A Home for Rascal Read online

  For William ~ H.W.

  For Mum and Lucy ~ K.P.

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  About the Author

  Copyright

  “You mean it? A real puppy?” Ellie whispered, smiling so wide that it almost hurt. She had been asking for a dog for ages, ever since her sixth birthday, which was just a bit more than two years ago. Auntie Gemma had given her a book about dogs, with pictures of all the different breeds. From then on, Ellie had been desperate to have a dog. But Mum and Dad had always said things like I don’t think we’ve got the space and not till you’re older. This was a total surprise.

  There was so much noise in the kitchen after Dad’s big announcement that he didn’t actually hear what Ellie said, although he couldn’t miss the smile.

  “Now we just have to decide what sort of dog we want,” said Dad.

  Ellie’s older brother Max was yelling and jumping around. “We need a really big dog! One we can run in the park with.” And her big sister Lila was tugging on Dad’s sleeve. “A red setter – they’re gorgeous, and they’ve got fur the same colour as my hair!”

  Ellie frowned. Just like Lila to want a dog to make her look pretty, as if it was a new bracelet or something! Anyway, Lila was beautiful already. Lots of people who had red hair didn’t like it, and people teased them – all the boys at Ellie’s school called her Ginger – but no one ever called Lila names. They wouldn’t dare.

  “We’ll talk about it when I get home from work,” said Dad. “I’ve got to go now, or I’ll be late. Bye, all of you! Don’t drive Mum mad!” It was only the end of the first week of the Easter holidays, and Ellie’s mum had already joked that she couldn’t wait for them to go back to school.

  Ellie looked down at the drawing she’d been doing. Her dog magazine had a gorgeous Jack Russell on the cover, and she’d been trying to copy it. It seemed a pity that Lila and Max both wanted to have a big dog. She had been hoping for a more cuddly sort of puppy. Something small, that she could pick up. Maybe it would even sleep on the end of her bed! A red setter would hardly fit in Ellie’s tiny room!

  Lila started rooting through Ellie’s pencil case. “Please can you draw me a red setter, Ellie? Here, if you mix the orange and the brown crayon together, it’ll be the right colour.”

  “I can’t remember what they look like,” Ellie muttered.

  “You know you can draw anything. You’re so clever!” Lila beamed at her. “Please! I can describe one. Um. Floppy fur and a long, feathery tail.”

  Ellie began to draw a dog that wasn’t really any particular kind.

  “No, the fur’s a sort of orangier colour than that.” Lila held out the end of her ponytail. “Almost the same colour as mine, look.”

  Max peered over at the drawing. “That’s good, Ellie. But we don’t want one of those fluffy dogs. Think of all the brushing!”

  Lila sniffed. “Some of us don’t mind brushing our hair. It’s only you that doesn’t know what a comb looks like.”

  Ellie ignored them as they started arguing. Lila and Max were only a year apart and they fought all the time, although it had got a bit better since Lila started secondary school. Ellie went on drawing, but she still didn’t think she’d got the red setter quite right. She’d have to look it up in her dog book later. Still, Lila seemed to like it, and she went off to put the drawing on the pinboard in her bedroom.

  Suddenly, there was a loud banging and scrabbling at the front door, and Ellie dashed along the hall, calling to her mum, who was hidden away in the little room under the stairs where she kept her computer.

  “I think it’s Christy, Mum, can I go for a walk with her and Bouncer?”

  Bouncer was a big golden Labrador who belonged to Ellie’s best friend Christy, and most mornings during the holidays Ellie went to the park with them. Mum poked her head round the door and smiled at her. “Course you can. Just think – it won’t be long before you can take our dog with you, Ellie!”

  Ellie grinned back. That would be absolutely perfect.

  Ellie was almost dancing as she and Christy set off down the road. The park wasn’t far from Ellie’s house. Christy only lived round the corner too, so she was allowed to walk Bouncer there on her own, or with Ellie.

  “What’s up with you?” Christy asked.

