Playtime for Rascal Read online

  “Can we practise the welly-throwing now?” Ellie said, getting to her feet. Jack had finally stopped laughing at Christy’s story of Rascal and the jogger with the luminous yellow trainers.

  Rascal looked interested as she picked up the welly. “It isn’t for you!” Ellie told him sternly, and he flattened his ears. “Oh, it’s OK, I’m not cross. But you can’t chew it any more, it’ll be no use as a welly soon.”

  She laid the skipping rope out in a circle and paced back carefully. They’d been practising this at school, so she knew how far away she ought to be.

  “Let me take Rascal’s lead while you throw,” Christy offered. “I’ll take him over here away from the welly – he’s definitely eyeing it up.”

  Ellie looked at the target and started to swing the welly. She shut her eyes for a second, and then opened them and let go.

  The welly didn’t hit the skipping-rope target, but that was because the target wasn’t there any more. Neither were Christy and Rascal. They were halfway across the park, with the skipping-rope trailing out of Rascal’s mouth and wrapped around his paws.

  “Sorry!” Christy called back. “He surprised me; I thought he was going for the welly!”

  Ellie sighed and looked at Jack, who was leaning against Hugo and practically crying with laughter.

  “At least puppy-training starts again on Monday,” he said. “I think Rascal needs it.”

  Ellie was looking forward to puppy-training. She and Rascal had already done the beginners’ class, which was where they’d met Jack and Hugo, and now they were all signed up for the next set of lessons, where they would do more complicated things.

  “Honestly, Rascal. I think Jack’s right,” Ellie told him, shaking her head, as they walked round the corner to her house after saying goodbye to Christy. “What are you like? Dogs aren’t supposed to chase skipping ropes!”

  Ellie put out some food for Rascal when she got home and then went upstairs. She flopped on to her bed and admired the model stadium that was sitting on her desk. She and Christy had been working on it almost every afternoon after school, and it was very fiddly. They’d used up three boxes of toothpicks making the metal struts round the outside of the building. Now all Ellie had to do was spray-paint it silver – Mum was going to get some silver paint on Monday – and then stick on figures of athletes inside the arena. She’d already made those, but they had to wait until the silver paint was dry. Christy was cutting out hundreds of tiny pictures of people from catalogues and magazines, so that they could stick them into the audience. It was going to be brilliant when it was finished!

  “Ellieeee! Look what Rascal’s done this time!” Max was yelling from downstairs. Ellie groaned and rushed out on to the landing. He’d only been alone for a few minutes…

  Max stomped up the stairs. He had Rascal under one arm and a magazine in his hand.

  “What’s the matter?” Ellie asked.

  “I only bought it this morning!” Max scowled. “My new athletics magazine! I wanted to get some training tips out of it for Sports Day. Look at it now!” He shook it open. The magazine had been chewed to pieces.

  “Oh, Rascal!” Ellie said with a sigh.

  Rascal stretched out and gave the magazine an interested sniff. Max snatched it back out of his reach at once. “All I did was put it down on the sofa!” he said crossly.

  “I’ll ask Mum if I can go down to the newsagent’s and buy you a new one,” Ellie promised.

  “Thanks,” Max muttered grumpily. He thrust Rascal into her arms and disappeared into his room.

  Ellie eyed Rascal sternly. “Don’t give me that cheeky look. I have to buy Max another magazine now, out of my pocket money, which means no more special marrowbone treats for you this week!”

  Ellie was really pleased to see Jo, their puppy-training instructor, again on Monday night. Jo had given her loads of useful tips for looking after Rascal. She smiled to herself as she walked into the village hall with Dad and Rascal, wondering if Jo could teach her how to stop Rascal stealing skipping ropes and chewing magazines…

  Jo nodded hello as all the owners and puppies formed a circle. Jack and Hugo were there, and a couple of other people from the beginners’ classes. Unfortunately, Amelia and Goldie were back, too. Amelia was in Year Six at Chase Hill, Ellie’s school, and she was totally mean. She never missed a chance to make a snide comment about Rascal or Hugo. When she saw Ellie and her dad walking in, she actually groaned. Ellie went pink, but ignored her.

