I Am Sammy Trusted Guide Page 2

  Chapter 4

  A Strange Smell

  After Elena says goodbye, Jessie and I leave campus. We walk along the city sidewalks until we reach a place with good smells drifting out through the door. A lady sits at one of the outdoor tables, sipping coffee with a poodle resting near her.

  “Skippy, lie down,” the lady says when her dog jumps and yips at the sight of me.

  Most dogs, like Skippy, aren’t allowed inside this café. But most dogs aren’t working, like me.

  We are just about to go inside the café when I see a young woman hurrying down the street toward us.

  Hey, I know her! That’s Jessie’s friend Mei! I think.

  By the time Mei reaches us, she’s out of breath.

  “Oh, Jessie, I’m so sorry,” Mei says. “I know we were supposed to meet at one o’clock. Am I late? Did I keep you waiting?”

  Jessie laughs. “No, Mei, I’m early! When I used the cane to get around, things were much slower. I have to remember now that with Sammy, I can zip to places in no time.”

  “Whew!” says Mei. “Good. Now let’s get some lunch! I don’t have much time before my next class. And we have a lot to talk about.”

  The three of us walk into the café, and the woman at the front counter gives me a quick glance. “Sorry, miss, no dogs allowed…” Then she sees my harness and handle. “Oh, I apologize!” she says. “Of course your guide dog is welcome.”

  The woman shows us to a table.

  Jessie says the command “tuck,” and I scoot myself under the table.

  As soon as we’re settled, Mei begins talking in an excited voice.

  “So have you told your parents yet? That you want to live in the dorms next semester?” Mei asks.

  “I did. You too?” Jessie says.

  “Yep,” Mei says.

  “What did they say?”

  Mei sighs. “They say they’ll miss me living at home. But they know that moving onto campus is an important step for me.”

  “Mine said the same thing!” Jessie says.

  “So we’re doing this? We’re going to be college roommates? You, me, and Sammy?” Mei asks.

  I raise my head at the sound of my name.

  Wait, what?

  These two have something in the works that includes me—I can tell!

  “I guess we’re doing this!” Jessie says happily. “Yes!” Mei says, clapping her hands. “Oh, we’ll have to go shopping for dorm stuff soon!”

  While Jessie and Mei munch on salads and sandwiches above me, I settle back down.

  After a while, Mei pops up from her seat.

  “I better be going,” she says. “I’ll be late for class if I don’t hurry. Bye, Jessie! Sing sweet as a songbird at the concert tonight!”

  Jessie laughs. “Will do. Good luck in class,” she says. “I’m going to stay here and work on homework for a bit.”

  It isn’t long after Mei leaves that something new catches my attention.

  There are always lots of smells in this café—soap, sweat, perfume, and deodorant from the customers and servers. There’s the scent of coffee, tea, and all the good aromas from the meals on the table. But now I sense another unusual and heavy smell that seems to be drifting over from the cooking area.

  I raise my nose to check out this strange scent.

  Something’s not right, I think.

  Suddenly there’s the sound of running feet. A man in an apron rushes into the dining area.

  “Attention, everyone!” he yells. “There’s a fire in the kitchen. For your safety, please exit the café—now!”

  Chapter 5

  A Dog’s Decision

  Plates and silverware clatter as people at the other tables scramble from their seats.

  Jessie jumps up and grabs my handle. She turns toward the door we came in. “Go right, Sammy. Find the door,” she says.

  But the front door she is stepping toward is not far from the kitchen. Smoke begins to pour from the kitchen entrance. A gray, moving cloud billows toward where we came in.

  Should we go in that direction? Or is there a safer way out?

  No one taught me about smoke or fire during my training. But I have my instincts. I know I have to think fast. The heavy smell is growing stronger. That fire could be spreading quickly.

  I make the decision to disobey Jessie’s command.

  There’s another door, on the other side of the café, away from the smoke. Some customers are headed that way.

  So that’s the direction I turn to.

