by Holly Webb
“Oh dear…” Ellie got up to follow him, but Mum called her back. “He’s better off out there, Ellie. There are more crackers, and I don’t want him begging at the table.”
They were just having a little rest between the turkey and the Christmas pudding, when Auntie Gemma gave a cry of horror. “Oh no! My beautiful hat!”
“What is it? What’s the matter?” Mum asked worriedly, looking where Auntie Gemma was looking.
“Oh, I just don’t believe it…”
Rascal had come back into the kitchen. He was sitting on his cushion, staring back at Auntie Gemma in surprise as she pointed at him, with a shredded-looking red hat dangling out of his mouth.
Ellie put her hand over her mouth, horrified, but then she looked closer and burst out laughing. She stopped as Mum glared at her. “It’s OK! It isn’t your hat, Auntie Gemma. Honestly! It’s the Santa hat I made Rascal.”
“The one in that lovely photo you gave me?” Grandad asked.
“Yes, it’s his favourite thing. I gave him loads of new toys for Christmas, but he still wants to eat his tatty old hat!”
Auntie Gemma sighed with relief. “I’m sorry, Rascal, sweetheart. When I saw the red material… And you have to admit he’s got a history, Ellie. My handbag’s never been the same since Rascal got his paws on it!””
“Let’s have the Christmas pudding,” Mum said hastily, bringing it over to the table. “Mind you don’t eat the charms, everybody.”
She served it out carefully.
“Oh!” Auntie Gemma went pink, as she held up the silver ring, and Liam gave her a hug, and whispered something in her ear. Everyone else stared at them hopefully, but they didn’t say anything more.
Ellie beamed – maybe she might be a bridesmaid soon! She spooned through her serving, wondering if any of the little silver figures were in it. “I’ve got one!” she squeaked excitedly, spotting a strand of red ribbon. “Oh, it’s the dog!”
Lila grinned. “So Ellie has to clear up after Rascal for the whole year!”
Ellie didn’t mind. She scooped Rascal up and hugged him. The dog charm was just what she’d wanted – it meant a wonderful new year full of adventures with Rascal!
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.
Copyright
STRIPES PUBLISHING
An imprint of Little Tiger Press
1 The Coda Centre,
189 Munster Road,
London SW6 6AW
Text copyright © Holly Webb, 2011
Illustrations copyright © Kate Pankhurst, 2011, 2012
First published as an ebook by Stripes Publishing in 2012.
eISBN: 978–1–84715–286–2
The right of Holly Webb and Kate Pankhurst to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work respectively has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved.
Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any forms, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
www.stripespublishing.co.uk
For more information about Holly Webb visit: www.holly-webb.com
