A bad man stomped onto Toby’s quiet street. CRACK! His boots tore Toby’s cozy little house apart.
Boards snapped. Windows popped. Toby dashed through flying dust while the bad man’s heavy footsteps thudded behind.
Toby trotted past small houses and tall trees. Dry leaves skittered along the curb like tiny paper boats.
At one green gate, Toby stopped and nosed the latch. CLANG! The gate slammed shut.
Toby lowered his tail and kept walking. Soon, he curled beside a cold doorstep beneath a silent porch.
A neighbor girl spotted Toby and set down her bag. She sat on the sidewalk. “Hello, Toby,” she said softly.
A trash can clattered down the block. Toby backed away, and the girl stayed exactly where she was.
The girl patted the pavement beside her. “You can stay,” she whispered. Toby watched her hand, then crept closer.
Toby placed one paw beside her hand. Above them, tree branches rustled. Neither one hurried.
The girl gently patted Toby’s head. Toby leaned against her knee and gave one tiny wag.
A bright red ball rolled from the girl’s bag. Toby followed it, then followed her toward the warm doorway.
The warm doorway opened wide. Toby stepped inside beside the girl, safe at last.