  “Are you sure, Sammy? Very sure?” Jessie asks nervously when I move to the left. Then I hear her repeat the words Elena has told her to remember: “Trust my dog,” Jessie whispers to herself. “Trust Sammy.”

  We move quickly past tables full of half-eaten meals. I guide Jessie around a chair someone tipped over in the rush to get out. Many of the servers and cooks are hurrying right behind us.

  Jessie lets me lead her safely to the other door. We burst through the exit and find ourselves outside in the bright fall sunshine and cool, fresh air.

  I look back and see more smoke filling the restaurant.

  I’m glad we got out in time!

  Chapter 6

  Passing the Test

  “Mom, I’m okay,” Jessie says. Her voice sounds calm on the phone, but her hand on my handle shakes a bit. Big trucks with loud sirens race this way down the street.

  “There was a kitchen fire in the café where I was studying.” Jessie speaks louder to be heard over the street noises. “But we’re all right. Sammy led me out!”

  “Yes, Sammy is a good dog,” Jessie continues. “Yes, I’m fine. No, no one was hurt. We all got out fast, the customers and the café staff. The fire department just arrived. I’m heading to the bus stop,” she says. “I’ll be home soon. Love ya, Mom.”

  “Well, Sammy, that’s twice you’ve kept me safe today!” Jessie says when she puts her phone away. She scratches my shoulder. “Now, let’s go home.”

  We begin walking the familiar route to the bus stop. As we get close to the street corner, we slow down. There are raised bumps at the corner that Jessie can feel beneath her shoes. That lets her know the street is just ahead.

  “Find the button,” Jessie says. I lead her to a pole with a big metal button. I place my nose under the button, and Jessie reaches for my head. She slides her hand along my upturned snout until her fingers rest on the button. It tickles me a bit!

  After Jessie presses the button, an electronic voice gives the warning: “Wait! Wait! Wait!” And we do.

  When it’s finally safe to cross, a special tone sounds from the speaker.

  I admit I was a bit confused the first time I came upon a talking traffic pole. That voice seemed to come from nowhere!

  Who’s that? Where are you? I thought. But I’m used to it now.

  Once we cross the street, Jessie gives the command, “Find a seat,” and I lead her to the empty bench at the bus stop.

  As we wait for the bus, Jessie makes another phone call. “You’ll never guess what happened, Elena,” she says. I hear Jessie tell Elena all about the fire in the café. “Sammy wouldn’t let me move toward the smoke. Not only is Sammy smart, but he’s full of courage too,” she says.

  Courage? I think. Hey, I’ve heard that word before.

  With no sign of the bus yet, I begin to think back to the time when I was about a year and a half old. I was starting advanced training, or doggy college, as Jayden called it. And it was time to leave the Robinsons.

  When they brought me back to the guide dog facility, Marcus cried and Jayden got quiet. Dad spoke gently to his sons that day. “It takes a lot of love and courage to tell someone goodbye as they leave for the next, exciting step in their life,” Dad said. “But you can be proud of all you have done to get Sammy ready for his new adventure. He’s going to change someone’s life.”

  The two boys nodded then.

  “Have fun at doggy college,” Jayden said with one last hug. “I think you have a lot of courage too, Sammy.”

  I looked back one last time at the Robinsons as a trainer led me away.

  I admit, it was hard to leave them behind.

  Still, I was never lonely or bored at the guide dog campus. Jayden was right—I was at doggy college, and I had a lot to learn!

  I was one of four dogs that Elena trained one-on-one. At other times, she worked with my sister Sierra, and two yellow Labrador siblings, Dory and Duncan.

  At first, Elena and I practiced some of the same commands that the Robinsons had taught me, like sit and stand and down. Soon, we began working on new things during our morning and afternoon training sessions. I learned to walk in a straight line around the facility grounds, which is more difficult than you’d think! It turns out, most dogs and humans tend to veer one way or the other when they walk.

  I was taught to sit at curbs and at the top of stairs, and I got used to the feeling of wearing a harness and a handle. Elena showed me that I needed to be aware of overhead dangers as well. I may be able to pass under a low-hanging sign, but humans are a lot taller than dogs. If I walked straight ahead, the person with me might run smack into that sign!

