Marvelous Adventures with Marly and Aerie in San Diego

by Juliet Cody

Overview

Marly and Aerie are two guide dogs working with Juliet and Shawn, who are blind. The guide dogs tell how they guide their handlers through marvelous adventures across America. This story takes the readers to the beaches of California. The tales and illustrations are as warm as the sand on the beaches. Marly and Aerie, two Labradors, create humorous and mischievous adventures while educating the public about guide dog awareness everywhere they go.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798896330851
Publisher:	Page Solutions
Publication date:	11/01/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	58
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	1 - 12 Years

About the Author

Juliet Cody is an immigrant from Colombia. She came to America as a child. The family lived in Hoboken, New Jersey for three years. Having parents who grew up on the tropical beaches of the Caribbean, the family soon moved to the beaches of Southern California where she still resides. She married, had a daughter, and taught pre-kindergarten until blindness struck. Despite this unexpected life event, Juliet chose to not sit still in the dark; instead, she turned on the light of independence and pursued new, exciting dreams. She became involved in the blind community and returned to school with her guide dog, Marly. She received twenty-seven scholarships and earned her BA and MA in Literature and Writing. To bring positive awareness to the abilities of the blind, she has dedicated her career to writing children's books based on her life experiences told from the perspective of her guide dogs.

Read an Excerpt

Marvelous Adventures with Marly & Aerie in San Diego

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By Juliet Cody

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2016 Juliet Cody
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5246-2718-8

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CHAPTER 1

From the Country to the City to the Beach

Aerie and I live in different neighborhoods. Aerie lives in the inner city where there are a lot of people and lots of noises. She works hard guiding Shawn through a lot of cars, trucks, buses, markets, crossing traffic lights and lots more. The best part of their neighborhood is the smell of fast-food places that make Aerie's nose twitch, and when the kids drop their French fries she loves to scrounge.

My neighborhood is in the countryside where it is not so busy. I work guiding Juliet on country roads, over the hills and through the meadows. Sometimes we go to grandma's house which is the best place for me to scrounge for homemade cookies.

Aerie and I love living in San Diego. We spend long days on the beach: swimming, surfing, digging holes and sometimes I even find a clam.

"Marly, today is going to be a hot one. We are taking the bus to the beach and meeting Shawn and Aerie. Now, let's go before we miss the bus." Juliet said, as she put on my harness, slipped on her red flip flops, grabbed the beach bag, locked the door and off we went. I was excited, and ready to go to work. I love getting out of the house and working!

Juliet held my harness and leash in her left hand. She commanded, "Marly forward!"

We went from her drive-way to the road. Then she commanded, "Marly right."

I know this route well because we go on the bus a lot. There are no sidewalks, so I keep Juliet all the way to the left, along the grass, the rocks, water meters and mail-boxes. The road is bumpy, so I make sure to walk slowly over the bumps, around the puddles, and anything else that could trip her. If there is a car parked on the side of the road, we wait to make sure there are no cars coming. Then I guide her closely around the parked car quickly.

Juliet is right, it's getting hotter. I can feel the road getting warm under my paws. Up ahead I see a branch, so I stop. In guide-dog school, Juliet is taught to check above her head and all the way down to her feet, so she knows why I stopped. She reached up and felt the hanging branch, and I guided her around it. Juliet stopped and patted me on my head and said, good girl Marly. You help me so much and keep me from getting hurt. I love you." I can feel her love, and it makes me proud.

This is why my job is important and serious, because if I get distracted Juliet could get hurt.

I got to the bus stop, quickly and safely. Juliet said, "Marly, good job. We are here with five minutes to spare. You are such a good guide-dog."

The bus pulled to a stop, made a loud screech, and kicked up lots of dust that made me sneeze as I was entering. I'm allowed to ride under Juliet's seat, because I'm a guide-dog. Plus all the way there I get to snooze, until I hear the brakes on the bus rattle, and Juliet tugs on my leash. I immediately wake up and go back to work.

Juliet said, "Hop up Marly, outside." I carefully guide her out of the bus, and there they were: Aerie and Shawn waiting for us!

"Wow, hi Aerie. This is the beach. Have you ever been here?"

"No, Shawn said that the water is called waves, and I can tell by the sound that they are breaking close to the shore."

Juliet brings me here a lot. I love it; I can taste and smell the salty breeze. Aerie and I were so happy we started panting, bouncing and wagging our tails with delight. Shawn found a spot right on the shore and set up the beach chairs and a big striped white and blue umbrella.

