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"Slow down," Josie's social studies teacher called as the entire class raced for the door. The final bell had just rung and everyone was ready to leave the steamy classroom in Mulberry Falls Middle School. As the kids pushed through the door and out into the crowded hallway, Josie waited quietly at the back. She had somewhere else to be too but she'd rather wait a few minutes than risk getting trampled. But just then Oscar Madison shoved past with Dev Gupta right behind him, his elbow smacking Josie's nose. She rubbed her face as the boys flew out of the room, not even noticing. Students were still streaming past when Josie finally made it out of the classroom. People were clustered in groups or in pairs, talking and laughing together. Josie stayed to the side of the hall, making her way to the sixth grade locker alcove where she packed up her stuff, put on her big blue down jacket and headed for the exit. There was a slight spring in her step when she finally pushed through the heavy metal doors of the school and out into the biting cold of the late November afternoon."I love your coat," Alana King called right behind Josie. Josie turned automatically—but of course Alana wasn't talking to her. Josie supposed she wasn't exactly setting the fashion scene on fire with her puffy coat. Alana had been talking to Gabby Chavez. Gabby had glowing bronze skin, silky black curls, and always wore the perfect outfits. But as Gabby turned to smile at Alana, Josie thought the key to Gabby's popularity was the way she smiled at a person like she'd never met anyone more fascinating in her life. Gabby had once beamed at Josie like that, when Josie had picked up a pen Gabby had dropped, and that grin had lit up Josie's whole day. Whatever it was, Gabby was a sixth grade celebrity, always surrounded by a group of adoring admirers. Which was pretty much the opposite of Josie.But that was okay- Josie wasn't into crowds anyway. She shrugged it off and headed down the ice crusted sidewalk, snowflakes landing softly on her cheeks as she walked. Mulberry Falls was a small town tucked into the side of a sloping mountain. The west side of town overlooked the valley below and the east side viewed the peaks of more impressive neighboring mountains. It didn't take long to walk from the school to Main Street where stores and restaurants lined the street and the big town square. Josie inhaled deeply as she passed Snickerdoodle's, the bakery that always smelled like a delicious combination of chocolate, cinnamon and fresh baked bread. Josie debated stopping in for one of their signature treats, a Snickerdoodle butter cookie coated with crusted sugar and cinnamon, but she was already running late. Josie was eager to get to the Mulberry Falls County Hospital where she volunteered almost every day, performing short skits and songs for the sick kids staying on the pediatric ward. But she had one stop to make on her way. She turned off Main Street onto Dandelion Drive. All the streets in town, except for Main Street, were named after flowers, which was kind of funny for a town in the mountains of northern New York where names of snow and ice would have been a much better fit.Josie walked up the path to the small cream and burgundy house where she and her mom had lived with her grandparents for the past five years. The minute she opened the front door she was tackled by an exuberant dog."I missed you too, Clementine," Josie cooed to her beloved pet, kneeling down so she could hug her. Clementine was a mix but mostly Shiba Inu, medium sized with a tan coat and creamy white belly, soft pointed ears and a fluffy curlicue of a tail.Clementine was so overcome at their reunion that she yipped and danced around for a moment before snuggling close and licking Josie on the chin. Josie scratched behind Clementine's ears, the way her dog loved, and Clementine wriggled with contentment. "You'd think we kept her locked in a closet all day," Josie's grandfather said as he made his way into the entry hall. He'd had a hip replacement the year before and somehow things had never healed quite right so he leaned heavily on a cane. But his smile was bright now, the way it always was, and he claimed that he could get wherever he needed to, it just might take a little bit longer."I know you spoil her when I'm gone," Josie teased, standing up to give her grandfather a hug too."It's really coming down out there, isn't it?" her grandfather asked, patting her back and then peering out the window next to the front door. The snow was falling thick and fast. "Yeah, doesn't look like it's going to stop," Josie said. She set her backpack on the floor next to the dresser that held the family's large collection of gloves, scarves and hats, as well as Clementine's supplies. Josie fished a leash out of the top drawer and snapped it onto Clementine's collar. Then she slipped a warm pink doggie coat over Clementine's round middle. "Ready, girl?" she asked.Clementine, who seemed to understand Josie better than most people, barked in agreement."You two