New Tricks for Rascal Read online

  Ellie cuddled Rascal, and beamed over at her family, who were all clapping.

  “Third place, Jack and Hugo!” Anne announced.

  Jack gasped.

  “Jack’s done so well learning to control such a big dog,” Jo commented, as she handed Jack a yellow rosette.

  “Second goes to Amelia and Goldie.”

  Amelia didn’t look happy, as she was given a red rosette. Obviously she’d thought she would come first.

  First place went to a lady with a retriever, from one of the other classes. Ellie knew he had been the best dog in the show, and she certainly hadn’t expected to win first prize, but she still felt a bit sad. It would have been so nice if Rascal had won something.

  “And we also have a special award – we don’t give this one out every time. It’s Most Improved – and this is for Ellie and Rascal. Ellie’s worked so hard with Rascal, and Jack Russells aren’t easy dogs to train. So well done, you two!”

  Ellie and Rascal came to the front, and Jo handed Ellie a green rosette.

  “Oh, Rascal, you little star!” Ellie hugged him, and clipped the rosette on to his collar. He was so little that the ribbons trailed on the ground, and he turned round to try and nibble them. Ellie couldn’t wait to show Christy. Hopefully, there would still be some rosette left by the end of school tomorrow.

  “Well done, Ellie!” Mum hugged her. “Shall we sign up for the next set of classes? You’ve got three weeks before they start.”

  “Yes, please! Jack and Hugo are doing them, too.”

  “Do they teach emergency baths?” Lila whispered. “You’d be good at that.”

  Back at home, Mum went to make something for a celebration supper. Dad took off his trainers and frowned at the shoes lined up by the door. “You haven’t seen my other slipper, have you?”

  “Rascal?” Ellie looked down worriedly as she took off his lead. He stared back at her, wrinkling his nose. His eyes were sparkling naughtily, as he trotted off across the hallway. He burrowed under the shoe rack, one of his favourite hiding places, and came out with the slipper. He held it up to Dad, like the most perfectly trained slipper-fetching dog ever.

  “Good boy, Rascal!” Dad said in a surprised voice. “You’ve done so well today.”

  Ellie grinned. She decided not to point out the pattern of little teethmarks round the heel.

  Like Grandad said, perfect could be a little bit boring!

  About the Author

  Holly Webb started out as a children’s book editor, and wrote her first series for the publisher she worked for. She has been writing ever since, with over sixty books to her name. Holly lives in Berkshire, with her husband and three young sons. She has a pet cat called Marble, who is always nosying around when she’s trying to type on her laptop.

  Copyright

  STRIPES PUBLISHING

  An imprint of Little Tiger Press

  1 The Coda Centre,

  189 Munster Road,

  London SW6 6AW

  Text copyright © Holly Webb, 2010

  Illustrations copyright © Kate Pankhurst, 2010, 2012

  First published as an ebook by Stripes Publishing in 2012.

  eISBN: 978–1–84715–282–4

  The right of Holly Webb and Kate Pankhurst to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work respectively has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

  All rights reserved.

  Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any forms, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  www.stripespublishing.co.uk

  For more information about Holly Webb visit: www.holly-webb.com