CHAPTER 1 I raced to Tasha’s desk I knew that bing anywhere It was the sound her computer made when we got a fresh case I wagged my tail It shook my whole body I pressed my snout into Tasha’s side Easy buddy Tasha said I sat like a good dog But I couldn’t stop my tail It swooshed across the wood floor Dust bunnies hopped away as my tail swept Sweeping floors is one of the many things I am great at My mouth opened into a huge smile My tongue rolled out the side I couldn’t help that either Holy cow This was exciting 1
OK Tasha said Looks like we’ve got a new assignment for you I knew it Tell me Tell me Who needs me There’s a little girl named Mary Tasha said Mary Mary I like her already Tufts of hair flew off my tail I may have been drooling But that’s not important Her mom got a new job Tasha said Her eyes squinted at the screen The family just moved from Texas to Chicago Mary’s starting at a new school and is pretty nervous She’s worried about making new friends New job Texas Chicago New school New friends Nervous Got it This sounds perfect for you Sparkplug Tasha said I barked and put my front paws on her lap Yeah Spark you know all about moving and new homes and new friends don’t you 2
I barked again I do I know all about moving Plus another thing I’m great at Meeting new friends I can help Mary with that no problem Should I say yes to this one Spark My bottom wagged along with my tail I barked twice I’ll take that as a yes Tasha said Tasha is good at reading my mind She knows me well So our next adventure was about to begin Tasha plunked on the keyboard and grabbed my red Helper Hound vest and name badge My mission to help Mary with her new school jitters and make new friends was launching in 3-2-1 3
CHAPTER 2 Before we go perhaps I should tell you a bit about myself This is how I became a world famous card-carrying Helper Hound I was born in a barn My dad Jasper was a world-champion herding dog a Border Collie from two farms over He was great at rounding up sheep Jasper was also good at roaming around the central Wisconsin farmlands That’s where he met my mom Betsy a beautiful prize-winning Bernese Mountain Dog whose main job was to have puppies Purebred Bernese Mountain Dog puppies that is Puppies puppies and more puppies 4
