Щенок Элли, или Долгая дорога домой / Ellie the Homesick Puppy - Вебб Холли

Холли Вебб

Щенок Элли, или Долгая дорога домой / Ellie the Homesick Puppy

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Вы держите в руках необычную книгу. Для тех, кто изучает английский язык в школе или дома, она станет настоящим подарком! Эта книга билингва. Современный английский язык, на котором говорят герои знаменитой писательницы Холли Вебб, и прекрасный перевод станут замечательным подспорьем для того, чтобы учить язык просто и интересно. Если английский текст станет совсем непонятным, всегда можно подсмотреть, как та или иная фраза переведена на русский, а все грамматические конструкции или устойчивые выражения, которые вы можете не знать или забыть, объясняются внизу страницы.

С такой книгой вы быстро освоите все сложности английского и сможете похвастаться превосходными знаниями на уроках, а также в общении с носителями языка!

Holly Webb

Ellie the Homesick Puppy

For Tom, Robin and William

Chapter One

Megan, youre meant[1] to be packing those books, not reading them!

Megan looked up guiltily at her mum.

Sorry! I found this one down the side of my bed, and Id forgotten Id even got it[2]. I havent read it[3] for ages. Megan reluctantly put the book inside a box and sighed.

Mum smiled. Oh, go on, you can keep it out weve got a couple more days till we go anyway. Youll go mad without a book to read.

Megan nodded and laid the book on her pillow as Mum headed back downstairs. She sat down on her bed and shook her head disbelievingly.

A couple more days, Ellie. Only two more nights sleeping in this bedroom, she murmured.

Ellie clambered up onto Megans knee, wagging her tail, and then licked her hand lovingly. She didnt know why Megan sounded worried, but she wanted to help.

Youre excited too, arent you? Megan said, smiling. You havent got to go to a new school[4] though, lucky Ellie. She stroked Ellies golden ears, and the little puppy shivered with delight. Then she curled up on the duvet again, working herself into a little yellow furry ball.

Moving house was exciting and scary at the same time. Megans bedroom in the new house was much bigger than this one, which would be great but then she was really going to miss her best friend[5] Bella, and all her mates from school. They had broken up for the Easter holidays the day before, and everyone in her class had got together to make her a huge card[6], with all their photos on it and a message from each of them. Shed almost cried when they gave it to her, thinking how theyd all tried so hard to make it special. It was sitting on her desk now, so she could pack it very carefully at the top of one of the boxes, last thing. Megan looked at it and sighed.

It wasnt as if they were actually moving all that far only about ten miles; it wasnt the other side of the country, or anything like that. But it meant a new school, of course, and a whole load[7]of new people. New friends, Megan told herself firmly.

The best thing was that in two days time, Megan and Ellie would be able to step out of their back door and ramble wherever they wanted. Here they only had the park, and Megan wasnt allowed to walk Ellie[8] on her own[9]. She knew she was going to have to be very careful[10] going for walks in the countryside near their new house, and every time she mentioned it, Mum kept reminding[11] her about being responsible and not going too far. But all the same, she was practically going to have a wood at the end of her garden! It was going to be brilliant! Shed be able to take Ellie[12] over to her Grans house, too, as Gran lived just about in walking distance[13] from their new house.

Megan gently stroked Ellies soft golden back, and the little dog gave a sleepy whine[14] and half rolled over, inviting Megan to stroke her tummy[15]. She yawned hugely, showing her very white teeth, and opened her eyes, blinking lovingly up at Megan.

Megan smiled back at her. I just cant wait to take you for walks in those woods, she whispered happily. Its going to be the best thing ever!

Ellie sprang up[16] and gave an excited, hopeful little bark[17].

Megan laughed. You heard me say the W word, didnt you, Ellie-pie[18]? I cant believe you want to go out again, weve only been back home an hour!

Ellie was wagging her tail madly now, staring up at Megan, but Megan shook her head.

Im sorry, Ellie. Mum says I have to pack.

Ellie didnt understand exactly what Megan was saying, but she knew what that tone of voice meant. No walk. She lay back down on the bed, her head resting[19] mournfully on her paws. She knew theyd had a long walk, but now shed had a little sleep, she felt just like another run[20].

Megan laughed at her. Youre such an actress, Ellie! Youre behaving like I never take you for walks. And its not fair, because you know Id love to[21]. But we have to get everything into boxes. She sighed. And Mums only given me these ones. She says if I cant get all my stuff in here, Im going to have to sort some of it out and get rid of[22] it. She looked round her room worriedly. It seemed an awful lot to fit into such a small stack of boxes.

