#26 Rainbow Lane

Reading Comprehension for January 14

"That's so cute!" Maria said. "Your dog looks adorable!" She was admiring her friend's toy poodle, dressed like a ballerina.

Maria and her friend Chasney were entering their pets in a contest. For the past three years, parents in their neighborhood sponsored a "Dress Up Your Pet Day" in January. The event had grown each year.

The first year, only five families participated. Interest grew as the neighbors watched four dogs and one cat parade down the street, one in a tuxedo, one in a ballerina suit, and three in winter sweaters.

The second year, eleven families joined in. There was quite a menagerie of pets this time. Someone even put a pirate's hat on a parrot!

The third year, twenty-three families joined in, which was just about the entire neighborhood, given that there were twenty-seven houses in all. Two others who did not own pets dressed themselves up and joined the parade, and one house was empty and for sale. However, they never could get the people from #26 Rainbow Lane to participate.

Most of the neighbors wondered if anyone actually lived at #26 Rainbow Lane. They faithfully delivered flyers about their community events but the papers would lay on the porch for about a week. They tried knocking on the door but no one would answer. They tried calling on the phone but no one ever picked up. They would have thought the place was empty, but the car was gone sometimes. The mail didn't pile up. And, the flyers would get picked up after a few days. So, they just kept trying.

"I wonder if #26 will come out this year," Maria continued.

"Yeah, right," Chasney replied. "That'll be the day."

"I wonder if they have any pets," Maria asked.

"If they do, do you think they would dress them up? I doubt it."

The day came for the big event. Everyone agreed to meet at the community center on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. By 9:30, people began walking their dogs, cats, birds, and even caged animals like hamsters and a snake toward the center.

Just about everyone was there by 9:55 a.m., so the leader, Mr. Morris from #14 Rainbow Lane, began giving instructions.

"Okay, everybody, this is how this will work. Those with caged animals will go first, and then�"

All of a sudden, Mr. Morris stopped. He stared over the heads of the group. Within seconds, everyone turned to look at what caught his attention.