Robot Helps Max and Lily Deal with Bullies Read online

  Mr. Tuttle smiled.

  Then he sat on the ground and pretended to cry. I knew Mr. Tuttle was faking. But I nuzzled up close and licked his face. Then I sat super still while Mr. Tuttle hugged and leaned into me.

  I forgot to tell you: In the year I spent with Paul, I got big. Really big! I weigh over 100 pounds now. That means I am good for humans to lean on.

  Mr. Tuttle hugged me and kissed my snout.

  Then, Mr. Tuttle took my picture, tapped on his phone, and threw up his hands in a “release.” My test was over. I trotted back to Paul. He was crying for real. Paul knelt down and told me how good I was. Paul leaned his forehead against mine.

  “You get to be a world-famous Helper Hound, Robot,” Paul said. He wiped his eyes. “I’m going to miss you. But I am so proud of you. Now…”

  Paul slipped my “Pup-In-Training” vest off. Mr. Tuttle gave him a red Helper Hounds vest. Paul put it on me and smiled.

  I found out later that the other Helper Hounds had to graduate from Helper Hounds University before they got their vest. But I got “private lessons,” Paul joked.

  “You go help people,” Paul said. “Be a good friend. Make this world a better place. Do it for me.”

  Paul knelt back down for a hug. I licked his face so he knew it was going to be okay. I leaned into him and wagged my stump. He tipped back and laughed.

  “And remember: you’re a big guy!” Paul laughed. “Don’t bump the little kids over!”

  Mr. Tuttle said they would work on that when we went to Helper Hounds University for real.

  Then he shook Paul’s hand and said, “You are a good friend and a good man, Paul. You did good work with Robot. I’m proud of you.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Tuttle—er, Samuel,” Paul said. “For so much.” Paul sniffled again.

  “You’re welcome,” Mr. Tuttle said.

  I stood next to Paul and waited to head back into our room.

  But then Mr. Tuttle picked up a bag with my stuffed pig, my blanket, and my tennis balls. Mr. Tuttle clipped my leash on my new vest and off we went. I turned to look back at Paul. He stood in the yard and waved. A light breeze blew by. I could smell his inky arms and salty tears.

  I wanted him to come with us! But Paul had to stay in prison. That was sad. Paul was a good friend.

  But the story doesn’t stay sad. Trust me! We will get back to that. But first, we need to get back to our story. Max and Lily are waiting.

  CHAPTER 5

  Samuel pulled the Helper Hounds van along a curb and looked up at a long row of houses. They all looked alike.

  “Let’s see,” Samuel said, inching the van forward. “675, 677, 679…ah, here we are. 681. This is the place. This is where Max and Lily live.”

  Samuel straightened my vest and opened his door. I snatched my tennis ball out of the cup holder and followed Samuel out of the van. I chomped my ball and stuck my nose in the air. Sniff. Sniff. Sniff. I always like to get a sniff of a place. Helps me relax. That, and squishing my ball of course.

  As I sniffed a tree on our way up to the door, the door opened. A girl and boy stood between the frame. Max and Lily! Max smiled at me. Lily stared at me and scowled.

  A man tapped the kids’ shoulders. “Can we make some space here?”

  A woman laughed behind him. “Yes, can we make room to welcome our guests?” she said.

  Lily flattened herself against the doorway. Max stepped on to the stoop. He didn’t lose his smile. Lily didn’t lose her scowl.

  The man and woman walked right up to Samuel and held out their hands.

  “I’m Rico,” the man said. “We emailed.”

  “Great to meet you,” Samuel said and shook their hands.

  “I’m Max’s and Lily’s Aunt Eileen,” the woman said. “And I told Rico about you.”

  The adults all laughed. I wiggled my tail and gave my tennis ball two chomps of joy.

  “Well, I’m glad you did. It’s great to meet you both,” Samuel said. “This slobbery guy with the tennis ball is Robot.”

  I knew the drill, so I sat without being told. Rico put a hand toward my snout. Then Eileen followed. I sniffed them both and tapped each hand with my ball. It always seemed like a polite thing to do.

  “What a beautiful dog!” Rico said. “Kids, come meet Robot.”

  Max stepped forward. Lily didn’t move an inch.