  “We’re getting a dog!” Ellie told her, beaming.

  “Really? That’s brilliant!” Christy stopped dead, accidentally jerking Bouncer’s lead so he stopped, too. He looked up at her, confused.

  “I know! I can’t believe they finally said yes!”

  “What sort are you going to get?” Christy asked. “A Lab like Bouncer?”

  “We haven’t decided. Dad said we’d talk about it tonight. Max wants a big dog, and Lila wants a red setter, but I like little dogs.” She leaned over to pat Bouncer. “I love you, Bouncer! But I’d like a dog I can cuddle.”

  Ellie sighed. “When I dreamed about having a dog I didn’t really think about having to share it with Max and Lila. Max is so sporty, he’ll want to do all the walks, and Lila will do all the grooming. She’ll be painting its claws pink! I won’t get to do anything!”

  Christy shook her head. “I’m not so sure. Max is really loud. Dogs don’t like loud, Ellie, ’specially not when they’re puppies. They like gentle, cuddly people. Like you. I bet most dogs would be scared of Lila, too. I’m scared of her!” Bouncer tugged hopefully on his lead and Christy started walking again. “And Bouncer loves you. He doesn’t like everybody, you know.”

  “You think so? The puppy might really like me?” Ellie asked hopefully.

  Christy nodded. “I should think your new dog will love you. Besides,” Christy giggled, “it’ll want you to keep it safe from Lila!”

  That made Ellie laugh so much that a lady walking past with a big-eyed spaniel gave her a funny look.

  “Would you like a spaniel like that one?” Christy asked. “They’re quite small.”

  Ellie shook her head. “No, littler. What I’d really like is a Jack Russell.”

  “Oh, they’re really cute!”

  Ellie thought for a moment. “Actually, I bet Mum would like a smaller dog. She always said we hadn’t got the space when I asked before.”

  Christy grinned. “Then you’ll just have to work on persuading the others!”

  When Ellie got home, she looked through all her dog books and magazines to find out as much as she could about Jack Russells. She piled them up on the kitchen table, and waited.

  When Dad got in from work, she offered to make him a cup of tea.

  Mum laughed. “What are you after, Ellie?”

  “I wanted to show you what sort of dog I’d like,” she admitted. “A Jack Russell. Aren’t they gorgeous? And they’re small, too.” She turned to the right page in her dog book.

  Dad picked up the book. “I’d been thinking of a Westie, but I could see us with one of these…”

  Mum frowned as she looked over Dad’s shoulder. “It says they can be quite naughty.”

  “I think that’s just because they get bored when they’re left on their own,” Ellie told her quickly. “I’d take ours for lots of walks. And even when I’m at school you’re at home, Mum.”

  Max came in, looking very muddy. “Is tea ready? I’m starving! Hey, Dad. Are we going to decide on a dog?” He peered over at the book. “A Jack Russell?” He shook his head. “We want a big dog! Little dogs can’t go on proper walks.”
>
  “Jack Russells love walking!” Ellie protested. “And they’re clever, Max,” she added, searching for the magazine she wanted. “You could teach our puppy tricks, look.”

  Max looked at the picture Ellie had found, which showed a really cheeky-looking puppy leaping a metre in the air to catch a Frisbee in its mouth. “Maybe. Frisbee would be cool.”

  But Ellie had a feeling it was going to be harder to persuade her sister.

  When Lila came down for tea she showed everyone a red setter photo she’d printed off from a website.

  Mum shook her head. “They’re such big dogs, Lila. And all that long fur, we’d have to groom it every day.”

  “I’d do it!” Lila said.

  “Every day?” Dad raised an eyebrow.

  Lila nodded, but she was looking a bit doubtful.

  “Sorry, I just don’t think we have the space,” Mum said gently.

  “Lila, look.” Ellie had her secret weapon prepared. One of her dog magazines had a feature on clothes for dogs, with a photo of a super-cute Jack Russell posing in sunglasses and a little denim coat. Ellie thought it looked a bit silly, but she was sure Lila would like it.

