Brooks ran outside and began shouting for his dog. “Boxcar! Boxcar! Where are you?” Roxanne looked very worried. “Oh, no,” she kept saying. “Oh, no.” Jessie patted Watch on the head. “Good dog,” she said. “Poor Mr. Brooks,” said Violet. “It looks like Boxcar really won’t stay.” “Did Boxcar run away?” Benny asked. “It looks that way,” said Jessie. Henry looked at the place where Boxcar had been tied. Henry didn’t understand how Boxcar could have gotten himself and his leash off the post. But maybe he could—dogs were smart. The other owners were petting their dogs and praising them for staying. Even Double and Trouble had done well. “We should help Mr. Brooks look for Boxcar,” said Violet. The other Aldens agreed. The children and Watch went outdoors. Mr. Brooks was walking up and down the parking lot, calling out his dog’s name. The children helped him look. They checked in the nearby park and on three side streets, but there was no sign of the Dalmatian dog anywhere.
