THE SCARY MOMENT How Almost Saved the Day By Shura Saul The boys, Mark and Jonnie, were in school. Daddy was at work. Mommy was home with baby sister, Ginger. Mommy gave Ginger her breakfast, washed her hands and face, and dressed her in sweater and pants for the outdoors. "You are a sleepy little girl," said Mommy to the baby." I think I'll put you down for a nap while I wash the breakfast dishes. Then we'll go for a walk to the market and buy some fresh vegetables for dinner." Baby Ginger smiled as Mommy dressed her to go outdoors. First Mommy put the baby's little legs into warm leggings. Ginger laughed and kicked her feet. Then Mommy put a warm little jacket over the baby's dress. Ginger giggled and tried to grab mommy's fingers as she buttoned up the jacket. When Mommy put the hat on the baby's head and tied a bow under her chin, Ginger fussed a little. So Mommy sang her a little song as she tied the ribbons. Here's a little bonnet - with a ribbon on it We'll wrap you in a blanket to keep you snug and warm We'll put you in the sunshine, little baby girl mine And let your doggy, Almost, keep you safe from harm Soon the baby was lying in her carriage in the yard right outside the kitchen door. She fell asleep quickly as Mommy covered her with the bright little blanket that Nanny had knitted especially for the baby. "Almost," Mommy called. "Where are you?" Almost was now a grown up dog, about four years old. She was playing in the yard with her toy ball, rolling it into the bushes and then running under the bushes to find it and carry it away in her mouth. "Almost, " said Mommy," I'm going to finish washing the dishes and then we'll all go for a walk. You stay here and watch the baby. Make sure she's safe." Almost dropped the ball, cocked her furry brown ears straight up on her head and listened carefully to every word mommy was saying. She knew how important it was to protect the baby. Almost lay down beside the carriage. She put her head down between her front paws and was very quiet so as not to wake the baby. "Good doggy," said Mommy. " I won't be long. Stay here now. Don't go away." She patted Almost's head and went back into the kitchen. Almost lay very still. Soon she heard a fly buzzing around the carriage. Buzz, buzz, buzz.. Would the fly wake the baby? Almost jumped up and tried to swat the fly with her paw. Frightened, the fly buzzed and flew away. Almost looked at the baby. Had she awakened? No. She was still asleep. So Almost settled down again beside the carriage. Mommy, of course, was looking out the window every few minutes, as she stood washing the dishes. " What a good dog we have," she thought. Then a little bird flew across the yard, and came to rest on a branch of the apple tree. The bird began to trill a pretty song. Almost jumped up again, worried that the baby would wake. But the bird was singing sweetly. Her song was almost like a lullaby for the little girl. Again, Almost looked at the baby. Had she awakened? No, She was still asleep. So Almost settled down beside the carriage once more. Mommy, looking through the kitchen window again, saw the whole thing. This time she smiled."What a clever dog we have," she thought. "But soon the baby will wake up anyway, even if there is nobody or nothing to awaken her. I'd better finish these dishes quickly." Mommy finished the dishes and turned her back to the window as she began to put them away in the cupboard. Suddenly, she heard the dog barking wildly. Mommy turned quickly to look out the window. She saw the carriage. She saw Almost jumping around and barking. "My goodness," thought Mommy. "Why is Almost barking? She'll wake the baby now, for sure. I'd better go out there and see what is making her bark." Mommy ran out into the yard. There was Almost, not near the carriage at all. She was barking and running round and round in front of the door. Mommy looked into the carriage. It was empty! Where was the baby? Mommy was really scared. Then, she saw her little girl crawling up the outside staircase of the house. The baby was already up on the third step. She might fall! In a twinkling, Mommy ran over and picked her up. Almost stopped barking. The baby looked up at Mommy and smiled. She wasn't a bit frightened. Mommy looked into her baby's laughing eyes. "I didn't even know you could crawl out of your carriage," she told her little girl. "I never thought you'd climb those steps ! You might have fallen and hurt yourself! We are so lucky to have a smart dog like Almost. She saved you from what could have been a serious accident." Mommy turned to Almost:"Come here you wonderful friend," she said. " You really protected the baby. Thank you." Mommy and the baby sat down on the bottom step. They both petted Almost and hugged her. Almost kissed their faces with her wet tongue. The scary moment was over. Almost was the hero of the day.