PHOTO for fun!

I bet Mister Tucker and Charlie Rose tell each other secrets!

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CH:10 TELLING SECRETS

I didn't learn very much about telling secrets when I was with Mum.

She only told me:

"If someone tells you a story and says --please don't tell--then don't".

She didn't think I would be told a secret story when I was a puppy,

but one day I might be old enough to share a "special secret story".

I put her thought in my memory place and did not think about it for

quite a few years.

On a bright summer sunny day, my friend Jocko and I went with his

family for an adventure in a dog park. In case you don't know, at a

dog park we can run about without leashes, share a frisbee, toss and

chase balls, and just play and play. If we get a little tired there is a

soft grassy area to lie down and have a 'catch-up' rest.

After about an hour, Jocko was still chasing a frisbee, but my pink

tongue was hanging out. I was POOPED. I went to the grassy spot.

I wandered around a bit and chose to lie down next to a big friendly

looking German Shepherd. It turned out his name was Maverick,

or "The Mav" for short. Interesting name, I thought to myself. I

wondered if I could be called "The Charl", but when I said it, it

didn't sound too great.

While The Mav and I caught our breath we began to watch the

playing dogs and chat, saying things like:

"Wasn't that a good catch of the tennis ball by Jocko!"

"Poor old Haggis, his legs are just too short to run."

After watching a while we began to talk about what we did at home.

I told him I was small in size as he could see, but I was the guard

dog for my family. He thought that was just fine, but then, do you

know what he told me? He was a REAL guard dog. He worked with

the police. He was a SNIFFER DOG. He would go places with his

policeman looking for 'bad' things and maybe even guns that families

shouldn't have. The Mav told me he had helped to find lots of things

that had been hidden away. Sometimes the things were in houses,

on boats, or in cars. His job sounded way more important than mine.

I wanted to feel important too, so before I thought I told him a

secret story my friend Jamie, the Dalmation had told me. I remem-

bered Jamie told me of all the guns on the boat where he lived and

some other things which his family were not supposed to have, so

they were hidden away. I told him LOTS, and felt quite important.

At the end of my story The Mav just nodded and nodded. As the day

grew dimmer, Jocko and I were leashed up to go home, and I had to

say good-bye to my new friend--The Mav.

At home at night nestled in my comfy bed, I thought about my day

at the park. Jocko and my play-time were just too much fun. My new

friend Maverick was sort of like a hero to me. I remembered how

important I felt telling him what I knew about his job and telling him

Jamie's story. As I thought more, I muttered to myself "what a silly

thing you did Charlie Rose". Jamie told you a secret. You wanted to

feel as important as The Mav, so you told the story you had been

asked not to tell.

I had trouble getting to sleep that night and when I did, I had a bad,

bad dream. Jamie's family had a visit from the police about a "nothing

thing". The Mav knew all about Jamie and his family from the story

I had told him. He quickly snifffed out some illegal things and guns, all

because I had told him where they were. Very soon I woke up and was

very glad I didn't sleep long enough to know the end of the dream.

Sometimes it is hard to know if you should tell what you know. I made

a promise and didn't keep it. I didn't help anyone but me by telling.

Maybe it is best to not tell me secrets.

Today I can tell you I have not seen Jamie for a long long time. I don't

go to the dog park often, so I have not seen Maverick either.

I decided Jamie's story was not mine to tell, and I just better not do

that again.

Do you ever hear secrets? It is sometimes really hard not to tell

isn't it!

Love, Charlie Rose.

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In chapter 11, Charlie is asked to pay attention to the world

around her. Does she?? She falls in horse poop and almost

gets run over. Did she listen? You must decide!

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