have a good afternoon," her grandfather said, holding open the door. "Thanks, Grandpa," Josie said as she and Clementine headed out into the wintery afternoon, "And don't work too hard," he added before closing the door behind them."It's not really work, is it, Clem?" Josie asked as they started down the street. Clementine pranced next to her and Josie felt a rush of love for her dog. Five years ago, on Christmas Eve, just a few weeks before her dad had died, Josie had found a small tan puppy left in a box next to a dumpster behind the drug store. Clementine had whined fearfully when Josie came close enough to see that her fur was scraggly and her paw had been injured. Josie had her own crushing pain to bear and it lifted just the tiniest bit when she saw how much Clementine needed her. Something in Josie had healed while she cared for her new dog and now seeing Clementine, her fur shiny, her bark happy as she pranced about, made Josie happier than anything. Clementine had truly been the best Christmas gift ever.Clementine was a special dog. Of course, all dogs were special, that was a given. But Clementine had a sixth sense that told her when people were upset. She had stayed close to Josie's grandmother after her grandfather's surgery, snuggling next to her at night and sitting at her feet while she had long, anxious phone calls with their insurance carrier. When Josie's mother was worried about cutbacks at work, Clementine had stayed glued to her side, and whenever Josie felt bad about not being invited to a party or a test that hadn't gone so well, Clementine would be right there, ready to cuddle. Which was the best cure for any kind of problem, at least in Josie's mind.And the hospital seemed to feel that way too. That was why Clementine was volunteering there as well. She was one of the founding members of the hospital's Canine Visitation Program, where trained dogs were brought in to visit patients. Josie and Clementine turned onto Buttercup Avenue where the bright lights of the hospital shone through the falling snow. Josie lead Clementine though the first set of automatic doors where she paused to stomp snow off her boots and brush away the small drifts that had gathered on Clementine's back before walking into the bustling hospital lobby."Hey there Josie," Ms. Nunez, the security guard said."Hi," Josie said, unzipping her coat so she wouldn't get sweaty on the walk to the volunteer room. Unlike Josie's home, which was kept at a chilly sixty eight degrees to save on heating costs, the hospital felt like a warm summer day. Josie headed down the cream colored hall, past posters sharing health tips and hospital information, greeting doctors, nurses and staff she knew. Which was pretty much everyone who passed as Josie headed for the pediatric wing on the second floor. She always took the long way around, not wanting to pass the ICU which was the only part of the hospital that made her uncomfortable. "Hey guys," Charlie, an adult volunteer said, stopping so that Clementine and his dog Gus could sniff each other. Gus, a black and white spotted dog with long ears and shaggy fur, was another canine volunteer and Charlie, a lawyer, brought him in a few times a week.After the humans and dogs had said their hellos, Charlie and Gus headed off to visit patients while Josie and Clementine continued down the hall. "Want a cookie?" Nurse Joe asked when Josie and Clementine arrived on the ward which was painted with bright murals of jungle animals and fairy tale characters. He was holding up a box from Snickerdoodles that a patient's parents must have sent in. The nurses took such good care of the kids on the ward that they were always getting gifts and treats from grateful family members. "Thanks." Josie happily accepted a big cinnamon cookie which she crunched down, the sugar and cinnamon melting on her tongue."How are things in your world today?" Nurse Joe asked. He was wearing scrubs printed with barnyard animals and a matching cap covered his short dreadlocks. Nurse Joe was a favorite on the ward with the silly voices he used to put younger patients at ease and the way he explained things carefully to older ones, making sure they understood exactly what was happening with their treatment. "I'm excited about the holiday season starting tomorrow," Josie said."I hear that," Nurse Joe said, putting up a hand for a high five. Josie slapped his palm, then she and Clementine headed for the volunteer lounge down the hall."Hi Josie," Ed Santamaria said when she walked in. He was standing in front of the full length mirror adjusting his red curly wig."Hi Josie," echoed Willa Rosewood. She was inside the costume closet and her voice was muffled."Hey," Josie said, greeting her fellow volunteers and letting Clementine off her leash so she could say hi. Ed and Willa performed skits and songs but didn't participate in the Canine Visitation program, so they always enjoyed snuggling Clementine, who was more than happy to oblige them. Ed wore baggy polka dotted pants and bright purple suspenders while Willa emerged from the closet in a red flannel