  Jo explained that she was going to teach the dogs to come back properly when they were called, so that it was safe for them to be let off the lead.

  “That means we’ll be able to teach the puppies to fetch properly too,” she pointed out. “It’s great exercise for your dogs, and loads of fun.”

  Ellie smiled when she heard that. Rascal had been so good at fetching the Frisbee in the garden. But she hadn’t yet dared to let him off the lead anywhere else. She was never quite sure if he’d come back. So it sounded as though these classes were going to be just what he needed.

  They had a game of fetch at the end of the class. Jo had brought along some soft beanbags, which wouldn’t go bouncing off all round the hall like balls would.

  “Remember we want the puppies to give the beanbags back to you, with no pulling or growling,” Jo said, as she handed them out. “They might find that a bit tricky at first, so don’t worry if they don’t get it straight away.”

  Ellie frowned, remembering Rascal with Max’s Frisbee. But maybe it would be OK. She threw the beanbag and called, “Rascal, fetch!” He raced off instantly, whisking the beanbag from the floor.

  Smiling to herself, Ellie reached for the beanbag as Rascal dashed back to her. “Drop it, Rascal!” But Rascal shook the beanbag, wagging his tail happily. Why on earth would he want to give up such a fun toy? Ellie tugged it gently – and Rascal tugged back.

  Suddenly, the beanbag split down the seam, sending beans cascading all over the floor. Rascal stood in the middle of the mess and gave Ellie a look, as if to say it was all her fault…

  Grandad was at Ellie’s house when she, Dad and Rascal got back.

  “How was your class, Ellie?” he asked, giving her a hug.

  “It was great. We’re teaching the puppies how to fetch,” Ellie explained. “Rascal’s really good at it, except the bit where he’s supposed to give what he’s fetched back to me. Oh, thanks, Mum,” she said, as Mum poured her a glass of milk. Puppy-training had made her thirsty. She told Grandad all about the beanbag disaster. “But Jo said it didn’t matter, they were really old beanbags.”

  Grandad laughed. “And your mum says you’ve been working on a special project for school. May I see it?”

  Ellie nodded eagerly. “You’ll have to come upstairs. Christy came round straight after school, and we spray-painted it. It’s still sticky, though.”

  Mum looked up. “Oh, Ellie, I opened your bedroom door and your window – the smell of that paint was very strong. I wanted to air the room before you go to bed. Leave your door open when you come back down, please.”

  Ellie nodded, and led Grandad upstairs to show off her model. “Urrgh, you can smell the paint all the way from here,” she murmured, wrinkling her nose. “Look, it’s on my desk,” she said proudly, pushing her door wide open.

  Grandad caught his breath, and Ellie looked over at her desk, expecting him to comment on the amazing model.

  Then she gasped. Her and Christy’s beautiful stadium was lying squashed on her desk, and there was a small, silvery-patched dog sitting in the middle of it.

  “Christy’s going to be so cross! And Rascal’s going to be silver for ever!” Ellie wailed. She was sitting on the kitchen floor, holding Rascal, while Mum and Grandad tried to wipe the paint off his coat.

  Dad rushed into the kitchen, waving a bottle. “The vet’s advice line said it wouldn’t be poisonous, and to try washing it out with mild baby shampoo.”

  “We’ll get it off, Ellie,” Grandad said
, as Mum started to fill the kitchen sink with water. “It’s only in patches, not all over him.”

  Ellie nodded, but tears were still trickling out of the corners of her eyes as she lifted Rascal into the sink.

  “Oh, Rascal, hold still!” Mum cried, as he sent a surge of water all over the floor. “We’re trying to help, you silly dog!”

  “It’s coming off, I think,” Ellie said doubtfully, peering at the sticky silvery patches, and Mum nodded.

  “About time too, this nail brush is never going to be the same again.”

  Ellie sighed. She still had to tell Christy their model was ruined. She lifted Rascal out of the sink and wrapped him in the old towel that Mum had given her. He snuggled against her, warm and damp, and licked her ear lovingly. “Can I go and ring Christy?” she gulped.