Juliet said, "Remember, we have to do obedience training with our dogs."

"Yes, I know, come Aerie."

In guide-dog school we learned obedience training. There are four exercises that help us to pay attention and listen better when we are working. Just like homework, we need to practice them often, especially in different places. Aerie and I just wanted to go exploring, but they put our leashes on and got started right away.

The first exercise is SIT. Aerie and I sit.

They pat our head and say, "Good girls! Good girls!"

Then they say, "UP!" and we quickly stand.

We get praised, "Good girls! Good girls!"

The second exercise is STAY.

They tell us, "STAY." And then turn and walk away. Then they stopped, turn to us and call out, "Marly come. Aerie come."

We run to them, and again, we get a pat on our head with lots of praises.

The third exercise is HEEL: What this means is that they get us in the "ready-to-go" position.

They tell us to sit in front of them, and stay. Then they grab our leashes, pull it, and say, «Heel.» we walk toward them, making a U-turn, and stand by their left knee so they can grab the harness, and say, «Forward,» and start our route.

The last exercise is COME: For this one they take our harness off and tell us in a cheerful voice, "It's okay, come on! Come and bounce around, have fun; it's okay."

Aerie and I do, and it is a blast.

Aerie says, "Wow, Marly, this is fun!"

"That's for sure, Aerie."

Then we hear, "COME."

I tell Aerie, "Let's get back to them. They are calling us."

Juliet and Shawn love it. When we go right to them, they cheered, "Good girls!" Good girl Marly. Good girl Aerie!"

All four exercises are repeated three times.

After doing the daily obedience routine, Juliet added an exercise that surprised us. She called it, Beach Baked Biscuits.

They put our harnesses on. Juliet said, "Shawn, do this with Aerie and your beach chair. This is the training where the dog biscuits in the sun play a part."

Juliet got a box of biscuits out of her beach bag. As she opened it she said to us, "Marly, Aerie, look, biscuits."

I looked at them thinking ... "Yummy." Aerie was beside me drooling. Then to my surprise Juliet said, "Marly, here eat a biscuit."

Juliet gave Shawn a handful of biscuits and said, "Shawn, you do the same. Here, give Aerie a biscuit."

Shawn did it too, and, Aerie and I happily ate the biscuits. We got a pat on our head and praises, "Good girl, Marly, good girl, Aerie."

Next, she placed biscuits on both of the beach chairs. She said, "Okay, let's practice finding the biscuits on the beach chairs."

So Shawn took Aerie's leash, and Juliet took mine. Then pointed to the biscuits and said, "Marly, Aerie, look biscuits, look, smell it. Smell the biscuits." Then she walks me away from the chair that had the biscuits. Again, we turned back toward the chair and she said, "Marly, find the biscuit. Come on, find the biscuit."

Well, that was easy for Aerie and me; we quickly found the biscuits. Shawn and Juliet shouted, "Good girls." And we were awarded the biscuits. Aerie and I loved it. We could see the big biscuits, smell the yummy biscuits, and we would go right to the biscuits drooling and eat the biscuits without a problem. They made us practice this exercise three times, and we did not mind it all. In fact, this is one of my favorite tricks that Juliet and Shawn taught us. They taught it so Aerie and I can find their chairs on the beach when we get back. Now finally, we are on our way to the pier for a fun day.

CHAPTER 2

Beach Baked Biscuits

Our harnesses were on, and the biscuits were on the beach chairs baking under the sun waiting for our return. Aerie and I were anxious for our beach adventures. As we started walking, the first thing I heard was the kids screaming every time a wave would roll in, and get their feet wet. The minute water hit my paws, I knew why they were screaming. Aerie said "Ooh, ooh, the water is cold."

"Ooh, no kidding, I feel like barking," I said.

"No, Marly, we can't do that, we are guide-dogs. Remember one of the rules is that we can't bark in public if our harnesses are on."

"I know that, Aerie." We continued walking along the shore, and we were heading for a group of children. I could hear the small, plastic sand shovels working, digging holes in the compressed, cool sand, and the banging as they filled their buckets with sand, little hands patting the sand, shaping their sand castles. Aerie and I were closer now, and I was looking at a girl with wet hair and freckles, and she was looking back into my eyes.

She smiled, looked up at Juliet and asked, "Can I pet your dog?"

Juliet said, "Yes, you may. But first, we need to take her harness off. I must tell all of you that I am a blind person. I cannot see at all, and she is my guide dog. She is a working dog. Her job is to guide me and make sure that I do not bump into things or fall down."

