I was very impressed with Doctors Glossers story and I was very glad to get acquainted with him. I threw the ball back to Dr. Glosser and introduced myself:
My name is Rex. I am from Moscow and my biggest dream is to become big and strong like my father. He is a border guard.
A border guard is a very good profession. Good luck puppy Rex.
Thank you Doctor, its very nice to meet you!
Betsy stood in front of puppy Clara. Clara started to talk first, Hi again, you already know my name so I will not introduce myself one more time. I am from Moscow; I live very close to Red Square in a big mansion which used to belong to an ancient noble family of Count Streltsov. The mansion is very beautiful and very expensive. I told you, puppy girl, I always get the best things in this life.
Nice to hear that, my kind sister Betsy tried to be as polite as she could. And what is your biggest dream?
Well, I will achieve a lot of goals in my life, but my biggest I think is to have a golden bracelet.
A golden bracelet, really? Betsy was surprised.
Do you think I want a regular bracelet that you can find in every jewelry store? No way. I want a very special bracelet. In my mansion I have a portrait of an outstanding lady dog. She was Count Streltsovs wife. There has an amazing golden bracelet on her left paw and the bracelet is decorated with precious stones; topaz, diamonds and rubies. I have enjoyed looking at this beautiful picture since I was a little baby. I have dreamed about growing up and to become as beautiful as she was. And I have also dreamed to have the same bracelet. Six months ago, I visited Paris with my father. One of his friends invited us to look at his jewelry collection. Can you imagine our amazement when we saw the exact bracelet there? Mr. Croul, (thats the name of my fathers friend) said that his grandfather bought it from Streltsovs daughter when she moved to France in 1917. I want to have this bracelet! But it costs a crazy amount as much as Mr. Richs golden bone, I think. But I dont care! One day Ill get it. Mark my words!
What will you get? The golden bone? Betsy was frightened.
Who cares about this ugly peace of gold, silly puppy. No I will get Streltsovs bracelet one day. Mark my words. Clara said.
I am not a silly puppy, Betsy got offended.
Oh, sorry. I didnt mean to offend you. Tell me about yourself now.
Betsy smiled. She thought if this girl is able to apologize, she must not be as bad of a person as it seemed. My name is Betsy and I am from Moscow and my biggest dream is to become a figure skater.
Thats all? Clara asked.
Yes!
Well good luck puppy girl.
A beautiful lady with blond hair, who talked to Michael threw a ball to Mary.
My name is Roberta Woods, she said. And what is your name?
My name is Mary.
Nice to meet you, Mary.
Nice to meet you too!
I am from Vladivostok, Roberta said, I know this island very well. I used to go here every summer, when I was a child. My biggest dream is to go to the Juilliard School in New York and to become a famous singer.
Wow this is an incredible dream, Mary said. I have a classmate and his name is Rex. He is here, Mary pointed her to my side, His mother is a famous singer.
Oh really? This is great. I need to talk to your friend later.
Yes, Rex is a very good puppy, he can tell you more about his talented mother. Did you study singing before, Roberta?
No, unfortunately I didnt have a chance to study singing yet. But I went to the University of Arts. I learned how to draw and make sculptures there.
Oh, this is so interesting. I want to become an artist too. I can draw well, but I have never tried to make sculptures! What do you make it out of? asked Mary.
I can make sculptures out of different materials, but my favorites are clay and paper with glue. I like papier-mache the most. Roberta replied.
Oh I am so impressed!
Please come to my office one day and I will show you my works.
Oh, thank you! This is so nice. I will come. Where do you work?
I am Mr. Rishs secretary. I work in his cottage on the first floor.
When we finished playing, we were a little bit tired but very happy. We had just got acquainted with so many interesting puppies and big dogs. We went to the camp cafeteria to have supper.
We sat at the table and started to share our impressions of the day.
I got acquainted with many interesting dogs, but I like Roberta Woods the most. She is so beautiful and talented! said Mary.
She is. Betsy agreed.
And I liked our camps chef, Garikos. said Bob.
Fox terrier? Timmy asked.
Yes. His dream is to go to Paris and to learn cooking secrets from the best French chefs.
Its a pity that our friend Mikky did not come to the camp. He would love to meet Garikos. Mikkys dream is to become a chef one day. I said.
And I liked our leader, Michaels story, said Bill, He said that he wants to open an ice-cream store.
I love ice-cream! Timmy said. But I am so tired. Please lets go home and sleep.
Good idea, Timmy. I said.
We finished supper and went to our nice cottage to sleep.
Before I went to bed I glanced at the window. I looked toward the forest. It was already dark, but the moon came out from behind the clouds and I saw a dog that was walking toward the forest. Who would go to the forest at such a late time? Unfortunately I did not see who it was, but it seemed to me that it was a man dog.
SPEAKING
Answer the questions
Explain the rules of the game that the puppies and the big dogs played.
Why did Doctor Glossers parents move to Vladivostok?
What profession does Rex want to have when he grows up?
What portrait does Clara have in her mansion in Moscow.
How did Mr. Croul get the Count Streltsovs wifes golden bracelet?
Where is Roberta Woods from?
What is Chef Garikos biggest dream?
TEXT UNDERSTANDING
True or false
Doctor Glossers biggest dream is to build a kindergarten for sick puppies.
Clara lives very close to Red Square in a big mansion which used to belong to an ancient noble family of Count Streltsov.
Betsy wants to become a doctor.
Roberta Woods is Mr. Rishs secretary.
Roberta Woods graduated from the University of Arts.
Rexs mother is a famous artist.
In the evening Rex saw a dog walking toward the forest.
PRONUNCIATION
Circle the word with a different sound.
u: foot good school door
ai bike mine crime since time
a: art ball start smart
æ cat bat happen saw camel
Underline the stressed syllable
secret ice-cream acquaint cafeteria beautiful bracelet
Chapter 4
The First Competition
The next day started with a very delicious breakfast. We had porridge, fruit salad with peaches, mangos, grapes, oranges and pears, toast with jam and different kinds of fresh juices.
Oh I love it here! said Timmy finishing his salad. Goody yum yum!
Yes, food here is so good, said Bob, Garikos is the best chef ever!
I agree! I said.
After breakfast we were supposed to have sport activities. We went outside. The weather was fine and we were very excited.
Dear puppies, said Michael when all puppies gathered together on a big field. Today we will have competitions. We will find out which one of you is the strongest and the fastest. We will have both individual competitions and team competitions.
And I almost forgot to tell you the most important thing. Those of you who win the tournament will go to Mr. Rishs office and will be able to see the golden bone.
The golden bone oh, wow! were heard from all sides.
I wont even try to win, somebody said from the back, The reward is not good enough. I saw many golden things in my life, because Ive visited a lot of museums in different countries.
I turned to see who was talking. That was Clara again. This not nice puppy girl was always close by.
The first test will be the exercise of holding the plank position. Michael continued. Puppy girls will compete only with girls and puppy boys only with boys, so the test will be fair. Those of you who can hold the plank position for the longest time will win.