Alfie All Alone (6 page)

Evie took a deep breath. “So can we go and get him back?” she asked, twisting her fingers together anxiously.

Dad looked serious. “It wasn’t just about Sam though, Evie. We’d need to look after Alfie better.” He exchanged
a glance with Mum. “We need to think this through.”

Mum nodded. “Evie, could you do me a big favour and change Sam’s nappy?”

“Now?” Evie sounded disbelieving.

“Yes, now.” Mum smiled at her. “Your dad and I need to talk. And Sam could do with a nappy change.”

Evie picked Sam up, making a face, and carried him upstairs.

When Evie got back, Mum and Dad were looking at the photo of Alfie again. “Have you decided?” Evie asked hopefully, cuddling Sam close.

“Do you think we can all be better owners for Alfie this time round?” Dad asked.

“Yes! And Gran would help!” Evie reminded him. “She said she would. I could take him out for walks with her and Ben and Tigger.”

“No getting grumpy with Alfie just because Sam’s made us tired.”

“No! I promise. Pleeeaaase! Can we have him back?”

Dad grinned at her. “OK. Let’s go and get Alfie!”

Evie and her parents were talking excitedly in the car about how great it would be to have Alfie back, when Dad suddenly stopped in the middle of his favourite story about Alfie trying to catch a pigeon.

“I’ve just thought,” he said quietly. “It’s possible someone else has already given Alfie a new home. He’s been at Riverside a week – and he’s such a beautiful dog. Evie, I don’t want to upset you, but it’s possible Alfie’s gone.”

Evie gulped. “Can you drive faster?”

Evie and her dad jumped out of the car as soon as they got to the dogs’ home, while Mum wrestled with Sam and the pushchair. “You go!” she said, waving them on.

They dashed into Reception, and Dad explained why they had come back, while Evie hopped up and down impatiently. The girl at the desk was taking so long to bring up Alfie’s file on the computer. At last Evie couldn’t stand it. She slipped through the big double door that led to the dogs’ runs. She had to tell Alfie he was coming home!

But Alfie wasn’t there.

Chapter Eight

“And they wouldn’t tell you who’d taken him?” Mum asked indignantly.

“Well, no. I can see why not. We gave Alfie up. It wouldn’t be fair on his new owners if we could just storm round and take him back,” Dad pointed out.

Mum sighed. “I suppose not. But it seems so unfair.”

“Can we not talk about it?” came a small voice from the backseat. Evie was sadly dangling a toy in front of Sam’s car seat, and he was giggling, the only member of the family feeling cheerful.

“Sorry, Evie. You’re right, it’s not going to change anything. At least we’re going to Gran’s for tea – that’ll make us feel better. I’ll bet she’s made a cake.”

Evie stared at the car ceiling, concentrating on not snapping at her parents. They were only trying to be nice – but honestly, a cake? That was supposed to make it all right that she’d just lost her gorgeous dog for ever? Evie sniffed hard. She didn’t want to start crying again, she’d only just managed to stop, and her eyes were
hurting. She adored Gran, but she wished they weren’t going to her house today. Gran would never have let anything like this happen to Ben or Tigger, and seeing them was just going to make Evie miss Alfie more.

He’ll be with a lovely family, she told herself firmly. He’ll be having a great time. The Riverside people wouldn’t give him to anyone who wouldn’t look after him. Someone like us, she couldn’t help adding.

Evie had never noticed how many dogs lived in the few streets between her house and Gran’s, but that afternoon they seemed to be everywhere. As they turned the corner into Gran’s road, she could hear excited yapping, and something tugged in her
stomach. It sounded just like Alfie. But it was only Ben and Tigger, playing in the front garden. Gran let them out there sometimes for a change.

Dad put his arm round Evie’s shoulders. “You can still come and play with these two, you know,” he said sympathetically.

Evie nodded. But it wasn’t the same as having her own dog. Although she’d never noticed before how much Ben sounded like Alfie. It was weird that he had that same squeaky bark. Actually, he probably didn’t – she was just going to imagine Alfie everywhere for a while.
I wonder how long that will last?
Evie thought to herself miserably.
Ages
,
I suppose
. She leaned over the gate to undo the latch and the dogs bounded
over to say hello.

All three of them.

“Alfie!” Evie gasped, finally realizing that the squeaky bark sounded like Alfie because it
was
Alfie. It was Alfie jumping twice his own height to try to get over the gate to greet her. “Alfie!” She fought with the latch, but she was crying so much that Dad had to open it for her. Alfie shot into her arms and tried to lick her all over, his woofs getting squeakier than ever with excitement.

You came back! You came back!
he was saying delightedly, if Evie could have understood him.

“I don’t understand,” Evie said dazedly, as they sat round the tea-table. Mum had been right, there was a gorgeous-looking cake, although at the moment only Alfie seemed interested in it. He was perched on Evie’s knee, gradually easing himself closer and closer to one of the delicious chocolatey bits.

Gran smiled. “Well, after I talked to you, Evie, I changed my mind. I hadn’t thought you were ready to have a dog – it’s such a huge responsibility. But then with Alfie gone, you seemed so sad. And I love Alfie too. I decided that even if you didn’t feel you could have him back right now, with Sam so little, then I would keep him myself and you could visit him. Ben and Tigger like
having a bouncy young dog to cheer them up.” She looked over at her dogs, who were slumped exhaustedly on their cushions. Tigger seemed to have his paws over his eyes. “Mmmm. Well, the extra exercise is good for them.”

“We can take him home, can’t we? He can live with us, like Gran said. And Gran can help us out if we’re having a problem?” Evie asked her parents anxiously.

“Definitely!” said her dad. “Alfie’s part of the family. Aren’t you, boy?” Then he laughed. “And Sam thinks so too.”

Sam was sitting on Mum’s lap, next to Evie and Alfie. He was leaning over towards Alfie, his fingers clumsily batting at Alfie’s shiny collar tag, so
that it jingled and flashed in the sun. Sam gurgled happily, enjoying his game. Alfie shook his ears and snorted gently, edging slightly closer on Evie’s knee so Sam could reach.

Evie smiled down at him, hugging him tightly. Alfie knew that he was home for good.

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