Max the Missing Puppy

Chapter Two

A week later, Molly and her parents were able to take Max home. He was eight weeks old now, and ready to leave his mother. Two of his sisters were about to go to new homes too, and Mrs Hughes said she was sure the others would find owners soon.

Molly still wished they could have Max’s brother as well, they were such a double act that Molly hated to split them up. Then Max spotted Molly, flung himself at her, and nearly knocked her over, and Molly thought that maybe two dogs doing that all the time might be a bit much. But she was so happy that he remembered her!

“Hmmm. We’re going to have to take him to a good puppy-training class,” Molly’s mum said. “It won’t be long before he’s big enough to hurt someone by accident. We need to be able to get him to calm down.”

Mrs Hughes was nodding. “I can recommend a trainer local to you. Max’s just had his first shots, so you can take him to classes in a couple of weeks when he’s had the second set. It’s really good to start young.”

It was very exciting taking Max home, there was so much to show him. Mum and Dad had already spent ages fitting a dog-guard in the boot of the car so that Max had his own special place to ride. Mum had to keep telling Molly to sit still, as she just couldn’t help twisting round in her seat to check that Max was OK, all on his own back there.

At the house there was his new basket, his food bowl, and his lead for walks. Mrs Hughes had said to introduce him to outdoor walks gently, as he was only used to quick runs in her garden at the moment. Molly was really looking forward to taking him for walks on the beach, but they needed to wait until after Max’s booster vaccinations.

Meanwhile Max was loving settling in to his new home. He did miss his brother and sisters, but Molly was a new and interesting person to play with, and he had her all to himself. He didn’t have to share his toys either, and there were loads! Molly had spent all her pocket money on tennis balls, and a hard nylon bone that would be good for Max’s new teeth. They had a brilliant afternoon, playing new and exciting games. Max ran about so much he fell asleep in the middle of a game of Boo that they’d invented with the blanket from his basket. He suddenly stopped bouncing, and when Molly peered worriedly under the blanket to check he was all right, she found him flaked out with his nose between his paws, fast asleep.

Molly had begged for Max to be allowed to sleep in her room, but Mum and Dad said no. They knew it would end up with Max on Molly’s bed and not in his basket, even though Molly promised it wouldn’t. “It’s all very well having a puppy on your bed, Molly,” Mum explained, “but once Max is his full size, there’d be no room in your bed for you! You can’t let him on to your bed now and then change your mind when he’s bigger, he wouldn’t understand.”

So Max had to stay downstairs. Molly had given him her old teddy bear to snuggle up to, and a hot-water bottle, so he’d feel like he was curled up next to his mum, but it wasn’t the same. After all the cuddles and fussing, Max didn’t understand why he was suddenly all on his own. He yapped hopefully, expecting someone to come back and play with him, but no one came. He got up, and pattered round the kitchen sniffing, trying to work out where they all were. Earlier on Molly had played a game where she popped out from behind chairs at him – maybe this was the same? But she wasn’t behind any of the chairs.

Max trailed back to his basket with his tail hanging sadly. Where had they all gone? Were they going to come back? He snuffled and whimpered to himself for a little while, then the exhausting day caught up with him again, and he fell asleep, burrowed into his blanket.

Upstairs Molly listened worriedly. It was so horrible hearing him cry, but Mum and Dad had explained that it would only upset Max more if she went down and then left him again. Her bedroom door was open, and she could hear the noises from the kitchen. She crept out very quietly, and leaned over the banisters. He sounded so sad! But he was definitely getting quieter, so perhaps he was going to sleep. Molly was tired herself from all the chasing around they’d been doing, so she sat down on the top step, leaning against the wall, and tried not to let her eyes close.

Molly’s parents had been watching TV in the living room. When they came upstairs a couple of hours later, Molly was fast asleep on the top step.

“Max…” she muttered sleepily, as her dad lifted her.

“He’s fast asleep in his basket, Molly, don’t worry. Go to sleep.”

The weekend just flew by. Back at school on Monday everyone was really envious when Molly told them about Max. She had a couple of photos that Dad had run off on the printer for her, and she showed them off proudly.

“Oh, he’s lovely, Molly! My brother has an Old English sheepdog, they make great pets.” Mrs Ford, Molly’s class teacher, looked at the photo admiringly as they stood in the playground before school. “You should show those to the class when we do weekend news.”

Molly didn’t normally like the class news sessions that much, as she never felt like she had anything very exciting to say! But today she couldn’t wait to tell everyone about her puppy. It was nice to have them all admiring Max’s picture too, as she was really missing him. She couldn’t help wondering what he was doing, and if he was missing her too. Mum had promised to make lots of fuss of Max, but she’d be busy doing stuff on the computer too, as she worked from home. Molly hoped she wouldn’t get carried away and forget about him.

Molly’s school was really close to her house, so she walked there with her mum, and they picked up her friend Amy, who lived three doors down, on the way. Then Amy’s mum brought them home. That Monday Molly hurried Amy all the way back to their road, and then she raced home and flung herself through the front door.

Max jumped up and shot out of the kitchen to greet her. He’d been curled up in his basket, half-dozing, and wishing someone would play with him. He loved his new house, but it got very quiet without Molly there. Molly’s mum had tried her best, but she just wasn’t the same. With Molly he didn’t have to stand there holding his bone looking hopeful, she knew when he wanted to play. He danced round her, barking excitedly, and scrabbling at her knees. When she swept him up for a hug he did his best to lick her all over, wanting her to know how much he’d longed for her to come home.

“Ooooh, get off, get off, Max, not my ears, you’re really tickling!” Molly held him out at arm’s length and laughed at him. “I don’t need washing, anyway. Did you have a nice day? Was he OK, Mum? Did he behave himself?”