  “Aww!” Lila laughed.

  “I don’t think they make cute coats red-setter-sized,” Ellie pointed out. “Only for little dogs.”

  Dad smiled and exchanged glances with Mum. “Right. Who’s coming to help me find a Jack Russell breeder on the computer then?”

  They had found a breeder on the internet who lived in a farmhouse just outside town. Dad had called them and arranged to go and see the litter of puppies the very next day. He seemed just as keen as Ellie to get a dog! Ellie peered out of the car window, over Lila’s shoulder, to see if they were almost there yet. As the littlest she always had to sit in the middle seat.

  They turned down a narrow track and pulled up outside an old farmhouse. Ellie wrestled out of her seat belt and scrambled out of the car. They were about to meet their puppy!

  A friendly-looking woman opened the door. “The Thomases? Here to see the puppies? I’m Liz. Come on through. The puppies have a little room just off the kitchen.”

  Lila and Max chattered away to Liz, as she led them into the house. Ellie tried to follow them, but somehow everyone was blocking the door to the puppy room.

  “Max, can I see?” She tried to squeeze round Max, but he wasn’t listening.

  Ellie sighed crossly. Sometimes she hated being the smallest. Even Mum and Dad were cooing over the puppies, and hadn’t noticed she was still in the kitchen. She wasn’t even going to get the chance to see the puppies before Lila and Max chose which one they were having!

  She sat down on one of the kitchen chairs, and stared sadly at a dog magazine that was open on the table.

  Suddenly, something damp pressed itself against her hand, and Ellie squeaked. Then the something nibbled her fingers hopefully. Ellie peered under the table.

  There was a puppy down there!

  He looked up at her hopefully with twinkly dark eyes, his floppy ears twitching as he put his head to one side.

  Ellie giggled. His expression was so naughty!

  “Are you meant to be under there?” she whispered.

  The puppy whined apologetically and licked her hand. His tongue was all soft and slobbery.

  Just then, Ellie realized that the excited chatter from inside the puppy room had died down.

  “Hang on. Can everyone just check for me… There should be five…” said Liz, sounding worried. “I don’t believe it. He’s got out again. I don’t know how he climbs over the board in the doorway, none of the others can!”

  Ellie looked down at the puppy.

  “She’s talking about you, isn’t she?” The puppy stared back at her with big, innocent eyes. Who, me? he seemed to be saying.

  Ellie reached for the puppy, feeling a tiny bit worried that he wouldn’t want to be picked up, but he seemed delighted to scramble into her arms. Cradling him against her shoulder, she stood up and walked over to the door.

  “Um, is this who you’re looking for?” Ellie went red. She wasn’t very good at talking to strangers.

  The puppy snuffled delightedly into her ear, making her squeak. Liz laughed and shook her head. “There he is! He’s a real little rascal. He’s obviously taken to you, though!”

  “He’s lovely!” Ellie said shyly.

  Liz nodded. “Yes, he is. He’s such a character. But he’s just a bit too bouncy for some people. He’s actually had one home already, with an older couple. I’m afraid they brought him back after two days. They took one of his sisters instead; she was a bit quieter.”

  The puppy’s mum, Cleo, watched carefully as Ellie brought her baby back. She gave a sharp yap, as if she was telling him off. But then she licked the runaway puppy lovingly when Ellie placed him down next to her.

  Ellie sat down on the floor of the puppy room. The puppies were all gorgeous, mostly white like her puppy, but with different splashes of black or brown. Hers was white all over, except for a couple of spots, and a brown mask over his ears and the top of his face. It gave him a mischievous look, like a burglar.

  Ellie’s puppy went pattering off across the floor, stalking a red plastic ball that the biggest puppy was nosing at.