Megan went over to the window sill and started to pack her collection of toy dogs into a box. She had loads, all different breeds, but more than half of them were Labradors, like Ellie. Officially, she was a Yellow Labrador, but Megan thought yellow wasnt the right word at all. Ellie was really a rich honey-golden colour, with pale cream fur on her tummy. Her ears were a shade darker than everywhere else, and super-silky. Mum reckoned that Ellie might get darker as she got older, to match her ears, but Megan wasnt sure. She would be growing for ages[23], anyway; she was just four months old at the moment. But even though Ellie was only a puppy, she was always bursting with energy.

Ellie stared soulfully at Megan, watching her tape[24] up the box. It looked fun. Her ears twitched, and her tail wagged a little. Perhaps she could jump at that tape? She was never quite sure what was naughty, and sometimes jumping at things got her told off[25]

Suddenly, Ellies ears pricked up. She could hear someone coming down the path. Tail wagging, she stood up on the bed to look out of the window, and gave Megan a little warning bark. It was Bella!

Before Bella even had the chance to ring the bell, Megan and Ellie raced out of the room and down the stairs, making for[26] the front door. Ellie won easily. She always did[27]. She was amazingly fast. She scrabbled at the front door with her paws, barking excitedly, until Megan caught up[28].

Ssshh! Ellie, ssshh! Come back, look, I cant open the door when youve got your paws on it, can I?

Ellie scampered back, panting excitedly. She knew Megans friend Bella, and she hoped this meant a walk after all[29]. She was used to walking[30] with Bella, as Megan and her mum usually picked Bella up on the way to school. Ellie and Megan often walked round the corner to Bellas house when they went to the park too, as Megans parents didnt like her going on her own, even when she had Ellie with her.

Hi, Megan! Mum said I could come round and help you pack, if thats OK with your mum and dad? Bella looked hopefully at Megans dad, who was struggling into the hall[31] carrying a massive box of china[32] from the kitchen.

Umph! Fine by me, Dad said, putting down the box carefully. But make sure you do pack[33], girls, OK? Not just chatting.

* * *

Bella stared around Megans room. All these boxes! She slumped down on Megans bed sadly, and Ellie scrambled up after her to lick her face. Oof, not so much, Ellie! Oh, Megan, Ive known for ages you were going[34], but it seems so real now.

Megan sat down beside her, and Ellie wriggled happily between them. I know. Packing makes it seem as though it really is happening. The day after tomorrow Megans voice wobbled, and Ellie turned to lick her too. What was the matter with them both? She looked worriedly from Megan to Bella and back again, making her big puppy ears swing. Something was definitely wrong. Ellie stood up with her paws on Megans shoulder, and stuffed her cold black nose firmly into Megans ear. That always made her laugh.

Megan did laugh this time too[35], and so did Bella, but somehow they still sounded sad.

I suppose at least we can send each other emails, Bella said, reaching out to stroke Ellie, and Megan nodded.

And we can phone. Megan laughed. Mum said she thought they might have to get me my own phone line[36], or theyd never get to use the phone themselves! It wont be the same as taking Ellie to the park with you, though.

Ellie stood on the bed, listening to them with her head on one side. Something was definitely going on[37].

Im going to miss her too, Bella agreed, tickling Ellies ears. You know Mum still wont let me get a dog because she says we havent got the time to look after one. Now I wont even be able to share Ellie with you. And shes growing so quickly. I probably wont recognize her soon.

Ellie wagged her tail delightedly as Bella fussed over[38] her.

Ill email you loads of photos, Megan promised. And youre coming to stay.[39] Mum and Dad are going to get me a sleepover bed that slides under mine. Ellie can be half your dog again then.

Youd better record her bark for me[40], too, Bella reminded her. Ill never get out of the house for school in the morning without Ellie barking outside the gate.

Ellie yawned. Megan and Bella kept fiddling around with those boxes and talking, and no one was taking her for a walk. She was bored. She slid off the bed and squeezed underneath it. There were always interesting things to play with under there

* * *

I knew it! Megans dad put his head round the door five minutes later. You two are sitting there chatting, instead of filling boxes.

Sorry! Megan and Bella jumped up, and Megan grabbed a pair of trainers and stuffed them quickly into a box, just to look busy.

And whats Ellie doing under there? Dad asked, peering round the end of Megans bed.

Ellie crept out from under the bed looking rather guilty, with half a roll of brown packing tape attached to her whiskers. It was very chewy, though she didnt really like the taste, and it seemed to have stuck

Naughty Ellie! Megan giggled. Sorry, Dad. Ill clean her up

Dad shook his head. Honestly, after she ate your mums shoe yesterday, youd think shed have had enough of chewing things[41]. Just keep an eye on her, OK?

Megan nodded apologetically, and started to peel the tape off Ellies muzzle. Silly dog, she muttered lovingly, as Ellie squirmed. Yes, I know its not nice, but you cant go round with parcel tape all over you. There!

After that the girls made a real effort to get on with packing, and for the next hour they hardly even chatted[42] at all.

