Crumble and Custard and Other Puppy Tales

by Jenny Dale

  “Oh, no!” Mrs Wilson stopped dead in the doorway. “Look at my kitchen!” she wailed.

  “Well, everyone makes a bit of a mess when they’re baking,” said Mrs Carter, trying not to look shocked.

  “I didn’t do this!” Mrs Wilson cried. “Ooh! And look at all my crockery!” she shouted, as she noticed the mess by the sink.

  Then suddenly she spotted Gus, who was trying to hide under the kitchen table. “Aha! I might have known!” Her face red with fury, Mrs Wilson bent down under the table, grabbed Gus’s collar and pulled him out.

  “Gus!” Holly gasped. “How on earth did you get in here?”

  Gus whined. He was in real trouble now.

  “Never mind how he got in here!” Mrs Wilson retorted, still keeping a tight hold of Gus’s collar. “Somehow he did, and just look at the mess he’s made. And he’s scared my cat!”

  Lulu, who was sitting on top of the fridge watching what was going on, miaowed loudly. “He didn’t scare me!” she said, offended that anyone could think she found a mere puppy scary.

  “I’m so sorry, Mrs Wilson,” said Holly’s mum quickly. “I just don’t understand how Gus got in. We’ll pay for the damage, of course.”

  “Maybe he came to look for the ring,” Holly said.

  “Oh, very funny!” snorted Mrs Wilson rudely.

  “Don’t be silly, Holly,” said her mum.

  “I’m not!” Holly insisted. “Maybe Gus was just trying to help.”

  Gus gave a yelp. At least Holly believed in him. He tried to pull away from Mrs Wilson, so that he could rush over to Holly and give her another grateful lick, but Mrs Wilson was holding his collar too tightly. In fact, she was holding it so tightly, it was beginning to hurt. Gus pulled harder, trying to get away.

  “Now I want to know what you’re going to do about this . . . this animal!” Mrs Wilson demanded. “He’s eaten my precious ring and messed up my kitchen, and I’ve just about had enough!”

  Gus made one last effort to get away from Mrs Wilson. Dragging her with him, Gus lunged forward towards Holly.

  “Aah!” Mrs Wilson screamed again as she fell against the table. The bowl of pastry mix toppled off and hit the floor with a great clatter. Big splodges of sticky yellow pastry mix flew everywhere, especially over Gus and Mrs Wilson.

  “Look what he’s done!” Mrs Wilson spluttered furiously as she tried to wipe the pastry crumbs off her face. “That dog should be locked up – he’s dangerous!”

  “Oh, Gus!” Holly sighed. “What have you done now?”

  But Gus wasn’t listening. He could see something glittering in the pastry mix on the floor.

  Chapter Six

  “I want that dog out of my kitchen now!” Mrs Wilson shouted angrily.

  “Come on, Gus.” Holly hurried across the kitchen towards him. “I think we’d better go.”

  Gus took no notice. He pushed his nose into the heap of pastry mix and barked loudly.

  Holly knelt down beside him. “What are you doing, Gus?” she asked.

  Gus barked again and scrabbled in the pastry mix with his paws.

  Then Holly suddenly saw what he was trying to show her. “It’s the ring!” she shouted, picking it up. “Gus has found the ring!”

  “What?” Mrs Wilson’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “Let me see that!”

  She grabbed the sticky, pastry-covered ring, rushed over to the tap and rinsed it clean. “It is my ring! Oh, thank goodness,” she said in a shaky voice. “I thought it had gone for ever!”

  “It must have fallen into the bowl of pastry mix!” said Mrs Carter.

  “It’s a good job you didn’t make that pastry into pies, Mrs Wilson,” said Holly. “The ring would have been inside, and someone might have really eaten it!”

  Mrs Wilson turned pale at the very thought and had to sit down on one of the kitchen chairs.

  “Well done, Gus!” Holly said proudly, giving her puppy a big hug. “We’d never have found the ring if it wasn’t for you!”

  Gus began to bark joyfully. Thank goodness he’d managed to get himself out of trouble. But it had been a close thing!

  Mrs Wilson looked round at the mess in her kitchen and frowned. “It was really very naughty of you to come into my kitchen, Gus,” she said.