  The biggest puppy, who was mostly white with just one brown ear, nudged the ball hard with his nose so that it went rolling away. The two of them scampered after it, but the rascally puppy dashed ahead and cornered the ball, his tail wagging frantically as he seized it in his jaws. He whisked round and came trotting back to Ellie. He then dropped the ball into her lap, looking remarkably pleased with himself. It was half-deflated, with a neat little set of teeth marks in its saggy side.

  “He’s brought you a present, Ellie!” Dad commented.

  “Dad, can we have this one? It’s definitely the nicest.” Lila was holding up a puppy with a black eyepatch like a pirate, which was wriggling and squeaking as she dangled it in the air.

  Mum slipped a hand underneath the puppy. “Gently, sweetheart. They like a hand under their legs, or they feel nervous.”

  Max looked up. “Hey, no, can’t we have this one?” He was playing tug-of-war with a rubber bone with the biggest puppy.

  Ellie looked down at the naughty little puppy, who was now climbing into her lap after the ball. He heaved himself up her legs with a mighty effort and collapsed on top of the ball, his sides heaving. He gave an enormous yawn, then looked around him in confusion. Where was his ball now?

  “I wish we could take you home,” Ellie whispered to him. She knew that Lila and Max would argue if she tried to ask for this puppy instead, but a fiercely determined feeling was growing inside her. She usually didn’t mind not getting her own way. She was used to it, and it was never about anything all that important. But this was important!

  “I think this puppy’s sweet,” she started.

  “He’s really clever. And I think he’d make us laugh.”

  “We don’t want a dog to make us laugh!” Lila said rather scornfully.

  “Why not?” Dad replied. “He is very cute. And he’s really fallen for Ellie, look.”

  The puppy had worked out where the ball was now, and he was curled up on Ellie’s knee, slumped over the ball, fast asleep.

  “But Dad, I want this one!” Lila cradled the pirate puppy, who was wriggling grumpily.

  “Ellie’s puppy’s cute, but it’s the littlest,” said Max. “We want a big, strong dog.”

  Ellie looked down at the puppy in her lap. So what if he was little? He would grow!

  “They’re all lovely.” Mum smiled, and gently patted Ellie’s puppy on the head. “But I agree, I think this puppy is the one for us.”

  Dad arranged with Liz that they would come back tomorrow to pick the puppy up.

  “Can’t we take him now?” Ellie asked hopefully.

  “No, first we need to get him a basket, puppy food… Er … all those kinds of things,” Dad said uncertainly.

  “I’ll give y
ou a list,” Liz told them, smiling. “You’ll be surprised how much stuff you need, even for one very small dog!”

  Lila and Max squabbled in the car all the way home. They certainly weren’t happy about their little sister getting to choose the new puppy.

  “Will you two just stop it!” Dad snapped in the end. “How exactly did you think you were both going to get the puppy you wanted, even if we hadn’t chosen Ellie’s favourite? It’s not as though we’re getting two puppies! And this is a family dog, remember – for all of us!”

  “We should have picked mine…” Lila grumbled.

  “Mine was better!”

  “That’s enough!” Dad was using his I-really-mean-it voice, and Lila and Max fell silent.

  Ellie tried not to smile too much. But she couldn’t help it. They were getting a puppy tomorrow! Her favourite puppy, the one who had liked her! And if Max and Lila were going to sulk, maybe she would be able to do most of the looking after!

  As soon as they got back, Ellie begged to nip over to see Grandad to tell him their exciting news. He lived round the corner from them, and he loved dogs too, even though he said he was too old to look after a dog these days. He had a cat instead, a big tabby called Freda.

  “OK then,” said Mum. “But not for long, Ellie. We need to go to the pet shop, remember.”

  “I’ll be back soon,” Ellie promised, as she opened the front door. “I just want to tell him our puppy’s coming tomorrow. I still really want to come and help choose everything!”

  She hurried down the road to Grandad’s house and headed round to the side gate. In sunny weather like this, he was bound to be sitting out in the garden.

  “Hi, Grandad!”

  Grandad looked up from his deckchair, pleased to see her. “Hello, Ellie! You look excited. What’s the big news?”