Aggie the Brave
Written by Lori Ries, Illustrated by Frank W. Dormer,
Page 1
A Visit to the Vet
Page 2
Aggie is going to the vet. A vet is a doctor for animals. Aggie is going to the vet to get spayed.
Page 3
Mommy says this is a good thing to do. It will keep Aggie from getting sick when she gets older. And it means she won't have any puppies.
Page 4
I know all about doctors. I am a very good patient. I am always brave.
Aggie is nervous. She tries to hide.
"No, Aggie," I say. "Be brave!"
Page 5
She tries to run away.
"No, Aggie!" I say.
Page 6
I see something silly.
"That dog has a lamp shade around its head!" I say.
"It is a collar," Mommy says, "a special collar that
keeps dogs from scratching."
"You do not want a silly collar like that, Aggie!" I say.
"Ruff!" Aggie agrees.
Page 7
It is our turn now.
I am full of questions.
Will Aggie get hurt?
What if she gets hungry?
Can I wait here for her?
Page 8
The vet tells me Aggie will sleep.
She tells me Aggie will not feel anything.
"Aggie might not feel hungry when
she gets home," she says. I do not like what she tells me next.
She tells me I can pick up Aggie tomorrow.
Page 9
It is hard to leave Aggie.
"You will be okay," I tell her.
"Be good for the vet, Aggie.
Be a good dog."
"Ruff!" Aggie says.
Page 10
"We'll take good care of Aggie," the vet says. "I will call you when we are done with the surgery."
"Be good, Aggie! Be brave!" I say.
Page 11
It is a long drive home.
Page 12
I do not feel so brave now.
Page 14
It is a long day without Aggie. She is not here to play. She is not here to read.
Page 15
The phone rings.
I jump up. Mommy nods.
"Hello?" I say.
"The surgery is over," the vet says. "Aggie did well. She is resting."
"Thank you!" I say.
Page 16
I put on my pajamas.
Page 17
I brush my teeth.
Page 18
I climb into bed.
"But it's only four o'clock," Mommy says.
I smile big.
"If I go to sleep, then tomorrow will come. Tomorrow, Aggie will come home."
Page 19
"Let's make popcorn," Mommy says.
She picks a movie from the shelf. It is a good one - but my lap is empty.
Page 20
My bed is empty, too. I miss Aggie. I know Aggie misses me. She has never had a sleepover before.
Page 21
Finally tomorrow comes. It is time to go to the vet.
Page 22
I can't wait to see Aggie.
She will run and jump.
She will circle my legs.
She will play chase.
Page 23
But when we get to the vet, Aggie does not play. Aggie just lies down. She is lying down with a big lamp shade on her head.
Page 24
"Aggie will have to be quiet," the vet says. "She has stitches."
Aggie cannot run.
She cannot play.
She must rest.
"Bring her back in two weeks, and I will take the stitches out," says the vet.
Page 25
At home, Aggie looks sad.
"I am sorry you have to be a lamp-head, Aggie," I say. "But you have stitches. You cannot scratch. You cannot lick. And you cannot bite your stitches."
"Hmph," Aggie says.
Two weeks is a really long time.
Page 27
The next morning, Aggie looks better. She gets up. She walks around.
Thunk! goes her lamp head.
Page 28
Whoosh! goes her cone head.
"Owoooo!" goes Aggie the Clown.
Page 29
Poor Aggie. She is embarrassed.
"I will rest with you, Aggie," I say.
I get my fancy crayons.
Aggie whines while I color.
I pat her head. I get an idea.
Page 30
"Oh! You are NOT a lamp head, Aggie!" I grab my brown crayon. "You are NOT a cone head!"
I work and work.
"You are NOT a clown. You are a..."
Page 32
I show Aggie the lion.
"Ruff! Arf! Arf!"
My lion-dog sits tall.
Page 33
Every day, Aggie feels a little bit better.
Page 34
Her lion head helps.
Page 35
Finally it is time to go back to the vet.
The stitches go away.
"Aggie has healed well," the vet says.
Page 36
The vet gives her a meaty treat - a meaty treat for a brave lion. Aggie loses her mane.
Page 39
She circles my legs.
Page 40
We play chase till it gets dark.
