The Ghostly Cheerleader

　　Tom was1 very proud3 of his dog Blackie. Whenever4 he got5 the chance6, he would7 ask his dog to please his friends with some tricks8.

　　One day Tom went to visit his friend Jack9 who was sick at home with a bad cold."How are you feeling10?" asked Tom."Worse11 than yesterday," answered Jack, "I have a terrible12 cough13, and there is not a drop of medicine14 in the house. "Don't worry, Jack. I'll send Blackie to the drugstore for some medicine. He'll be back in a minute before you know it." Tom put a five dollar note in Blackie's mouth and the dog ran15 down the street. "And keep the change," Tom shouted after him.

　　"Oh, Tom, don't be silly16. You know that dog won't be back with any medicine," said17 Jack. "oh, yes he will." answered Tom. Half an hour later18, however19, Blackie had20 not returned21. Tom was feeling worried22 and felt angry at his friend's little smile.

　　"Something has happened to him, I'm sure," said Tom. "He obeyed23 me as2 a rule." Just then Jack saw24 Blackie at a distance25. He hurried to open the door and let him in. Jack was shocked26 to see a bottle of medicine in the dog's mouth.

　　"Good boy," said Tom, "But what took27 you so long?" Blackie ran to the window, barking28 and wagging29 his tail. Tom looked out of the door and saw a bone outside.

　　汤姆很为他的狗“黑子”感到骄傲。一有机会他就会让它玩一些把戏来取悦他的朋友。

　　一天，汤姆去看他的朋友杰克。杰克因重感冒生病在家。“现在感觉怎么样？”汤姆问。“比昨天更厉害了。”杰克说，“我咳嗽得很厉害，家里一点药也没有。”“别着急，杰克，我让黑子去药房买点药，他一会儿就会回来的。”汤姆把一张五美元的钞票放在黑子嘴里，黑子向街上跑去。“记得找零钱。”汤姆追在黑子后面喊到。

　　“别傻了，汤姆，狗是不会把药买回来的。”杰克说。“噢，不，他会的。”汤姆说。半小时之后黑子还没有回来。汤姆有些着急并对他朋友脸上露出的一丝笑意感到生气。

　　“黑子一定是出什么事了，”汤姆说，“他一直很听我话的。”就在这时，他远远地看到了黑子并赶紧跑过去开门让黑子进来。杰克看到黑子嘴里的药瓶子真吃了一惊。

　　“好小子，”汤姆说,“但是怎么花了这么长时间呢？”黑子朝窗子跑去，边叫边揺尾巴。汤姆从门往外一看，看见了一根骨头。