Ellie snuggled into her fleecy top, still shaking. At least Megan wasnt angry with her. She whined with pleasure as Megan stroked her ears.
She knew Megan would always be there to look after her.
Chapter Three
Ellie rested her chin on Megans shoulder, as she lovingly stroked her head over and over.
Megan! Mum was calling from inside. Megan stood up slowly, carrying Ellie. She was growing so fast! She had been so small when they got her, it had been easy to hold her like this. But now she was getting to be a real weight.
Oof, Ellie, my arms are going to fall off, Megan teased her lovingly, as she carried her up the garden. She felt Ellie tense up a little as they went into the kitchen to join Mum and Dad. Obviously she remembered Dad shouting at her. Hey, ssshhh, its OK, she whispered. But Ellie buried her nose in Megans neck and whimpered.
Is Ellie all right? Mum asked. She didnt get hurt too, did she?[54]
Megan shook her head. No, I think shes just a bit upset. She didnt know what was going on. Im really sorry she tripped you up, Dad. Hows your ankle?
Dad had it propped up on the chair in front of him, covered by a bag of frozen peas. Ill live. But this has made us think[55], Megan. Mum and I have talked it over, and were sure its the right thing to do now
What is? Megan asked cautiously. From the way Mum and Dad were looking, she had a feeling it was going to be something she wouldnt like.
Ellies really been getting in the way[56] while weve been packing, Megan, Mum explained. Its going to be the same when the removal men are loading up, and when were unpacking at the new house, too. Its just not practical having a puppy around. Dad could have been hurt[57] really badly.
She didnt mean to,[58] Megan pleaded. Shes only little. She wasnt trying to be naughty.
We know that, but were so busy, and no one has the time to exercise Ellie properly right now. So shes even bouncier and sillier than usual! Arent you, hey? Dad reached out very gently to stroke the puppy. Oh dear,[59] I really did frighten her[60], he said sadly, as he saw Ellies eyes widen nervously as he came close. It isnt fair on her.
Megan gulped. She could see that they were right she could hardly argue that Ellie wasnt getting in the way, when Dad was sitting there with a hurt ankle. But what are you going to do? she whispered. Youre not going to make us give her back to Mrs Johnston, are you? Mrs Johnston was the breeder who had sold Ellie to them. She felt tears starting to well up in her eyes. Please dont say we have to give her back! she choked out. It wasnt her fault, Ill be more careful, I promise!
Megan, Megan, calm down! Of course were not sending Ellie back. Mum laughed, hugging her and Ellie. This is only for a few days while we move. We dont want to get rid of Ellie, but when we first started planning the move, your gran said she could help out[61] and have Ellie for a bit if we needed her to. So I rang Gran just now, and she said shed love to have her. Shell drive up and get Ellie, and take her back to Woodlands Cottage until weve settled in[62] a bit, just for a couple of days. Well pick her up on Tuesday.
Were all going to be so busy, youll hardly notice shes gone, Dad said encouragingly.
Megan held Ellie tightly, feeling the warm weight in her arms. She didnt want to send Ellie away. Not when she was already upset. She was sure Ellie would hate it.
She wont understand, she said sadly. I know she loves Gran, but shes never stayed with her[63]. Shes never stayed anywhere without me! Shell think Ive abandoned her Shes really confused with all the packing already, and she doesnt understand whats going on. Couldnt I[64] just be really, really careful and keep her in the garden and not let her get in the way? Megan begged. I know Gran will look after her, but Ellies used to having me. Shell be miserable somewhere else. And Grans got a cat thats not going to work! Sid will hate having Ellie in the house!
Megan looked down at the puppy. Ellie quite liked chasing cats
Im sure your gran will sort them out, Dad said, smiling. Sid and Ellie will probably be curled up on the sofa together by the time we go and pick Ellie up.
Megan shook her head disbelievingly. Please? she whispered.
Mum sighed. Im sorry, Megan. Weve already had one accident. And I nearly squashed Ellie with that box this morning. This just isnt the right place for a puppy right now. And the new house, too. We dont really know what its like there might be all sorts of places where she could get herself into trouble. We need to check everything out first to make sure shes safe.
Ellie gave an anxious little whine. She could feel that Megan wasnt happy, and she didnt like it. She licked Megans cheek lovingly and looked at her with big, worried eyes.
Megan pressed her cheek gently against Ellies soft ears. It wasnt just Ellie who was going to hate this. Megan had been counting on[65] having Ellie to cheer her up over the next couple of days. It was going to be so hard to leave her old home and her best friend. And now it looked like she was going to have to do it all on her own.