  “This is Max,” Rico said. “Lily? Coming?”

  Lily shook her head no. She held her arms tightly crossed against her body.

  Max gave me his hand to sniff. His hand smelled like peanut butter and sweat. A kid who likes to eat and play! My favorite kind of kid! I stood up so I could press my head into his stomach. Max seemed like he needed to rub my head. I found that lots of people did. Max giggled and put his hand on my head.

  “He’s soft,” Max said. “His head is huge!”

  “He is and it is,” Samuel said. “Just gave him a bath so I hope he smells okay too.”

  Max giggled again and bent to sniff my head. “He smells like lemons. A lemon-head!”

  Everyone laughed—except for Lily. She stood with arms crossed and her scowl firmly in place. Scowling, arms-crossed kids are also my favorite kind. I like them all! I chomped my ball and tugged my leash.

  “Can we go meet your sister?” Samuel asked Max.

  “She doesn’t like strangers,” Max said. “She’s pretty shy.”

  “And angry…” Rico added under his breath. Eileen bumped him with her elbow.

  “That’s okay,” Samuel said. “We can give her space. Where’s the best place to talk?”

  “Inside,” Eileen said. Rico motioned toward the front door.

  I’d hoped to sneak a sniff of Lily once I got inside. But by the time we were inside, Lily sat perched on the highest step in the hallway.

  CHAPTER 6

  Eileen led us into a room full of bookcases, small tables, soft sofas, and cushy chairs. I wasn’t allowed on any of them (Helper Hound rules), but I didn’t care. This room also had the softest rug I’d ever set paws on.

  I wanted to dig my paws into that rug and shove my snout deep into the sofa. But I didn’t (Helper Hounds rules again…). Instead, I sat nicely and dropped my ball onto the rug and let my tongue hang so Samuel would notice how much I liked the soft rug.

  Max sat criss-cross-applesauce next to me. He giggled and patted my head and back. Lily had come back but watched us from her perch on the top stair in the hallway. Samuel, Rico, and Eileen filled out some paperwork and talked.

  “Can I throw his ball for him?” Max asked.

  “If it’s okay with Eileen and Rico,” Samuel said. “Perhaps just roll it more than throw it.”

  “Rolling the ball is fine with me,” Eileen said.

  Samuel unclipped my vest so I’d know it was okay to play fetch. Then Samuel told Max how to put me in a sit and then tell me to “get it.” Max rolled the ball into the hallway and told me to “get it” like he’d been doing it all his life.

  I chased after the ball and let it bounce a couple times against the wall before heading back. I hoped Lily would follow. She didn’t. But she did scoot down three steps.

  I brought the ball back to Max. He “rolled” it again. Although this time the ball bounced off the floor and onto the stairs.

  I chased the ball, grabbed it off the bottom step, and chomped it a couple times in front of Lily, who had scooted down another step.

  “Why does he chomp it like that?” Lily asked. “Is he pretending it’s someone’s head?”

  “Goodness no!” Samuel said as he twisted on the sofa so he could see Lily. “It’s like his pacifier, really. You know how babies get calmer when they have a pacifier in their mouths? Same with Robot. That disgusting old tennis ball helps him relax.”

  Lily nodded. “Why does he need to relax?” Lily asked.

  “Actually, he doesn’t,” Samuel said. “Helper Hounds are relaxed, so you might say chomping his ball is more of a habit. But the ball helped him a lot d
uring his stressful puppyhood.”

  “Why was it stressful?” Max asked.

  “Well, first of all, Robot was born in a puppy mill,” Samuel said.

  “What’s that?” Lily asked.

  “It’s a place where people force dogs to have litter after litter of puppies. The mom dogs are kept in cages. Most never even get to feel the grass.”

  “Who would get a puppy from a place like that?” Eileen asked.

  “Anyone who’s ever bought a puppy from a pet store gets their dog from a place like this!” Samuel said.

  “That’s awful!” said Rico.

  “How’d he get out?” Lily asked. “Did you buy him at a pet store?”

  “Heavens, no,” Samuel said. “Robot, his brothers and sisters, his mom, and about 100 other puppies and dogs were rescued from a puppy mill and sent to live with foster families.”

  “Like us,” Max said.