  Mum glanced at the clock. “It’s a bit late, Ellie. I expect she’ll be in bed by now.” She put a wet arm around Ellie and Rascal. “Tell her at school tomorrow.”

  Ellie nodded and set Rascal down on the floor to dry him.

  Grandad reached out and patted her shoulder. “She’ll understand, love,” he murmured, but Ellie could feel herself starting to cry again.

  “We did such a lot of work, and it’s all wasted! I should have put the model somewhere safe, but I just forgot!”

  “It’s my fault for leaving your door open.” Mum sighed. “I didn’t think either. All those times I’ve told you to be careful.”

  Rascal looked up at Ellie anxiously and whined. Tears were dropping on to his nose.

  “You’ve still got those figures you painted,” Dad reminded her. “And the bits that Christy’s got at her house.”

  Ellie glanced up. “But the building part’s all ruined,” she sniffed. “We just don’t have time to make it again. And Christy’s going to be really upset.”

  Grandad handed Ellie a tissue. “Christy’s a good friend. I know she’ll be upset, but she’ll come round. You’re so good at making things, you and Christy will think of something.”

  Ellie nodded and dried her eyes. She just hoped Grandad was right.

  Ellie yawned sleepily and rolled over, glad that it wasn’t time to get up yet. Then the little ball of fur on the end of her bed wriggled and squeaked in his sleep, and Ellie woke up a bit more. The sun was shining through the crack in the curtains, and in the half-light she could see the silvery patch on Rascal’s back that they hadn’t quite been able to get out.

  Ellie sat up and gazed over at her desk – the model looked awful. How was she ever going to tell Christy? If only she’d put it on top of her bookshelf to dry. And if only Mum hadn’t worried so much about the paint smell!

  Ellie looked over at her clock. She might as well get up, it was half-past six anyway. Maybe there was something she could do to rescue the model.

  But when Mum came in to wake Ellie up, she found her sitting at her desk, still trying to untangle a mess of silver-painted toothpicks.

  “Oh, dear. He really squashed it thoroughly, didn’t he?”

  Ellie nodded. “I’m just going to have to start again.”

  “Why don’t you invite Christy round tonight after school to help?” Mum said.

  “I wish I didn’t have to go to school,” Ellie muttered. But she knew she had to.

  Christy was waiting by the school gates as usual, and as soon as Ellie saw her, her heart started to thud.

  “What’s the matter?” Christy asked, when she saw Ellie’s worried face.

  Ellie gulped. “Rascal ruined our model!” she gabbled out.

  Christy stared at her. “What – the whole thing?” she whispered.

  Ellie nodded miserably. “I tried to fix it this morning, but it’s still a mess. I’m so sorry.”

  “Oh, Ellie! All that work,” Christy cried. “We spent ages on it!” She looked up crossly. “I wish you’d teach Rascal to behave! He really is a monster!”

  Ellie felt as though she was going to cry. She didn’t even try to stand up for Rascal like she normally would. He was a monster!

  She started to say sorry all over again, but then the bell rang, and Christy stomped off into school, leaving her behind.

  Ellie watched her go, her eyes filling with tears. She’d known Christy would be furious, but they hardly ever had fights, and it was horrible. She had to stop crying before anybody came to ask her what was wrong. She dried her eyes on her sleeve and walked slowly into class.

  Christy was already at their table when Ellie got in. Ellie glanced at her nervously as she put away her bag, wondering whether she should try and move seats. But Christy looked up as she walked over to the desk.

  “Sorry I yelled at you,” Christy murmured. “I know you’re training Rascal, and he’s not really a monster. What happened?”

  Ellie gave a little sigh of relief and sat down. “Mum left my bedroom door open, because of the smell of the paint… Are you really, really cross?” she added in a whisper. Luckily, Mrs Harley was busy dealing with someone’s forgotten homework and hadn’t spotted them talking.

  Christy shook her head. “No. Well, I am. But it’s like when I spilled chocolate milkshake over your favourite T-shirt. I didn’t mean to, and neither did you this time. I don’t suppose you’ve thought about glueing Rascal’s teeth together, though?” She grinned.