* * *
Gran drove up from Westbury later that afternoon to pick Ellie up. Ellie had a special dog cage for travelling, and it just about fitted on the back seat of Grans car. Megan carefully packed up Ellies basket and blanket, and her bowls and food including her favourite bone-shaped biscuits. Then there was a bagful of toys, her lead, her blanket the list went on[66] and on.
Goodness, Gran murmured. How many dogs am I looking after?[67]
Thanks so much for doing this, said Megans mum. Its a huge help.
Ellie was trotting backwards and forwards after Megan as she carried all her things to make a pile in the hall. She was very confused about what was going on, but shed seen Megans dad moving her travel cage into Grans car, so she thought she and Megan must be going somewhere[68] with Gran. They had driven out for special walks in the woods with her before. It must be that. Though Ellie didnt see why she would need her basket and everything else just to go out for the day.
Right. Gran finished her cup of tea. Wed better be off then, if we dont want to get back too late. Well see you all on Tuesday. She hugged Megan. Oh, Im so excited about having you all living so close. Its going to be lovely.
Megan hugged her back. She was excited too, but she couldnt help worrying[69] about Ellie. Gran, you will make sure shes not lonely tonight, wont you? She usually sleeps on my bed, she reminded her anxiously.
Ill do my best[70], Gran promised. I think Sid would leave home if a dog came and tried to sleep on my bed with him, but how about I give Ellie a hot water bottle?
Megan nodded sadly, as she pictured Ellie spending the night on her own.
Its only for two days, Megan, Dad said, putting an arm around her shoulders. Ellie will be fine.
Ellie hopped into her cage happily enough, expecting Megan to come and sit next to her on the back seat. She would probably waggle her fingers through the door and tickle her ears.
But Gran was getting into the car without Megan. Ellie looked around anxiously, and barked to tell her shed made a mistake. Gran looked back over her shoulder, and smiled. Its all right, Ellie. Shh-shh. Dont worry, well see Megan again soon.
Ellie stared back at her. Yes, Megan. Gran must know what was wrong. Why were they going without Megan? She felt the vibrations as Gran started the car and howled in despair. Megan was being left behind![71] Ellie stood up on her hind legs in the cage, trying to look out of the window, but she could only see the side of the car and Grans seat in front.
Megan was clinging to her mums arm, trying to stop herself racing after Ellie and yelling at Gran to stop the car. Oh, Mum, listen to her howling, she said miserably. Shes so upset. Does she really have to go to Grans?
Her mum just hugged her.
Ellie couldnt see Megan, but she could hear her, and she sounded unhappy. She scrabbled frantically at the bars of her cage with her paws, desperate to get back to Megan.
As the car pulled away down the road, Ellie barked and barked.
At last, when it hurt to bark any more, she stopped. She pressed her nose against the door of the travel cage.
Gran had taken her away from Megan, and Megan hadnt wanted her to go.[72] Of course she hadnt! Ellie was Megans dog. Ellie didnt understand what was going on, but she was absolutely certain about one thing.
She had to get back to Megan.[73]
* * *
At Grans house, everything smelled different. Ellie had been there before, but only with Megan, when it had been fun. Gran was doing her best shed taken Ellie for a walk when they first arrived, to stretch her legs after being shut up in the car. But Ellie had trailed along behind her with her ears drooping, and in the end Gran had turned back.
But it was worse in the house. Ellie didnt want to be here, and she hated cats. Sid was huge and black and old, and very grumpy. He didnt like dogs at all, and he really didnt like dogs who barked and jumped around all over the place. He stood on the back of an armchair and hissed angrily when he first saw Ellie. With all his fur standing up like that and his tail fluffed up like a brush, Sid was nearly as big as she was.
Gran carefully made sure they were kept apart after that, shutting Ellie in the kitchen. But then the phone rang, and she forgot to close the kitchen door when she came out to the hall to answer it. Ellie trotted out after her she might not want to be here[74], but Gran was her one link with Megan.
Sid was sitting in the middle of the hallway like a furry black rock.
Ellie bounced at him bravely and barked, but Sid shot forwards[75] and scraped his claws across her nose. Ellie yelped. Shed chased cats before, or tried to anyway Megan didnt like her chasing things. But the cats had never fought back before. She stared at Sid worriedly, and he hissed again. It was a clear warning.
Ellie crept behind the sofa and stayed there, sulking, until Gran tempted her out with a handful of bone-shaped biscuits, the ones that Megan always gave her. Even those just made her miss Megan more. Gran took her back into the kitchen away from Sid and tried to make a big fuss of her, but Ellie didnt really want to play. She was too confused.
