I hold the rope on Cho's back as we pass my new neighbor's yard.
"Hello, Mr. Green! "I greet him. Like every other morning, he doesn't1 me. But I know he's there, watching behind his roses 2 . I can hear his breath shaking.
Maybe he's afraid because I'm3 . Sometimes disabilitiesscare grown-ups. But yesterday I heard him playing chess with Jimmy, who's in a wheelchair.
Father has told me some locals don't like people from faraway.4 every Saturday Mr. Greenand my brother, Li, help each other with yard work.
Well, maybe he doesn't like5 . "Hello, Mai and Cho! "my friend Jane is on a bike. "Hi, Mr. Green. "I wait. But he calls out, "Hello, Jane! "His voice6 me. Mr. Green likes Jimmy, and Li, andJane. But not me and Cho.
Me and Cho! An 7 brightens my mystery. Maybe I do know why! I tie Cho's 8 to a treeand I feel my way to Mr. Green.
"Mai, be careful! "Mr. Green shouts to me.
"You . …you can please .9 my mystery, "I say, "it isn't because I'm blind. Or because I'm a girl from Vietnam. "I add, "It's Cho who scares you when we walk by. That's 10 you don't like me? "
"I like you, Mai. And Cho, too. But up close, Cho scares my words away. She is a very . …. big dog, "hesays in a low voice that tells me he thinks I will 11 him.
But being scared isn't funny. So I tell him, "Your fear of Cho may be big, but our friendship is 12 . We will help. Come with me! "
I hear a smile in Mr. Green's voice. "OK, "he says, "I 13 you, my friend. "
Friend, he called me. We are friends! I lead Mr. Green back to Cho, and tell him how nice Cho is. Then Itake14 hand and guide it to Cho's head. Slowly, Mr. Green pets Cho's ears. Cho wags her tail.
15 , the mystery is solved. And the new friendship between us begins.
