I Want a Dog

Book excerpt: Every kid wants one, but few are as persistent and inventive about getting one – or a substitute for one – as little May. It seems to little May that everybody has a dog except her. She tries everything, even bringing one home, with no success. Then one day she accidentally discovers that a rollerskate can act like a dog, almost, so she works at acquiring the technical skill that will change it into one, almost. She leads it, walks it – at first timidly, then boldly – ties it up outside stores, takes it all the places a dog can go. In fact, she starts quite a fad on her street of rollerskate walking.