Perhaps Megan would come and get her soon? She had been here with Megan before, after all. And she definitely remembered Sid, and the way this house smelled so strongly of cat. Megan must be coming later, Ellie decided hopefully. Every time footsteps went past on the pavement outside she pricked up her ears and wagged her tail. But as the afternoon wore on[76], she stopped bothering[77]. It never was Megan, and now it was getting dark.
She padded over to her basket and stared at it miserably. If Megan was coming to get her, she wouldnt need her basket. Her food bowls were here too, and her toys. Why would they be here if Megan was coming to take her home?
* * *
Can I talk to Ellie, Gran? Megan asked, gripping the phone tightly.
Im not sure thats a very good idea, Megan, Gran said gently. It might upset her. Shell be fine. Im going to put a hot water bottle in her basket, and shes got her blanket and all her usual things. I expect shell have settled down by the morning.[78]
Which means she hasnt settled down now, Megan thought unhappily as she said goodbye. Ellie was hating being at Grans, just as Megan had thought she would[79].
They were having fish and chips for tea[80], as a treat, so they didnt have to cook, but Megan hardly ate anything. It wasnt the same without Ellie lurking hopefully under the table in case anyone dropped a chip.
She was feeling so miserable she went to bed early, but it took her ages to get to sleep her room was full of boxes, and they all looked strange and gloomy in the dark. Only till Tuesday, Megan told herself. Todays Sunday. Tuesday afternoon, Ill have Ellie back.
* * *
That night, Ellie was left alone in Grans kitchen. She had her own familiar basket and her blanket, which was wrapped round a cosy hot water bottle, but she was still desperately homesick.
She whined unhappily for a long while, but Gran didnt come down. Ellie was tired, but her basket felt wrong with the hot water bottle in it. It had cooled down now, and it sloshed and wobbled when she moved. Ellie tried to scrabble it out, but it was heavy, so she picked it up in her teeth and dragged it instead. Still it wouldnt budge. She tugged again and the water started to leak out over her blanket.
Ellie howled. Why had Megan abandoned her?
Chapter Four
Ellie woke up in her damp basket. She eyed[81] the hot water bottle worriedly. People didnt like it when she chewed things. She looked up anxiously as the kitchen door opened, wondering if Gran would be very cross.
But she only laughed. Oh dear, they did say[82] you liked chewing things at the moment. Its all right, Ellie, I know you didnt mean to be naughty. It was probably silly of me to let you have it. I just didnt think. Dont be sad, little one, youll see Megan again soon.
Ellie stared up at Gran with mournful eyes, as she tidied up her damp things. Even though Gran was being friendly, she didnt want to stay here. If only[83] she could go back home to Megan.
Ellie was good at[84] finding things, and she was best at finding Megan. She smelled special, and Ellie could always find her. She knew when Megan was coming home from school she could just feel it. She somehow knew when it was time to go and sit by the door, so she could be there to see Megan as soon as[85] she got inside.
So it would be no problem to find Megan, Ellie was sure. But finding her meant she had to get out first, and she wasnt at all sure about that.
Gran fed Ellie, then let Sid into the kitchen to give him breakfast. After that, she left the door open so Ellie could get out of the kitchen too. Gran watched them anxiously, but this time the cat and the puppy stayed out of each others way.
After a while, Ellie crept out of the kitchen, watching carefully for Sid. She was fairly sure he was in his favourite place on the back of the sofa, so he could look out of the window and see exactly what was going on in the street[86].
The front door was very big and very solid. It had a handle, which Ellie couldnt reach, even standing on her hind legs. The letter box was at the bottom of the door, but even though she could get her claws into it to scratch it open, it was only big enough for her nose and even that hurt. Ellie sat staring at the door hopelessly, then she gave her ears a determined shake. If she couldnt open it, she would just have to wait until someone opened it for her.
She hung around the hallway all morning, waiting for the door to be opened and half-playing with her squeaky fish toy.
She was just scrambling underneath a chest of drawers, trying to reach the squeaky fish, when there was the shrill sound of the doorbell. Ellie jumped, banging her head on the bottom of the chest.
She could hear someone shifting around on the doorstep. This was her chance!
Ellie wriggled herself round under the chest, so that her nose was sticking out, and watched as Gran hurried to answer the door. It was the postman with a parcel. Gran opened the door wider to take the sheet of paper she needed to sign, and Ellies ears pricked up as she saw what was beyond it. Grans didnt have a fenced-in front garden like Megans house did, just a flower bed and then straight on to the pavement. As Gran turned away from the door to rest the sheet of paper on the very chest[87] Ellie was hiding under, Ellie darted out[88] of the door.