Her mum was leaning on the door frame and laughing. “Yes, but I think he really missed you. He looked all round the house several times, and he sat by the front door for ages. Why don’t you take him in the garden for a run about? I took him out quickly at lunchtime, but I’m sure he’d like to go out again.”

Max seemed to understand what “garden” meant. He dashed to the door, and jumped up and down, squeaking.

Molly giggled. “No, I think I need a rest after school … it’s OK, Max, I’m teasing! Come on, silly.” She grabbed his squeaky ball and opened the door, letting Max streak out in a black-and-white blur.

He loved to be outside!

Max settled in very quickly, but he didn’t stop missing Molly while she was at school – and she seemed to have to go to school all the time! He spent lots of time sniffing about for her, and he worked out that he could sneakily climb on to the back of the sofa to look out of the window and see if she was coming. He got told off if Molly’s mum caught him doing that, though.

Max was sure that if only he could get outside, he could go and find Molly, and be with her. He knew she missed him too, and he didn’t understand why she went out without him. It had only taken him a few days of being in the house without her to explore everywhere indoors. By the fifth day of Molly being at school, he was very bored.

“We’ll do loads of playing in the garden this weekend, Max,” Molly promised as she got ready to leave for school on Friday morning. “I really wish we could go on the beach, and show you the sea, but Mrs Hughes said you’ll have to wait until about a week after your second vaccinations.”

“He’d probably only try and eat the sand,” Mum said, looking at Max’s food bowl. It was empty, as usual, and polished sparkly-clean. “That dog is always hungry.” She scratched him under the chin to show she wasn’t really cross, and Max closed his eyes and snuffled happily. It was his absolute favourite place to be tickled, and Mum and Molly sounded happy and excited. Everything was good.

Except Molly was about to go! Not again. Max gave a mournful little howl.

“I know, I’m sorry. But I’ll be back this afternoon, and then we’ve got the whole weekend. And it’s half-term! I’d almost forgotten! Nine days of no school. We’ll spend loads of time outside, it’s going to be brilliant.” Molly kissed the top of his head, and followed Mum outside, leaving Max staring sadly at the door.

Molly’s mum was very busy that day. She kept shooing Max away when he tried to play. She did take him for a couple of little runs in the garden, but she wanted to go back in long before he did. By the middle of the afternoon, Max was missing Molly like anything. It was a hot, sleepy sort of day, even though it was only May, and being stuck in the house was making Max restless. Perhaps Molly’s mum was ready to play again? Hopefully he brought his squeaky bone to her for a game, but she said, “Not now, Max,” in a really firm voice, so he went and lay down in his basket, feeling bored. He rested his chin on the edge of the basket and sighed. Maybe he should just have a sleep, and see if Molly’s mum wanted to play later. His eyes were slowly closing when something fluttered past his nose. Max opened one eye to see a large butterfly swooping round his head. Surprised, he jumped up and barked furiously. What was it?

Mum dashed in, looking worried. Then she laughed. “Oh, Max, it’s all right, it’s only a butterfly. We’ll send him out, don’t panic. I suppose you’ve never seen one before.”

The butterfly was in no hurry to leave. Mum tried to waft it back towards the kitchen window where it had come in, but it fluttered off into the living room, and eventually settled on the curtains. Mum opened the window and after a couple of failed attempts, she scooped it out with a magazine.

“There,” she said, soothingly, putting the magazine back on the coffee table. “It’s gone now. Oh, look, it’s not long until Molly’s home. I must just go and finish that bit of work.” She went back to the computer in her office down the hall.

Max pricked up his ears when Mum mentioned Molly. Was she coming? He went and looked hopefully at the front door, but no Molly appeared. Disappointed, he wandered back into the living room and scrambled up on to the sofa so that he could look out of the window and wait for her.

Then he noticed that Mum had left the window open.

Max jumped up, and stuck his head out of the window, his nose quivering with excitement.

Now he could go and find Molly!

Molly dashed down the road from Amy’s house, calling a quick goodbye over her shoulder. She let herself in the front door, panting, and expecting Max to be there leaping around her feet like a mad thing. But the house was strangely quiet. He must be asleep.

Molly headed quietly into the kitchen, not wanting to wake him. He was so cute when he was asleep. Max’s basket was empty, and she looked round the kitchen, confused. Maybe he was sitting with Mum in her office?

Feeling a little anxious, Molly walked quickly back into the hallway and opened the office door.

Her mum looked up with a start. “Molly! I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come back. I’ve been desperately trying to get this finished before the holiday starts. Did you have a nice day?”

“Yes – but Mum, where’s Max?”

Mum looked down at Molly’s feet, as though she expected to see Max there. “Isn’t he in his basket? I thought he was having a sleep.”

“No, I can’t find him anywhere,” Molly said. “He always comes running when I get home from school.”

“He’s probably got himself shut in somewhere,” said Mum, but she didn’t sound as sure as Molly would have liked. She got up and together they went through every room in the house, calling. Every time they opened a door, Molly hoped she’d hear a little patter of paws, and wild yapping, but there was nothing.

No Max.

They went back through every room, more urgently this time, searching under all the beds in case he’d got himself stuck, opening the cupboards, Molly frantically calling.

Still nothing.

Back downstairs, Mum was starting to look really worried too. She stood in the living room trying to think back. “I took him in the garden after lunch, but he definitely came back in with me. Then I was working… Oh! Yes, of course, that butterfly surprised him. It flew in through the kitchen window,” she explained. “He didn’t know what it was. I let it out of the window in here…” She did a slow turn towards the window, and her hand went to her mouth in horror. It was still propped open. Quite wide enough for a determined little dog to get out through.