Aerie also had children around her, and a boy asked, "Can I pet this dog?"

As Shawn took off Aerie's harness he said, "Yes, you may. She is also a guide-dog, but with her harness off she can play."

"What are their names?"

"This is Aerie and that is Marly, they are our guide-dogs. I'm Shawn and she is Juliet, we are both blind."

Juliet began taking my harness off and said, "When Marly wears her harness, she knows that she is to concentrate on her guiding and not get distracted so she can do a good job for me."

The children were giving us their full attention now, and more of them had gathered around us. Juliet and Shawn then put on our flexi leashes.

Shawn said, "This is a flexi leash."

"What is a flexi leash?"

Shawn grabbed Aerie's flexi leash, knelt down, and said, "Look, see how the leash goes in and out, and check it out, (he pulled the leash out) the leash is super long. This way they can run, and play and Juliet and I can keep track of them."

"Wow that's neat."

"Yes, here they go. Run Aerie! Run Marly!"

This gave Aerie, the children, Shawn, Juliet and me a chance to play, ask questions, and to get to know each other better. Juliet threw a tennis ball, and Aerie and the children and I ran after it. Aerie and I were faster than the kids and we always brought the ball back for more. We were having a lot of fun, but after a while Juliet and Shawn decided it was time to go. Many times when Juliet and I walk the beach, I just use my flexi-leash. On the shore it is a straight shot, there are no curbs, driveways, or traffic lights. It is easy walking, and we just enjoy it. A few kids were asking why I was not going to wear my harness.

Juliet said, "Well, we are so used to working together that she can still guide me on the beach safely without it."

The children just gaped with amazement. Juliet and I started walking. Just then I heard a child's voice scream, "Wait! Stop!" I looked and saw the hole. It was too late! Juliet stepped into a big hole! Splash! Splash! She fell on her butt. Surprised, she landed sitting down next to me. Juliet turned, and she was face to face with me, and all I could do was give her two wet kisses with my big tongue across her face and wagged my tail. When Aerie saw me she ran and gave Juliet more kisses. All the kids were laughing loud. Juliet's face was bright red, and it was not because of the sun.

Aerie the kids and I were all having a good laugh. It really was funny. Suddenly an enormous wave rolled in with force, roaring like a sea lion! We all tumbled, swallowed salty water and, when it was all over, Shawn on his knees spitting water out said, "Well, Juliet are you ready yet?" Then he laughed.

This adventure with them had been amusing and exciting for Aerie and me. We were laughing, but it was time to go.

Now it is about lunchtime, and I smell the barbecued hot dogs and fries. It smells so delicious that my mouth is watering. I can almost taste them. This is the signal that tells us we are approaching the pier. We make a turn and get out of the sand. Before Juliet tells me where to go I head for the showers. Juliet says, "Good girl Marly, you've learned the route."

I said to Aerie, "Now we are going to have a shower."

"Good, I'm hot, thirsty, and hungry."

"Well, this shower will feel great. Juliet and Shawn will give us a lot of showers when we are on the beach."

"Good, that's so they can keep us cool, right?"

"Right, but also because they don't want the salt water to give us a rash." At first taking a shower on the beach with Aerie was cold, but once we got used to it, it was fun. We kept splashing each other with our tails.

When we were done, we walked to the pier. I love the pier, because I can see for miles out into the ocean and I can see the pelicans flying, skimming the surface of the ocean, and scooping fishes in their large pouch on their bill. I do want to chase them, but I remind myself I'm working, so I settle for listening to their squawking and screeching. I also watch people fishing and love all of the fishy smells.

We walked up on to the pier, and I recognized the man with the big straw hat fishing.

I said, "Hey Aerie, that man waving his hat at us is Juliet's friend, Russell. He is a fisherman." We walked up to him and Shawn asked, "Hi Russell, have you caught a lot of fish today?"

"Oh yes, the pier is busy, and the fish are biting. Shawn, is this your new dog? She's cute."

"Thanks, her name is Aerie. Juliet and I are going to go get hot dogs for lunch, but we'll be back."

My favorite part of the pier is the hot dog stand. Aerie's nose started twitching when Shawn and Juliet stopped at a table. They got us a bowl filled with ice. We love to crunch ice. Then they ordered their hot dogs.

Shawn said, "Aerie under the table." We know this command and we both go under the table. We scrounge, crunch our ice, and take a nap.

After lunch, we were headed back when Shawn said, "What is all of the commotion? Why is there a crowd?"