  “The silver paint nearly did that. He was covered in it. Dad had to ring the vet to find out what to do.”

  Christy giggled. “What are we going to do? We’ve only got two days till we have to hand in the project.”

  “Mum says you can come round tonight so we can make something new.”

  Christy frowned. “OK. But maybe you’d better come to mine. I’m sure Mum will say yes. Then we can leave the model at my house. Bouncer doesn’t really chew things.” She crossed her fingers. “Well, not much, anyway…”

  Ellie nodded. She was so glad Christy was still friends with her. “That would be great. I’ll go home and pick up the figures I made. He didn’t get at those. But I’d better take Rascal for a walk first. He gets even naughtier if he doesn’t have any exercise.”

  “Why don’t you bring him too? Then he can play with Bouncer in the garden,” Christy suggested. “We can ban them both from my bedroom while we’re making stuff.”

  “Rascal would love that. Bouncer and Hugo are his best friends.” Ellie gave Christy a quick hug. “Thank you for being so nice! I thought you were going to go mad.”

  Christy grinned. “You owe me!”

  Christy and Ellie dashed out of school at home time to find their mums and ask if their plan for the evening was all right. Ellie’s mum was showing Christy’s mum the silvery patch on Rascal’s back.

  “Hello, girls!” Christy’s mum smiled at them both, and gave Christy a hug. “Your mum told me what happened, Ellie. Don’t worry, I’m sure we can sort something out.”

  “Can we start on the new model at ours tonight, Mum? As it’s an emergency,” Christy begged. “Please? Ellie can bring Rascal to play with Bouncer, then they’ll both be busy and we can get on with making it.”

  “Fine with me.” Christy’s mum nodded.

  “Good idea,” Ellie’s mum said.

  “I’ll go home and get the figures, and come round to yours. And I’ll bring the card,” Ellie added. Then her face crumpled. “Oh no, the card! We used it all up! There’s only a few scraps left.”

  Christy bit her lip. “I didn’t think of that. Is it too late to walk into town and go to the art shop?”

  “I think it is,” her mum said, looking at her watch. “Can’t you use something else?”

  “I’ve got some craft stuff, but not much. We might need to make something different – not a whole stadium, I mean.” Christy frowned.

  Ellie nodded sadly. “It was such a cool idea. Well, I’ll bring round what I’ve got left and we’ll just have to do our best.”

  Ellie had Rascal’s lead in one hand, and a bag of bits in the other. She’d gone through her room like a whirlwind, searching for anyt
hing that she could use for their model. Hopefully when they laid it all out at Christy’s, it would give them a brainwave.

  She was just ringing Christy’s doorbell, when Rascal pulled on his lead. Christy’s recycling box was overflowing, and Rascal started sniffing around it. “No, Rascal. That’s rubbish, leave it alone.”

  Rascal ignored her and tried to tug out an interesting-smelling bit of cardboard with his teeth.

  “Leave it, Rascal, we don’t want it!” Then Ellie smiled. Cardboard! That was exactly what she wanted!

  When Christy opened the door, she found Ellie on her knees rooting through the box, sorting out toilet roll tubes, cereal boxes, even plastic milk bottles.

  “What are you doing? Did Rascal knock it over?” Christy asked.

  “No, but look! We can make our stadium out of the recycling!” Ellie told Christy, her eyes sparkling. Rascal picked up a toilet roll tube in his teeth and gave a muffled yap.

  Christy sat down on the front step. “Are you sure? It doesn’t look like we could use those bits to make the same shape.”

  Ellie beamed at her. “We don’t have to. We can design our own stadium!” She screwed up her eyes as she thought.

  “Oh, and we could make it really environmentally friendly, like in that project we did last term. With a wind turbine on the roof and rainwater harvesting!”

  “That does sound good.” Christy smiled. “Can we build something so that when the runners are training they’re in a giant hamster wheel thing and that generates electricity to make all the lights go on?”

  “Definitely.” Ellie nodded. “We can make that out of the toothpicks we had left over from the last one. Will your mum mind if we use all this? We’d better check.”