapter 3 where we find Friday getting into some trouble.Chapter 1 - On the Move
For the first nine years of her life, Ellie moved from one apartment building to another with her parents and four younger brothers: Alfred, Elbert, Thomas and Anderson. Each apartment was small and cramped for space. Day and night, noises could be heard from the shared walls of neighbors. Waiting for trash day garbage piled up in the hallways. At times trash would attract roaches, mice and other strange creatures. For Mr. and Mrs. Powell, Ellie’s parents, who were from the South, these conditions were unacceptable and no place to raise children. Many times Mrs. Powell considered taking the children back to the South to her parents’ home. Through determination and hard work the family moved to their first home on the outskirts of the city. The house on Underwood Court seemed like a mansion to Ellie and her brothers.
One particular Friday Dad was away visiting his sick brother. That evening he returned home. With a mysterious smile Dad entered the house through the back door. The smile was not what caught Tommy’s attention rather something unusual about the front pocket of Dad’s overcoat.
The family gathered around Dad. The pocket seemed to be moving. The boy’s eyes grew to be the size of saucers. Mouths dropped open. What could it be?
The answer appeared when out popped a furry head. In the palm of his hand Dad held up a six-week-old, German shepherd puppy. Five pairs of feet rocked the kitchen floor, as the children screamed and jumped for joy. One pair of feet were as quiet as a mouse… Mother’s! So many thoughts raced through mothers’ mind even as she saw the excitement in her children’s eyes.
She worried about the extra cost and care a puppy would need. From the look on Mother’s face Dad sensed that a puppy might not be such a good idea. Ellie was lost in her own thoughts. Today was the luckiest day of her life! She had something else she could love and order around. Ellie excitedly cried out, “Let’s call him Friday!”
Chapter 3 - Friday's Curiosity
Being curious, Friday was not content to just sit on the steps while the house was quiet. He decided to retreat back into the house. Mother was away for the afternoon visiting a friend. Dad was busy washing the car in the driveway. The smells of the kitchen pulled Friday to his favorite room. He was sniffing under the table when his sensitive nose turned toward the garbage can. Before you could count to ten, Friday’s nose had tipped the can over. Crash! The sounds of glass and cans tumbling to the floor scared Friday, who quickly wriggled away. But all too soon the odor of chicken bones drew Friday, like a magnet, to the can.Eating his fill, Friday was thirsty, but his water bowl was empty. What’s a thirsty dog to do? In search of a drink Friday wandered upstairs. Into the bathroom he waddled. He stretched his puppy legs over the edge of the toilet bowl. Lapping his long tongue into the water, he got his cool drink, but spilled water all over the floor. Before he finished, Friday felt his paws slip. He knew it was time to end his drink and move on.
The house was still peaceful as Friday decided to continue his adventures. He padded past Mother and Dad’s room. Looking in, he quickly sensed their room was off limits. Friday’s tired legs slowly carried him down the hall to his room. There in the corner was his laundry basket bed. As Friday dragged himself toward it, he spotted an open dresser drawer. In his eagerness to get outside, Bert had not completely closed his lower drawer. There, hanging over the edge, was a long, white sock. Friday immediately became energized. He was ready to go! Over to the dresser he bounced like a ball to pull on his new plaything. Friday was tugging on the sock when out poured Bert’s underwear, T-shirts and other socks. Pulling, jumping, tugging, and chewing, Friday was in heaven! Finally, after tiring himself out, he plunked himself down for a rest.
Soon afterwards Dad poked his head in the back door, looking for the rags he needed to dry the car. His eyes opened wide to see the kitchen floor that looked like a hurricane had hit. Dad shouted, “What is this mess?” He stormed to the front door with steam coming from his head and hollered, “Ellie, get in here and bring your brothers!” The neighborhood kids stood silently because they knew the Powell kids were about to be in hot water.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this excerpt and will continue reading the rest of the story. If you don't already have a copy of the book you can order your copy by clicking here.