  Gus hung his head. If he hadn’t been so greedy in the first place, none of this would have happened.

  Then Mrs Wilson smiled. “But it was very clever of you to find my ring!” She slipped the ring onto her finger, then bent down and patted Gus on the head.

  Gus licked her hand. Maybe now he and Mrs Wilson could be friends.

  “We’ll help you clean up the kitchen, Mrs Wilson,” said Holly.

  Mrs Wilson looked pleased. “Thank you, Holly,” she said.

  Holly and her mum helped to tidy up. Then, carrying the big wedges of jam sponge Mrs Wilson had cut and wrapped for them, along with a pile of chocolate chip cookies, they said goodbye.

  “From now on, there will always be a little something for you here, when you’re feeling peckish, Gus,” Mrs Wilson said. “It’s the least I can do!”

  “Yippee!” Gus barked happily.

  “Just don’t get any ideas about scoffing my cat food,” Lulu purred quietly from the top of the fridge.

  When they got back home, Mrs Carter went straight over to the fridge and took out a big, juicy bone. “I think Gus deserves a reward for finding Mrs Wilson’s ring!” she said with a smile.

  “So do I!” said Holly. She took the bone and held it out to Gus. “Here you are, Gus! Good boy!”

  Holly and her mum couldn’t believe their eyes when Gus ignored the bone. Instead he flung himself at Holly, licking her hand and wagging his tail.

  “Oh, Gus!” Holly laughed, dropping the bone and scooping her puppy into her arms. “Aren’t you hungry?”

  “Of course he’s hungry!” Mrs Carter laughed. “Gus is always hungry!”

  But for once, Gus didn’t care about the big, juicy bone. He was just glad to be back home safely, with Holly.

  If he hadn’t found Mrs Wilson’s ring, he might have been on his way back to the Dogs’ Home right now . . .

  . . . And if I hadn’t been so greedy in the first place, I wouldn’t have got into so much trouble, Gus thought. I’m not going to be so greedy ANY MORE!

  “I really don’t think Gus wants this bone, Mum,” said Holly.

  Mrs Carter looked surprised. “Oh well, put it back in the fridge, and he can have it later,” she said. “Maybe Gus has decided to change his ways!”

  “I have!” Gus yapped happily as Holly gave him a cuddle. “I still love food, but not as much as I love you, Holly!”

  He gave her a lick, then looked at her hopefully. “But when my appetite comes back,” he woofed, “I’d be more than happy to help out with that jam sponge!”

  Spot

  the Sporty Puppy

  Special thanks to Narinder Dhami

  To Reba – another sporty puppy!

  Chapter One

  “Fetch the ball, Spot!”

  Spot went chasing across the field. He grabbed the squeaky ball in his teeth and raced back to Matt. The ball made a dreadful noise as he ran.

  “Good boy, Spot!” Matt, Spot’s owner, knelt down and stroked his Dalmatian puppy’s silky black-and-white ears. “You’re a really fast runner!”

  Spot wagged his tail proudly and licked Matt’s hand. Spot loved running nearly as much as he loved Matt. He would put his ears back and race from one end of the field to the other, feeling the wind rushing past him and ruffling his fur. It was better than a big, juicy bone, or even a roll in a dirty puddle.

  Matt looked at his watch. “Time to go home, Spot, or I’m going to be late for school.”

  Spot whined grumpily. He didn’t want to go home yet. Every morning Matt took him for a long walk in the playing field behind their house, where Spot met up with some of the other dogs that lived in their street. They usually had races and Spot, of course, always won. B
ut this morning Matt seemed in a hurry.

  “Sorry, Spot,” Matt said, as he clipped the lead to his puppy’s collar. “I promise I’ll take you out for a longer walk tonight.”

  Spot woofed. He didn’t really mind going home because he had a special secret. A very special secret. When Matt was at school and Mrs Robinson, Matt’s mum, was at work, Spot could run around the field as much as he liked!

  Matt and Spot went across the field to the Robinsons’ back gate.

  Matt opened it and then closed it carefully behind them. “Come on, Spot! Race you to the kitchen!”

