Max the Missing Puppy (7 page)

Jasmine stood in Mrs Hughes’s kitchen, feeling totally miserable, and trying not to show it. She ought to be really excited. Lucky (she still couldn’t 
get her head round calling him Max) had found his real owners again, and wouldn’t have to go to a shelter.
And
her mum and dad had just told her that even though they couldn’t keep Lucky, they did want to get a dog, and Lucky’s brother was for sale. But it was like everyone was expecting her to adore this strange puppy straight away, after she’d spent a week falling in love with Lucky.

Lucky had been left in Molly’s parents’ car with Molly’s dad, because it might confuse him to see his brother and sisters again. The three puppies who hadn’t gone to new homes yet were playing with a squidgy ball, romping all over their mum and dad, who were massive. Jasmine could see 
why Molly had thought of her plan – one of the puppies did look almost exactly like Lucky.

“So what do you think, Jasmine?” her mum asked anxiously.

“Um…” Jasmine didn’t know what to say. It was so awful. Molly and her parents were trying to be kind, and she felt really guilty. Trying to hide how she felt, Jasmine knelt down to play with the puppies, although she didn’t really want to. They looked at her inquisitively, their bright eyes questioning, their ears pricking up. Jasmine couldn’t help smiling a little. They were so sweet.

The boy puppy with Lucky’s same pirate eyepatch gave a little bark. It was so clearly an invitation, or possibly 
even an order –
play with me!

Jasmine giggled at the bossy little dog, and rolled the ball towards him. He yapped delightedly and pounced, flinging his paws out to make a grab for it before his sisters did.

Unfortunately the ball rolled away and he landed on his nose. He sat up and whined, not really that hurt, but embarrassed and a bit cross.

“Aww…” Jasmine picked him up and cuddled him.

The puppy snuggled into her arms, the ball forgotten as he enjoyed being cuddled. He nuzzled his nose under her chin lovingly, and Jasmine laughed as his cold, wet nose brushed her ear.

Then a sharp, shocking memory of Lucky doing just the same thing made Jasmine put the puppy down suddenly. Surprised, he whined, clearly wanting more petting, his big dark eyes pleading. “Sorry, little one,” Jasmine murmured, rubbing him behind the ears. “I didn’t mean to do that. I just…”

The puppy clambered into her lap and licked her cheek forgivingly. His tongue managed to be soft and rough at the same time, and Jasmine wriggled and laughed. He was tickling! Suddenly something inside her that had frozen up when Lucky raced away from her on the beach melted, and she gave Lucky’s brother a big hug. Holding him tight, she stood up carefully, and looked round at her parents.

“Do you think we could call him Lucky too?” 

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.

Lost in the Snow

Lost in the Storm

Alfie all Alone

Sam the Stolen Puppy

Max the Missing Puppy

Sky the Unwanted Kitten

Timmy in Trouble

Ginger the Stray Kitten

Harry the Homeless Puppy

Buttons the Runaway Puppy

Alone in the Night

Ellie the Homesick Puppy

Jess the Lonely Puppy

Misty the Abandoned Kitten

Oscar’s Lonely Christmas

Lucy the Poorly Puppy

Smudge the Stolen Kitten

The Rescued Puppy

The Kitten Nobody Wanted

The Lost Puppy

The Frightened Kitten