The "off-limits" house in the meadow

Mary McWilliams Johnson

Diane came running across the mountain meadow. She was on her way to visit her school friend Barbara Kemp, but it had to be a quick visit because Barbara's house was off-limits to her, and Diane wanted to get back before the baby sitter missed her.

She wasn't supposed to come here, because there was a kennel of yelping dogs behind the house that some of the townspeople thought were dangerous. And a lot of people also thought the Kemps were rather strange. But Diane liked Barbara. They had become great friends at school.

As it happened, Barbara was not home, but Diane didn't know this as she skipped up on the front porch and greeted the pet dog tied beside the door. At least Diane thought this was the friendly family pet she had found tied there on previous "secret" visits. Without looking at him closely, Diane reached out to pat the dog, and he lunged, snarled, and bit deep into her hand. Fortunately, Barbara's father was home. He raced out, forced the dog to let go, and pulled Diane inside to safety.

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