  Spot dashed up the garden path, his white tail wagging furiously from side to side, and got to the open kitchen door just before Matt did. He dived into the kitchen and skidded across the floor, stopping with expert timing in front of his empty bowl.

  “You’re just in time for breakfast, Spot!” laughed Mrs Robinson, who was spreading butter on toast. She shook some dog biscuits into the bowl and Spot began to crunch them noisily.

  “You won, Spot!” Matt said with a grin. “Mum, did you wash my kit ready for Sports Day this afternoon?”

  Spot stopped eating and pricked up his ears. Did Matt say Spot’s Day?

  Matt saw Spot looking eagerly up at him and smiled. “No, not Spot’s Day – Sports Day!”

  Spot didn’t know what Sports Day was, so he wasn’t very interested. He went back to eating his biscuits.

  “You are coming to watch, aren’t you, Mum?” Matt asked.

  Mrs Robinson nodded. “I’ll be home from work at lunchtime, so I’ll be there to cheer you on.”

  “Great!” said Matt. “I’m going to try really hard to win one of the races this year!”

  Spot’s ears pricked up again when he heard the word race. He still didn’t know what Sports Day was, but he was beginning to like the sound of it! He hoped that he would be allowed to go this afternoon too.

  “Time to go, Matt,” said Mrs Robinson.

  Spot dashed over to the kitchen door, and barked.

  “Do you want to stay in the garden this morning, Spot?” asked Mrs Robinson with a smile.

  Spot barked again, so she carried the puppy’s bowls outside and gave him some more biscuits and some fresh water. “Matt, you did shut the back gate properly, didn’t you?” she asked. “We don’t want Spot getting out.”

  Matt nodded. “Bye, Spot. See you later.”

  Spot waited until he heard the car start up and drive away, taking Mrs Robinson to work and Matt to school. Then he scampered eagerly to the other end of the garden. He scrabbled about at the bottom of the hedge and uncovered his secret – a small hole. He squeezed his way through, and then he was out in the playing field again.

  Spot ran joyfully across the grass, sniffing the air as he went. He knew he wasn’t really allowed out on his own, but he got so bored at home when Matt was at school. This way he could meet up with all his other friends!

  He ran about on his own for a while, scrabbling in the hedgerows and finding lots of interesting smells. Then he saw Jasper the black Labrador, who lived a few doors away from the Robinsons. Jasper was out with his owner, Mr Smith.

  Spot bounded up to him and gave him a friendly nudge with his nose. “Come on, I’ll race you to the other end of the field!” he barked.

  “Oh no, not again!” Jasper groaned. “You always beat me!”

  “Hello, Spot.” Mr Smith bent down and patted the Dalmatian. “You’re out on your own again, I see!”

  Spot woofed and wagged his tail. He hoped Mr Smith wouldn’t say anything to the Robinsons, or his special secret would be discovered!

  Spot and Jasper set off across the field. Spot was soon in front and he won the race easily, before Jasper had even run halfway. The Labrador gave up, panting.

  “You shouldn’t eat so many biscuits!” Spot yapped at him. “Then you’d be able to run as fast as me!”

  Jasper lay down and put his nose between his paws. “I need a rest!” he whined.

  Spot suddenly thought of something. “Jasper, do you know what Sports Day is?”

  “It’s a special day for children at school,” Jasper woofed back. “They have lots of races, and all the mums and dads go to watch.”

  Spot’s eyes lit up. A moment later he was running away across the field again.

  “Where are you going?” Jasper barked after him.

  “Home!” Spot barked back. “I don’t want to miss Sports Day!”

  It seemed a very long time to Spot before Mrs Robinson arrived home at lunchtime. He jumped around, whining impatiently, as she opened the back door.

  “Hello, Spot!” She patted him, then checked that he still had water in his bowl. “I’ve got to rush – I’m late for Sports Day!”

  Spot began to bark at the top of his voice, feeling very excited. He could hardly wait to go and join in all the races!

  “No, you can’t come, I’m afraid, Spot,” said Matt’s mum, and she quickly locked the back door again.

  Spot slumped miserably on the grass. Why couldn’t he go to Sports Day? After all, he was the fastest dog in the street! If there were races going on, he ought to be allowed to take part in them . . .

