Cheeky Cheeky Cheeky Zoë droned on The pile of hair beside Zoë looked like a wig that had blown off somebody’s head until the wig lifted its funny pushed-in face and stared straight at Jasper with its huge brown eyes Her tail wagged but her face was still frowning She didn’t like that book at all Jasper reached out to pat Molly Then Ori did Finally Zoë noticed the boys crouched beside her Jasper John Dooley Ori Spivak Wait your turn Jasper and Ori scurried back around the bookshelf
Molly hates Zoë’s book Jasper told Ori It’s about ballerinas She probably doesn’t even know what a ballerina is The thing is we need a dog book not a ballerina book Or a book about things dogs like What do dogs like Ori asked They went back to the librarian It really doesn’t matter what you read the librarian told them She just enjoys sitting on your lap and listening to the sound of your voice Jasper found that hard to believe It was probably listening to boring books from three thirty to four thirty Monday Wednesday and Friday that made Molly so grumpy Jasper felt grumpy too whenever Ms Tosh read them books about ballerinas What kind of dog is Molly Ori asked Pekingese I believe the librarian said But I’m not one-hundred-percent sure I’m a Cat Person Ori asked where the dog books were The librarian got up and led them over to the shelf There weren’t any books about Pekingese dogs What about this Ori asked Jasper holding out a book
about Saint Bernards Or this He showed him one about Labrador retrievers Let’s find something else Jasper said But no ballerinas No ballerinas Ori agreed He moved to the next shelf and pulled down a book about rockets She’ll love this How do you know she’ll love it Jasper asked but Ori had already opened the book and started reading Jasper glanced over his shoulder Zoë had finished her turn and now a boy with glasses was reading to Molly in the big flower-splotch chair On the cover of his book was a picture of a bulldozer Molly was frowning her head off Jasper started pulling down books looking for something anything that Molly would enjoy Then Mom showed up They have a new reading program she said We know Jasper told her We’re looking for a book that will make Molly stop frowning It can’t be about ballerinas or bulldozers You’ll have to pick it for next time Mom said There’s still a chance we’ll get to read to Molly Jasper told her
Mom pointed to the line Eight fidgety kids were still waiting Then Mom showed Jasper her watch All he saw was hands There are only ten minutes left she told him Some of those kids might give up and go home Jasper said Mom sighed Sorry but that’s what we have to do Jasper But we didn’t get a turn They went to check out the books Mom had to steer Ori by the back of his neck because his face was in the rocket book She had to drag Jasper because he didn’t want to leave She handed him his library card to slide across the counter to the librarian Cheer up Jasper J Dooley the librarian said Molly’s here three days a week She checked out Ori’s book next and told him You come back too Ori D Spivak They left the library Mom and Jasper both a little grumpy Ori was reading so hard he didn’t notice