  Lily nodded and moved down another step.

  “Does Robot get to see his mom?” Lily asked.

  “He does!” Samuel said. “His mom was really sick from living in the puppy mill. She had a hard life—and almost died. But her foster family saved her. Robot’s mom, Mama Petunia, lives with them now. We still visit.”

  “That’s like us too,” Max said. “We’ll see our mom next week. She’s getting better.”

  “Better every day, sweetie!” Eileen said. “You should be very proud of your mom. She’s working hard because she loves you so much.”

  Max smiled and nodded. He tossed the ball for me again. Lily got to the ball first. She sat on the bottom step by now and reached out her hand with the ball. I took it from her with my best “soft mouth.” No teeth! Just like Paul had taught me. Lily smiled and scratched my shoulder.

  “But I bet no kids ever tease you and call you names because you don’t live with your mom,” Lily said.

  I could smell Lily’s tears before I saw them. So, I gave her two slurps on her cheeks to let her know it would be okay.

  Max joined us in the hallway.

  Max said: “And I bet a big dude like you never gets teased or tripped because you’re ‘so skinny you might just snap in two.’”

  It was true. I didn’t get teased for not living with my mom—and no one ever told me I was too skinny. (The vet says the opposite. Something about needing to watch how many snacks I get….) But I slurped Max on the knee to let him know it would be okay too.

  I wished I could tell Max and Lily two things:

  1. Just like dogs, people come in all shapes and sizes. And that’s good! Being big helps me do my guard-dog thing. But the skinny dogs? They can run faster and get comfortable in smaller places.

  2. My foster parents—first Julia and then Paul—were the best people ever. They loved me and taught me when my mom couldn’t. And Samuel—my forever dad—would never have found me if it weren’t for Paul. I’d never be a Helper Hound without Paul!

  But before I could figure out how to tell them this, I heard a familiar rumble. I chomped up my ball and trotted toward the front door. They’d left it open. Just a thin screen between me and what I knew was coming: The Brown Truck!

  I woofed two of my best barks before Samuel told me to sit and hush. But the brown truck stopped right in front of Max and Lily’s house.

  Danger! Danger!

  CHAPTER 7

  I grabbed my ball and whipped my head back to Lily and Max. If they would stay put, I could save them from the brown-suited driver.

  But when I turned back, Lily stood right next to me, her hand on my back. I chomped my ball and ruffed my best barks.

  Thank goodness, the driver ran toward the house next door and back to her truck as fast as she could. Saved again. By me and my bark. Samuel walked into the hallway to reward my good-boy-ness with a liver treat. Next to my tennis ball, this was my favorite.

  “Why’d he bark at the delivery lady?” Lily asked.

  “Any guesses?” Samuel said.

  “He wants to bite her?”

  “Not exactly,” Samuel said. “Robot doesn’t want to bite anyone. But Robot does want to protect us. Rottweilers are guard dogs. It’s in their nature to ‘speak up’ when they sense danger. And that’s the right thing to do. When Robot barks, I know something might be wrong. In this case, it’s just the delivery truck. But sometimes, it’s real danger. Robot helps by talking—or, barking and chomping.”

  Lily laughed.

  “It’s true,” Eileen said and patted the sofa cushion next to her. “Talking does help. So, how about you all come back in here and we’ll talk.”

  Lily put her hand on my back and walked into the living room with Max and me. I plopped down on the fluffy rug. Lily and Max sat criss-cross-applesauce next to me.

  “You did the right thing by telling Eileen and Rico about the bullies,” Samuel said. “I was a teacher for a long time. I dealt with a lot of kids who said and did mean things. I know some good ways to stop them. Wanna hear?”

  Max and Lily nodded.

  “OK,” Samuel said. “Three things, super simple:

  1. Tell the kids to stop what they’re doing.

  2. If they don’t stop, tell the kids they are being bullies by not stopping when you asked.

  3. If they still don’t stop, tell a grown up. This part feels scary! But it’s important that you tell your teacher, principal, mom, foster-parents, relatives, or any trusted adult.

  Bullies expect us to keep quiet. That’s why telling Rico and your Aunt Eileen was so smart and brave.”

  “What about telling a Helper Hound?” Lily said. “Can that be one of the steps?”

