Every weekday morning I take the 8:30 bus to go to my job. I know by sight several people who also fide that bus. Some of the girls work as maids. They get off at each stop in ones, twos or threes.

But at one corner something wonderful happens. Before the bus stops, a little dog races out of the nearest house. He doesn't look at two of the maids who get off. But for the third he has a joyful¹ "Hello!". From head to tail his little body wags² his happiness. Everyone on the bus watches until the maid and the dog go into the house.

One day not long ago the maid wasn't on the bus. I wondered if the dog would be waiting for her. Sure enough, he was!

He stood at the back door of the bus for a minute. I could see his joyful welcome turning into fearful³ worry. Where was she?

The driver closed the back door. The dog raced to the front door. It, too, shut in his face.

Everyone on the bus felt sad. Poor little pup! He looked so unhappy, standing⁴ there!

The driver couldn't stand it. He opened the door and looked down at the dog. "She didn't come today," he said, in a loud, kind voice.

A man in a front seat leaned forward. "Maybe she will come tomorrow," he called.

The dog wagged⁵ his tail as if to say "thank you." He watched the bus as we pulled away. Then he turned to trot⁶ home ── alone.

The next day everyone on the bus was happy to see the maid back again. Yes, the dog was waiting for her.

The welcome he gave her was even warmer and more delighted than usual. We all smiled at one another. How bright and good the morning suddenly seemed to us!

1. What do the people on the bus usually see at one corner?

A. A little dog coming close to the bus when it stops.

B. Two maids get off the moment the bus stops.

C. A dog waiting for someone.

D. A dog greets a maid merrily and follow her into a house.

2. One day the maid wasn't on the bus and the dog ___.

A. didn't appear

B. stood waiting at the bus stop till the bus left

C. raced about looking for the maid

D. went back the moment he found the maid wasn't there

3. All this made people on the bus ___.

A. awfully⁷ sorry

B. greatly surprised

C. very bored

D. much exited

4. The next day people on the bus were happy, for ___.

A. the maid was among them again

B. she would not take the same bus

C. she was not on their bus

D. she was waiting for an empty bus to come

5. We can safely say this story is about ___.

A. a magic dog

B. a young maid that has magic powers

C. a bus that can produce magical results

D. the close relationship between a maid and her dog

KEY: 1. D 2. C 3. A 4. A 5. D