Juliet said, "I don't know, but I think I hear Russell."

I saw Russell waving his hat and Yelling "STOP! GET BACK!"

Then I saw it, lying on the ground was a pelican tangled with fishing line.

Juliet yelled, "Russell, WHAT HAPPENED?"

"I was reeling a big fish that I had caught. The pelican tried to steal the fish from my line, but the hook caught her beak. She got all tangled-up and fell."

"Can you get the hook out of her bill?"

"No, she bites. I need scissors to cut the fish line so she can be free. I need help."

Just then I saw two fishermen running up with scissors in their hands, one said, "We can cut the line. Now, get back everyone."

Aerie said, "Look Marly, they have scissors. I hope they set her free."

Russell said, "Okay, but we can not take out the fish hook from her beak. She'll bite, so I'm naming her, Captain Hook. Now, let's set her free."

The fishermen snip, snip the fish line with their scissors, until Captain Hook was free. Aerie and I watched Captain Hook spread her wings, and fly away in the sunshine with her friends.

On the way back, the beach was filling up with people. I could hear them talking and umbrellas popping open, children's toys clattering, and the smell of suntan lotion was in the air. Aerie and I had to weave more between and around things.

"This is hard work, Marly."

"Yes, pay close attention."

The waves were now crashing. The kids shrieking could be heard throughout. One time we were in the water, and I saw a Frisbee flying my way. I jumped up about six feet and caught it. Of course Juliet did not know it until a man took it from me and said, "Good job!"

Something else that captures my attention is other animals, and this is not unusual on the beach. There are some animals that are allowed off leash. On this day one of these animals was in the water with us.

We were playing in the water. I was chasing Aerie. Suddenly, we thought we saw another dog body surfing like we do. Aerie said, "Look, is that another dog?"

"I don't know? It looks scary, let's tell Shawn and Juliet."

So, Aerie and I started panting, tugging on our flexi leashes and even, barked. Shawn and Juliet realized something was up, but they didn't know what, until they heard the P.A. system from the lifeguard's jeep, blaring the announcement.

"EVERYONE GET OUT OF THE WATER! GET OUT OF THE WATER!"

Immediately, Aerie and I got out of the water. We couldn't believe our eyes. Was it a dog, or a fish? What was it? Then we heard a boy saying, "Mom the sea lion is hurt."

We were getting close to the sea lion, Aerie and I wanted to see what was going on, but Shawn pulled Aerie's leash and said, "No, Aerie, it's a seal and she is hurt. Let's just turn around and go back."

However, we wanted to show our handlers the sea lion. Juliet and Shawn turned us around, but we had not looked closely or taken a sniff. Juliet knew what we were thinking and said, "Shawn is right. We should get back. However, we will first take a closer look, but there will be no sniffing."

We walked closer, Shawn said, "Wow, look the sea lion needs help, it's hurt."

We looked, and there it was, the sea lion! It was big, black and wet, and the sun gave it a silver shine. It had long whiskers and big bucked teeth and the eyes were closed. Aerie said, "Marly, Have you ever seen anything like this on the beach before?"

"No! Never!"

Juliet said, "Now, is everyone ready to go back?" I wanted her to know that we were ready, and gave her my paw. Juliet took it and tenderly squeezed it. Immediately, we were on our way back to our spot.

We walked by the same people who were playing ball and passed the children who were rebuilding their sand castles. I kept thinking ... "I feel wonderful. The ocean reminds me that I'm a swimming dog."

Juliet always starts the search for our chair with our biscuits baking in the sun when we are approaching the area by saying, "Find the biscuits, Marly hop up, find the beach baked biscuits."

Once Juliet gets my attention, she tells me over and over again. I know what this means, because she taught me that before we started, so I start sniffing the area. Shawn tells the same to Aerie. They repeat the command in a soft tone and speak directly to us. They try to be discreet so others will not notice. However, it never works. The first to join in are the kids. They begin by asking, "Why did you lose their biscuits? Right away they start helping by looking for the biscuits too. Before Shawn and Juliet can explain what we are doing, they have told their parents and everyone else on the beach that Juliet and Shawn lost our biscuits. Now everyone is looking for dog biscuits, and I am sure they are thinking that Shawn and Juliet are not just blind but, rather that they lost their marbles and wonder if they really had lost the biscuits at all.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Marvelous Adventures with Marly & Aerie in San Diego by Juliet Cody. Copyright © 2016 Juliet Cody. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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