footed onesie and oversized sleeping cap."I thought I'd try something new today," she said, petting Clementine and then shoving Ed playfully away from the mirror so she could get the tassel of her hat just right. "I'm going to be Suzie Sleeps-a-lot.""Sounds like a snore," Ed said, and Josie and Willa both groaned."Come on, Josie, you think I'm funny, right?" Ed asked with big, pleading eyes, his hands clasped at his chest. Clearly he was getting into his clown character. Most of the other volunteers were in the high school drama club and the local theater but Josie only liked performing here where only the kids and their families could see her. "Sorry," Josie said, laughing. Even though she was the youngest volunteer she never felt left out. The others were always interested in her skit ideas and loved the characters she created. Josie hoped one of them might want to step in as her partner. Josie's usual partner, Ainyr, had stopped working at the hospital the week before because she was starting to look at colleges and no longer had time to volunteer. Josie was going to miss the fun they had together. She could sing by herself but that was about it."See you, Josie," Ed said.Willa blew a kiss as they walked out to begin their rounds. The door closed behind them and Josie headed for the costume closet. She was planning to start off with something that was just silly, maybe the fried egg outfit or the cowgirl that had a hat with big horns on it, and sing goofy songs. Josie loved making up funny lyrics off the cuff or using funny voices for classic songs that the kids could sing too. As she stepped into the closet she couldn't help gazing at the rack of her favorite costumes, the one with pointed elf hats and boots, Santa coats and shimmery angel gowns. Performing for the kids was fun year-round but it was best during the month leading up to Christmas. The month that would begin tomorrow. And Josie could hardly wait.For now Josie pulled on the cowgirl costume, stepped into the rhinestone studded boots and grabbed the big ten gallon hat that went with it. When she came out of the closet a few minutes later she saw that Ms. Chung, the volunteer coordinator, had come in and was petting Clementine."Hi Josie," Ms. Chung said. "How are you?" The volunteer coordinator was normally chipper but today the bounce was gone from her voice. Clementine noticed and pressed her furry body against Ms. Chung's legs. "I'm good, thanks," Josie said, turning the cowboy hat in her hands. "How are you?"Ms. Chung seemed to sag in her red high heels. "Well, I'm afraid I have some bad news," she said.The words bad news made Josie's stomach clench up and she was suddenly gripping the hat so hard the brim bent back in her hands. Clementine was by her side in seconds, looking up with warm brown eyes at Josie."It's about the Christmas Festival," Ms. Chung said. The Festival was the big finish to a month of Christmas fun. It happened every Christmas Eve, a jubilant celebration with skits, musical performances and a big carol sing-along. It gave kids who were in the hospital over the holidays a fun celebration with their families. Children who had chronic illnesses that took them in and out of the hospital throughout the year came as well. Hospital staff brought their friends and families so that the whole lower auditorium was packed for hours of Christmasy fun. Ms. Chung and everyone else knew it was Josie's favorite event of the year, though none of them, not even her mom, knew exactly why."Is there a problem?" Josie asked, still twisting the hat. "The problem is that there's no one to organize it," Ms. Chung said. "Olivia Bakir in admissions took it on these past ten years or so but she's retiring next week and moving to New Mexico. The last thing she has time for is gathering volunteers to perform and supervising the rehearsals.""And there's no one else who wants to do it?” Josie asked. This couldn't be true but Ms. Chung shook her head."I'm afraid not," she said, smoothing back a lock of sleek black hair."But what about the kids?" Josie asked, her voice shrill in her ears. "They'll be so disappointed.""I know," Ms. Chung said, the corners of her mouth turning down. "I wish there was something I could do but I'm overextended as it is."Josie knew how hard the volunteer coordinator worked, often staying late and on weekends to make sure everyone had what they needed to entertain the patients. But there had to be someone, anyone, who could take over the Festival."I'm sorry, Josie," Ms. Chung said as she straightened up, ready to head back out. "I know how much the Festival means to you. We'll all miss it."Josie couldn't let this happen. Sure she was shy and yes, the last thing she wanted was to approach people and ask them to participate in the Festival. And of course the thought running rehearsals made her feel light headed, like she might pass out onto the worn sofa. But there was no other option, not if she wanted to save her beloved Festival.So Josie stood tall in her cowboy boots, her voice ringing out. "I'll do it," she said. "I'll be in charge of the Festival."
