All our company stood in the inner circle. I was standing between Bob and Mary; Betsy was standing to the Mary’s right and Bill and Timmy were standing to the Bob’s left. We saw puppies and big dogs standing in the other circle.

“Great, now we have two big circles,” Michel continued explaining the rules of the game. “Here are thirty balls. Each puppy in the outer circle will get a ball. You should throw the ball to a puppy, or a dog from the other circle and tell three things about yourself. First; your name, second; where are you from, and third; what is your biggest dream. Then the puppy who has the ball will tell three things about him or herself too. After that the puppy will take a step to the right and throw the ball to the next puppy and so on. We will play until all puppies and big dogs from both circles have gotten acquainted.

We took the balls and started to play.

A big dog (his breed was beagle) threw his ball to me.

“My name is Doctor Glosser,” he said. “I was born in Great Britain a long time ago, but when I was a child my parents, my father and mother, came to Vladivostok to explore the Far East. They were scientists. They loved this place so much that they stayed here all their life. I grew up here, got an education and became a doctor. Now I work in the Eagle’s nest camp. I love little puppies and my biggest dream is to build a hospital where all sick puppies can get well. What about you?”

I was very impressed with Doctor’s Glosser’s story and I was very glad to get acquainted with him. I threw the ball back to Dr. Glosser and introduced myself:

“My name is Rex. I am from Moscow and my biggest dream is to become big and strong like my father. He is a border guard.”

“A border guard is a very good profession. Good luck puppy Rex.”

“Thank you Doctor, it’s very nice to meet you!”

Betsy stood in front of puppy Clara. Clara started to talk first, “Hi again, you already know my name so I will not introduce myself one more time. I am from Moscow; I live very close to Red Square in a big mansion which used to belong to an ancient noble family of Count Streltsov. The mansion is very beautiful and very expensive. I told you, puppy girl, I always get the best things in this life.”

“Nice to hear that,” my kind sister Betsy tried to be as polite as she could. “And what is your biggest dream?”

“Well, I will achieve a lot of goals in my life, but my biggest I think is to have a golden bracelet.”

“A golden bracelet, really?” Betsy was surprised.

“Do you think I want a regular bracelet that you can find in every jewelry store? No way. I want a very special bracelet. In my mansion I have a portrait of an outstanding lady dog. She was Count Streltsov’s wife. There has an amazing golden bracelet on her left paw and the bracelet is decorated with precious stones; topaz, diamonds and rubies. I have enjoyed looking at this beautiful picture since I was a little baby. I have dreamed about growing up and to become as beautiful as she was. And I have also dreamed to have the same bracelet. Six months ago, I visited Paris with my father. One of his friends invited us to look at his jewelry collection. Can you imagine our amazement when we saw the exact bracelet there? Mr. Croul, (that’s the name of my father’s friend) said that his grandfather bought it from Streltsov’s daughter when she moved to France in 1917. I want to have this bracelet! But it costs a crazy amount – as much as Mr. Rich’s golden bone, I think. But I don’t care! One day I’ll get it. Mark my words!”

“What will you get? The golden bone?” Betsy was frightened.

“Who cares about this ugly peace of gold, silly puppy. No I will get Streltsov’s bracelet one day. Mark my words. ” Clara said.

“I am not a silly puppy,” Betsy got offended.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. Tell me about yourself now.”

Betsy smiled. She thought if this girl is able to apologize, she must not be as bad of a person as it seemed. “My name is Betsy and I am from Moscow and my biggest dream is to become a figure skater.”

“That’s all?” Clara asked.

“Yes!”

“Well good luck puppy girl.”

A beautiful lady with blond hair, who talked to Michael threw a ball to Mary.

“My name is Roberta Woods,” she said. “And what is your name?”

“My name is Mary.”

“Nice to meet you, Mary.”

“Nice to meet you too!”

“I am from Vladivostok,” Roberta said, “I know this island very well. I used to go here every summer, when I was a child. My biggest dream is to go to the Juilliard School in New York and to become a famous singer.”

“Wow this is an incredible dream,” Mary said. “I have a classmate and his name is Rex. He is here,” Mary pointed her to my side, “His mother is a famous singer.”

“Oh really? This is great. I need to talk to your friend later.”

“Yes, Rex is a very good puppy, he can tell you more about his talented mother. Did you study singing before, Roberta?”

“No, unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to study singing yet. But I went to the University of Arts. I learned how to draw and make sculptures there.”

“Oh, this is so interesting. I want to become an artist too. I can draw well, but I have never tried to make sculptures! What do you make it out of?” asked Mary.

“I can make sculptures out of different materials, but my favorites are clay and paper with glue. I like papier-mache the most.” Roberta replied.

“Oh I am so impressed!”

“Please come to my office one day and I will show you my works.”

“Oh, thank you! This is so nice. I will come. Where do you work?”

“I am Mr. Rish’s secretary. I work in his cottage on the first floor.”

When we finished playing, we were a little bit tired but very happy. We had just got acquainted with so many interesting puppies and big dogs. We went to the camp cafeteria to have supper.

We sat at the table and started to share our impressions of the day.

“I got acquainted with many interesting dogs, but I like Roberta Woods the most. She is so beautiful and talented!” said Mary.

“She is.” Betsy agreed.

“And I liked our camp’s chef, Garikos.” said Bob.

“Fox terrier?” Timmy asked.

“Yes. His dream is to go to Paris and to learn cooking secrets from the best French chefs.”

“It’s a pity that our friend Mikky did not come to the camp. He would love to meet Garikos. Mikky’s dream is to become a chef one day.” I said.

“And I liked our leader, Michael’s story,” said Bill, “He said that he wants to open an ice-cream store.”

“I love ice-cream!” Timmy said. “But I am so tired. Please let’s go home and sleep.”

“Good idea, Timmy.” I said.

We finished supper and went to our nice cottage to sleep.

Before I went to bed I glanced at the window. I looked toward the forest. It was already dark, but the moon came out from behind the clouds and I saw a dog that was walking toward the forest. Who would go to the forest at such a late time? Unfortunately I did not see who it was, but it seemed to me that it was a man dog.

SPEAKING

Answer the questions

Explain the rules of the game that the puppies and the big dogs played.

Why did Doctor Glosser’s parents move to Vladivostok?

What profession does Rex want to have when he grows up?

What portrait does Clara have in her mansion in Moscow.

How did Mr. Croul get the Count Streltsov’s wife’s golden bracelet?

Where is Roberta Woods from?

What is Chef Garikos biggest dream?

TEXT UNDERSTANDING

True or false

Doctor Glosser’s biggest dream is to build a kindergarten for sick puppies.

Clara lives very close to Red Square in a big mansion which used to belong to an ancient noble family of Count Streltsov.