Ellie whined miserably. After Megan had taken the tape away and told her off, shed sat so patiently, waiting for someone to play with her, or take her for a walk, or at least stroke her. But Megan and Bella just kept taking things off the shelves and putting them into those strange-smelling boxes. Ellie didnt like it. This was her room, and it was changing. She liked it the way it was before.

Oh, Ellie, are you bored? Megan picked her up, hugging her gently. I wish I could play with you too.[43] But we wont be much longer.

Actually, I told Mum Id be back around now, said Bella, hugging Megan and Ellie both at the same time. I cant believe youve only got tomorrow left! She gulped. I wish Mum hadnt arranged for us to go and see my cousins,[44] not on your last day. Call me soon?[45] Promise! Bye, Megan! Then she dashed out of the room and down the stairs, almost slamming the front door behind her.

Megan sat down limply on her bed, looking round at the piles of boxes, all labelled by Bella in her favourite glittery felt tips with her best spelling, which was dreadful. Its going to be brilliant, she told Ellie again, but this time she didnt feel quite so sure.

Chapter Two

Packing up had been an adventure to start with, but by the second day, everyone was starting to get grumpy[46]. It was such a huge job. The removals van was coming early the next morning, and everything had to be packed up by then. Megan could tell that her mum was panicking that they wouldnt be ready in time.

She was trying to stay out of the way as much as possible, but it wasnt easy with Ellie. Mum and Dad were far too busy to take her for a proper walk, and Megan wasnt allowed to go out on her own, so Ellie was full of energy, and she couldnt work it off properly. Already that morning shed chewed[47] a roll of bubble wrap into tiny pieces all over the living room floor, and she kept managing to be in everyones way.

Mum, stop! Megan yelled, as her mum lowered a box of books on to the hall floor.

What? What is it? Her mum straightened up, red-faced with effort, and peered worriedly over the top of the huge box.

You were just about to squish Ellie with that! Megan helped her mum put the box down on top of another one, then pointed to the space shed been aiming for. Ellie was sitting there, wagging her tail and looking very pleased with herself.

Mum sighed. Youre going to have to take her into the garden. Im sorry, Megan, but Ellies going to get hurt in a minute. Shes better off outside[48].

Come on, Ellie! Megan tried to sound enthusiastic as she led Ellie out into the garden. Shed found the red-and-white-striped knotted rope toy that Bella had given Ellie for Christmas in her basket, so at least they could play.

Ellie loved racing up and down the garden after the rope, it was her favourite toy, although she didnt see why she always had to give it back to Megan after shed fetched it. It was much more fun to chew it to bits. She shook her head vigorously as Megan tugged at the toy, laughing.

Give it here, you silly girl! Im going to throw it again!

Megan, can you come here a moment! It was Mum, calling from inside. With everyone already a bit grumpy, she knew shed better go and see what Mum wanted, rather than pretend she hadnt heard.

Ill be back in a minute, she promised Ellie, and dashed inside.

Ellie shook the toy a few more times and growled at it, in case it was thinking of fighting back. At last she dropped it on the grass, nosing it hopefully. Where was Megan? This game wasnt as much fun without her. Ellie left the toy and trotted up the garden to the back door.

The door was closed, but Ellie scrambled up the back step, anyway. The door didnt always shut properly, and sometimes she could open it, if she nudged it hard with her nose at just the right place. Ellie pushed at the door. She wagged her tail proudly as it swung open and trotted inside.

Ellie wandered along the hallway, listening for Megan. Ah! That was her voice, coming from upstairs. She bounded up the stairs to find her.

Unfortunately, Megans dad was coming down the stairs, with his arms full of pictures from the bedrooms that he needed to bubble-wrap.

Ellie yowled as he accidentally trod on her paw, and tried to shoot off[49] through his legs.

Megans dad stumbled down the stairs, twisting his ankle. He landed painfully at the bottom.

Clutching his ankle, he looked up to see Ellie staring down at him.

That stupid dog! he yelled. Megan! Ellie just tripped me up on the stairs. Youre supposed to be watching her! I thought Mum told you to put her outside.

Megan and her mum had heard the crash, and they were already running along the landing.[50]

She didnt mean to! Megan protested, hurrying to pick up Ellie, who was whimpering in fright. Im sorry, Dad, she was outside. I cant have shut the back door properly[51] it wasnt her fault. Are you OK?

No, her father muttered crossly, stretching his ankle. Take that dog outside, now. Ow!

Megan carried Ellie back into the garden. The little dog was shivering. She wasnt used to being shouted at[52], and shed never heard Megans dad sound so cross. Megan sat down on the garden bench and cuddled Ellie, whispering soothing words. Ssshh, he didnt mean it. Im sorry, Ellie, I should have made sure[53] you couldnt get back in.