  During training, I also learned about that tricky thing Elena calls intelligent disobedience. When I ignored a command to go forward into busy traffic, I was praised!

  Later, Elena and I often left the guide dog grounds to train in unfamiliar areas. Once, we even went someplace called an airport.

  This is as busy as the Fourth of July carnival! I thought once we got inside the huge building.

  Lots of people hurried around, carrying bags or pulling suitcases behind them. We boarded a big metal airplane, and I calmly lay on the rumbling floor by Elena’s feet for the whole flight. That tickled my tummy a bit!
When we landed, Elena gave me fresh water and took me to do my business outside. Then we got right back on another plane!

  “I can report that Sammy aced the plane trip!” Elena said when we returned to the guide dog facility later that afternoon. “He’ll be a good match for someone who wants to travel.”

  For my final tests, Elena wore a blindfold and held my handle as another trainer walked close by us. The three of us strolled down neighborhood sidewalks, through train stations, and along busy city streets. I did well enough on those blindfold tests that Elena knew I was ready to be matched with a person.

  But not every dog on Elena’s training team got to be a guide dog.

  “Dory is going to be career changed,” I heard Elena tell another trainer. “She’s letting us know that being a guide dog is not the job for her. She’s not as high energy as some dogs, but she’s very gentle and loving. I think she’ll make a great therapy dog or maybe a diabetic alert dog,” Elena said. “I have a few people in mind who I know would like to adopt her.”

  That’s when I first learned that there are lots of different jobs a dog can do!

  Even so, I know now that I’ve found my calling. Being a guide dog is what I want most, even if it does take a lot of training and a bit of courage.

  Suddenly, I hear a rumbling motor and turn to see the bus pulling up. Jessie stands up beside me. Time to do the work I’ve been trained to do!

  Chapter 7

  Unexpected Stop

  On the bus, a little girl sits near us, looking at me. She begins to reach out to pet me when a woman’s voice stops her. “No, London, honey, that’s a guide dog. He’s working.”

  The girl pulls her hand back.

  “Miss,” the little girl, London, says to Jessie. “Does your dog really work?”

  “Oh, yes,” says Jessie. “Sammy here has a very important job. I can’t see, so he helps me get around.”

  “You can’t see anything?” London asks.

  “That’s right. I’ve been blind since I was born,” Jessie says.

  “Oh,” the little girls says. She stares at me some more.

  “Does Sammy always have to work?” she asks.

  Jessie’s voice is cheerful. “No, not all the time. He likes to play like any other dog. One of his favorite games is hide-and-seek. I’ll hide in the house and call him, and when he finds me, I tell him what a good dog he is.”

  “Hide-and-seek is one of my favorite games too!” London says. “Sammy must be a fun doggy.”

  “Lots of fun. Smart too,” Jessie says.

  Aw, how nice! Jessie’s bragging about me, I think.

  Just then the bus driver pulls over and stops. He turns to us passengers to make an announcement.

  “Sorry, folks. I won’t be stopping at Willow Street. There’s a detour due to sewer work, and I can’t get there. We’re being routed to another stop around the block. I apologize, miss,” the bus driver says to Jessie. “I know that Willow Street is your usual stop.”

  “Thank you,” says Jessie. “But no worries.”

  “Can your dog find your way back to Willow Street?” London’s mother asks.

  “No, actually, he can’t. Sammy is a smart dog, but I have to tell him which way to go,” says Jessie. “It’s not a problem, though. The driver said we’ll be just around the block from the stop. As long as the sidewalk is still open, I can find my way.”

  “Oh, okay,” says the woman. “But if you need any help, let us know. That’s our stop too.”

  The bus slows to a stop, and Jessie and I get up. The friendly bus driver gives Jessie directions, and she thanks him.

  Jessie gives the command “Right,” and I turn right.

  As we walk away, I hear London’s voice, full of surprise.

