Monty the Sad Puppy

Chapter Five

“Morning, Amelie! Time to wake up.”

Amelie peered up at her mum. “Has Dad gone?” she asked, through a yawn.

“Yes, he had to get up at four to get to the airport.” Mum sighed. “I’m just going to make your packed lunches, OK?” She hurried out of the room and Amelie heard her trotting down the stairs. Usually Dad did all the school things, like their packed lunches and making sure Amelie remembered her football kit on the right days.

Amelie climbed out of bed, and then jumped as she heard a cry and a loud yelp from downstairs. “What is it?” she called anxiously, running out to lean over the banisters.

“It’s that silly puppy! He’s moved his basket across the kitchen and I tripped over it. Don’t worry. Monty’s fine – he’s just surprised.”

Amelie dashed downstairs to check on the puppy. Monty had sounded really panicked. He was sitting in his basket, watching Mum nervously.

“He was a bit scared by me yelling,” Mum admitted. “But I didn’t expect his basket to be there! I was rushing about trying to find the juice cartons for your lunch and I tripped. Oh dear… He doesn’t look happy.”

“Poor Monty.” Amelie went over and crouched next to his basket, stroking the puppy’s head. Monty licked her arm lovingly and Amelie smiled. But then she looked up and saw her mosaic, still drying on the counter. In the end Dad had said it would be best to wait before cutting it up and trying to rescue it.

Amelie sighed. It hadn’t really been Monty’s fault but her mosaic was never going to be as good second time round. She couldn’t help feeling cross with him. She stood up sharply, pulling her hand away from him. Monty stared after her in surprise.

“I’ll help you stick it back together,” Josh said, coming into the kitchen and seeing her scowling at the ruined mosaic.

“Thanks.” Amelie gave him a quick hug. “Mum, did you feed Monty and Daisy?”

Monty stood up in his basket, his tail wagging hopefully. He’d heard his name.

Mum shook her head. “Not yet. Sorry, dogs.”

“It’s OK, I’ll do it.” Amelie picked up both the bowls and put them on the counter, ready to pour out the dry food. Now that Monty and Daisy were more used to each other, they didn’t have to eat at opposite ends of the kitchen.

Monty scampered over, eager for his breakfast. Daisy heard the dry biscuits rattling into her bowl and erupted out of her basket, ears flapping. Amelie giggled – Daisy was so funny. She was just about to put the bowls down when Monty reached over her arm and tried to gobble a mouthful. He was so hungry he stuck his nose in the wrong bowl and Amelie pulled it away.

“No—” she started to say but Daisy got there first. She snapped angrily at Monty and he darted back in fright, his ears flattening and his tail tucking between his legs.

“Daisy!” Mum cried. She took the food bowls out of Amelie’s hands and put them down on the floor. “Are you all right, Amelie?”

“Yes… She wasn’t anywhere near me – she was cross with Monty because he was trying to nick her food. She didn’t actually bite me. Or Monty.” Amelie’s voice shook a little. Monty had chewed at her fingers sometimes when he was little but he’d never come close to biting. She could see why Daisy had been upset but it was still scary.

“Well, at least Monty’s not hurt,” Mum said. “And Daisy’s forgotten about it already, look. She’s eating her breakfast.”

Amelie nodded. Daisy was wolfing down her food – so different to that first day when they’d brought her back from Grandad’s. “I suppose she’s never had to share…”

Monty had retreated to his basket again. He was hungry but he didn’t want to eat next to Daisy, not after she’d snapped at him like that. Everything seemed to be going wrong. Amelie was angry with him, Mum had shouted and now Daisy had gone back to being unfriendly. He watched Amelie and Josh eating breakfast, hoping that someone would come and make a fuss of him but they were rushing to get off to school.

Quietly, he crept out of his basket and over to the kitchen door. He didn’t feel like being inside any more, where everyone was cross. He slipped through the dog flap and padded down to the end of the garden to look out through the wire fence.

The field was empty, apart from a flock of starlings. Monty stood there, wagging his tail uncertainly as they hopped across the long grass. But he didn’t feel like barking at them and they didn’t pay any attention to the small black dog on the other side of the fence.

Monty lay curled up next to the fence, watching the comings and goings on the field. It was much busier now, with dogs going for walks. There were a few young children running about as well. Monty watched the other dogs enviously as they raced around. If only he could go for a good run like that. That little boy might even let him chase his ball.

Monty pressed his nose closer to the fence and whined, wishing the little boy would kick his ball closer. He scrabbled at the wire with one paw and then jumped back as the fence moved. It was loose at the bottom. There’d been no rain for a while and the dry, dusty earth had worn away. There was almost a hole.

Monty sniffed at it curiously and then scratched at the earth, sending dust flying. He whisked back, sneezing and shaking his head. The hole was bigger, definitely. This time he put his nose down and tried to squeeze it under the fence. It was tight but the wire was curling up at the bottom, and if he wriggled and pushed and scrabbled some more with his paws…

Suddenly, to his surprise, Monty shot out on the other side. He was in the field!

There was a scurry of paws behind him and a sharp warning bark. Monty looked back at the fence and saw that Daisy was there. She didn’t sound angry – more confused. Maybe even a little bit frightened.

He wagged his tail at her, trying to show that everything was all right. Now that he was out in the field, with the sun warming his fur and all the delicious smells to explore, he didn’t mind that she’d snapped at him.

With a friendly bark, Monty crouched down, stretching out his front paws, inviting Daisy to come and play. Perhaps she could wriggle under the fence, too? Then they could chase each other through the long grass. But Daisy only stood there and barked again. Monty looked back and forth a few times, between Daisy and that exciting stretch of grass. Then he turned his back on her and darted off into the field.