  “Yeah, is it good that we told Robot?” Max said.

  Samuel smiled. “Robot is a great listener. You can tell him anything. And Robot sure helps me feel brave.”

  “Because he’s a guard dog!” Lily said.

  “Is that why he was in a prison?” Max asked. “To guard prisoners?”

  “Not exactly,” Samuel said. Samuel told Max and Lily all about Paul. How he used to be a bully but learned how to be a friend and how he started training dogs—like me!

  “In fact,” Samuel said. “Paul was the one who taught Robot all his best tricks, like this…”

  Samuel put up a hand. I sat. Then he waved it down. I lay down. He twirled his pointer finger. I rolled over. Then he brought his hands to his face and smiled. I “sat pretty.”

  Max and Lily laughed. People always do. I wobble a little when I sit pretty.

  “So Paul was able to change?” Lily asked. “He went from a bully to a nice guy?”

  “He did,” Samuel said. “Not everyone chooses to be nice, but it’s worth a try, right?”

  Max sighed. “So maybe someday Mike will stop trying to ‘snap’ me and want to be my friend?”

  “Yeah right,” said Lily, “I told my teacher. I told our social worker. I told Rico and Eileen. And I told my mom last weekend when she visited. And Jessica still calls me Lily NoMama—at school and online. Robot, can you come to school with me to bark at Jessica and make her run away like the delivery lady?”

  I chomped my ball twice. If this Jessica were running toward our door with a big box, I sure would! But Samuel had another answer.

  “Well,” Samuel said, “Robot probably won’t bark at Jessica to make her go away. But Robot can come to school. And remember, Robot and I are here because you spoke up. It’s already helping!”

  “Wait, Robot really could come to our school?” Lily said.

  “Could I walk him down the hallway?” Max asked.

  “Yes and yes!” Samuel said.

  “Rico and I talked to Principal Wayne after we emailed Samuel and Robot,” Eileen said. “Robot’s coming to do an Anti-Bullying Assembly next week.”

  Lily and Max smiled at each other. Max reached a hand out to scratch me. But then, Lily’s scowl returned.

  “Hold on,” Lily said. “Then everyone will know we told! Jessica and Mike will get even meaner!”

  “I know it’s
scary,” Rico said. “But this is going to help. It’s going to help you and Max and all the kids who are getting bullied.”

  “And it’s going to help Jessica and Mike too,” Samuel said. “They’ll learn a lot from Paul.”

  “The prisoner!” Lily said. “Is he out of jail?”

  “Nope,” Samuel said. “But Paul uses his time in prison to make the world a better place. So, he trains service dogs and makes videos for the Helper Hounds Anti-Bullying Assemblies. You’ll really like Paul. And he and Robot will help. You’ll see.”

  Lily leaned close in to me and whispered: “I just miss my mom….” I slurped her face. I missed my mom too—and Paul. But it was going to get better. I couldn’t wait to show her.

  CHAPTER 8

  “May I help you?” a voice said. I looked at the brick wall. Very weird! Then again, I couldn’t place the clank-clank sound coming from behind me either. It sounded like the sailboats in the marina we sometimes visited. But I didn’t see any sailboats. Now, I heard a voice but didn’t see any people!

  I turned and turned as I tried to figure out where the voice came from. Samuel told me to sit.

  “Yes,” Samuel said to the wall. “This is Samuel Tuttle and Robot Tuttle with….”

  “Helper Hounds!” the voice said as the door buzzed.

  Samuel called me up from my sit, patted my Helper Hounds vest, and pulled the door open. Before walking in, I took one last look around for the source of the clank and the voice in the wall. I turned back to see a circle of people standing in the hallway ahead.

  “Mr. Tuttle, such a pleasure,” a man said. “I’m Principal Wayne.”

  A woman knelt in front of me. The voice!

  “This must be Robot,” the Voice said. “I’m Vicky Callah. I’m the sixth-grade counselor. We’ve read all about you! I can’t believe you’re really here.”

  My stump wagged. While Ms. Callah scratched my neck, the other grown-ups shook hands with Samuel. Some reached down to pet me. Others stood back and just stared. That happens a lot. Not everyone believes a big black dog like me is a helper.