  Spot’s ears pricked up. He could hear voices. Lots of them. It sounded as if there were suddenly lots of people in the playing field.

  He hurried down to the end of the garden and looked through his secret hole in the hedge.

  There were lots of people in the field. And there were some strange, exciting things happening too. Balloons and streamers had been tied up in the trees. There were lots of chairs laid out in rows, as well as a small platform with people standing on it.

  Spot was puzzled. Who were all these people, and what was going on?

  Then, to his delight, Spot saw Matt! The puppy could hardly believe his eyes. So this must be Sports Day! And it was happening right there, in his own playing field! Spot only had to squeeze through the secret hole to go and join in the fun. And that was just what he was going to do!

  Chapter Two

  Spot was so excited it took him a moment or two to wriggle his way through the hole in the hedge. But at last, he did it. He raced happily across the field towards the crowd of people, hoping he hadn’t missed any of the races. But nothing much seemed to be happening, except that a man was standing on the little platform, talking to the parents and children who sat in rows on either side of him.

  “. . . And as headmaster of Redhill Primary School, it gives me great pleasure to welcome all of you here to Sports Day,” the man was saying. “We’ll start with the special teachers’ race. All the teachers will be taking part, including myself!”

  Spot had heard Matt talking about the headmaster. His name was Mr Brown and Matt was a bit scared of him because he was very strict. As people clapped the headmaster’s speech, Spot bared his teeth and growled a little. He hoped Mr Brown didn’t win!

  Nobody noticed the puppy as he looked around for Matt. The teachers were lining up at the top of the track for the start of the race. There were two children standing at the bottom end, holding a tape stretched out between them. That was the finishing-line.

  Spot felt very excited. How wonderful it would feel to be the first to cross the line and win! All these people would jump up and cheer, and Matt would be very proud of him . . .

  “Spot! What on earth are you doing here?”

  Spot’s heart sank. Mrs Robinson had seen him! She had jumped up from her seat and was hurrying across the grass towards him. She didn’t look very pleased, either.

  Spot knew very well that if he was caught he’d be taken home again, so he scurried off as fast as his legs could carry him.

  “Spot, you naughty boy!” Mrs Robinson called. “Come back!”

  Spot pretended he hadn’t heard. He decided to find a place to hide and wriggled under a row of chairs, squeezing his way around people’s legs.

  Some of the people leant down and tried to grab him as he rushed by. But Spot managed to wriggle away from them
.

  Just then, Mrs Williams, the school secretary, shouted, “On your marks! Get set! Go!”

  The teachers’ race had started! Spot crawled forward to sit under a chair in the front row, right next to the track. He poked his head out to see what was going on.

  The teachers were all charging across the grass towards the finishing-line. Mr Brown was in the lead and he looked determined to win.

  Spot wondered if the other teachers were letting Mr Brown win because he was the headmaster. He wished he had a chance to race against Mr Brown – he was sure he could beat him.

  “Spot!”

  That was Matt’s voice. Spot sat up eagerly and looked around.

  “Spot!”

  Then Spot saw his owner. Matt was dressed in his sports kit and was standing on the opposite side of the track with his best friend, Daniel Parsons.

  Spot was so excited he dashed out from under the chair where he was hiding and across the track. At exactly the same moment the teachers came running at full speed towards him, Mr Brown still in the lead.

  Spot had no time to get out of the way. Neither did the headmaster. They crashed into each other with a yelp and a shout. Mr Brown tripped over Spot and went flying head over heels, landing in a heap on the grass!

  Chapter Three

  “What . . . who . . . ?” spluttered Mr Brown in a dazed voice, as he pulled himself to his feet. “What is this . . . this animal doing here?”

  Spot cowered in the grass, feeling very frightened. He hadn’t meant to trip up Mr Brown. The headmaster looked very big and menacing as he towered over Spot. The puppy was glad when Matt rushed over and picked him up.

  “Sorry, sir,” Matt said breathlessly. “He’s mine.”

  “And what’s he doing at Sports Day?” Mr Brown glared down at Spot, who huddled even closer to Matt. “No dogs are allowed!”