  “Mommy, that doggy knows right and left, like I just learned!”

  “Yes, he does, London,” says the woman. “I’m as impressed as you are!”

  As we walk this new route, I see a big tree glowing with fall colors by the sidewalk. But there’s a problem. One branch is hanging too low. It’s no trouble for a dog like me to pass under, but if Jessie keeps walking, it could hurt her. I steer left and move us to the edge of the sidewalk so she misses the branch, just as I was trained to do. Then I curve around back to the center.

  Now, up ahead, we have to cross another street—but this one doesn’t have a traffic light or a button to push. Jessie stops to listen for the traffic instead. When she hears it’s safe, she gives the command, “Forward.”

  “Left,” says Jessie once we are across. And there it is, just a few steps away! I recognize the Willow Street bus stop!

  “Find a seat,” Jessie says, and I quickly lead her to the bus stop.

  She reaches a hand out to touch it and smiles.

  “This is our usual bus stop. We know our way home from here! We did it, Sammy!” she says.

  Yes we did, I think.

  Is there anything Jessie and I can’t do?

  Chapter 8

  Finally Home

  Back at home, Jessie removes my handle and harness and brings me to the backyard. She and I have been so busy, we haven’t had much playtime today. So right away I begin bounding about, frisky as a pup.

  Jessie lowers herself to the ground and laughs. “Sammy, you’re a different dog when the harness comes off, aren’t you?”

  Oh pup, you bet I am!

  Now that I’m off duty, I don’t worry about avoiding distractions. If there’s a smell I want to explore, I chase it down. If something tempts me, like that big pile of leaves Jessie’s dad raked, I dive right in!

  It’s while I’m rolling in the crackling leaves that Jessie calls me over.

  “Elena told me about a game you played with your puppy raisers, Sammy,” she says. Then Jessie pulls a new toy from her jacket pocket.

  I remember Jayden and I played catch with a toy just like that. But will Jessie know how it’s done?

  Jessie stands, winds up, and tosses the toy into the sky.

  Hey, you do know what to do, Jessie! I think. And you’ve got a pretty good arm!

  “Catch it, Sammy!” she says. I spring up on my hind legs and grab that toy right out of the air!

  Then I run over and drop it at Jessie’s feet. She tosses it, and I jump to get it again and again.

  I’m so happy you like catch, too, Jessie! I think. This is my favoritest game ever!

  When I’m worn out from all the fun, I come back and sit next to Jessie to catch my breath. She sits, too, and puts her arm around me. We stay that way for a moment.

  “Can I tell you something, Sammy?” Jessie says quietly. “Not as my guide, but as my friend?”

  I settle close to her. I remember that Marcus’s voice always got quiet and serious, like Jessie’s is now, when he had big feelings to sort out.

  “There’s so much on my mind right now,” Jessie says. “Like, I wonder if you and I are really ready to be on our own, without Elena. What do you think? Can we do this, Sammy?”

  Jessie pauses. I can tell she has more to say.

  “Also, I haven’t told anyone this, but I’m nervous about the Pop Notes concert tonight. Not about getting to the stage. I trust you for that, Sammy. I’m getting butterflies in my stomach at the thought of singing by myself in front of all those people.”

  Butterflies in your tummy? Yuck! I think. I lean over and lick her face, and Jessie laughs.

  “That’s right, Sammy. I won’t be by myself, will I? You’ll be right there next to me. But what if I miss a note? Or forget the words?”

  I won’t mind, Jessie.

  “And something else is bothering me, Sammy. Something I’m not ready to talk to Mei or my parents about yet. It’s this…Part of me can’t wait to move into the dorms next semester. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be roommates with her best friend and a great dog like you? But part of me is not sure I can do it. It’s a big change for me. I worry I’ll get homesick.”

  I duck my head under Jessie’s hand. I hope that being here together while Jessie pets my head will help her feel calm. I know it worked wonders when Marcus had worries.

  “You see, Sammy,” Jessie continues, “we humans—well, sometimes we have to move from what’s safe and familiar to accomplish important things.”