Oscar's Lonely Christmas by Holly Webb

Chapter One
    Hannah took off her gloves and stuffed them in her pockets. The cold wind was stinging her cheeks, and she looked up at the sky hopefully. Perhaps it would snow soon? It was only November, but it was so cold already! She reached into the tub of winter bird food and scooped out a big helping, scattering it over the bird table.Then she smiled to herself. She was sure she could hear some sparrows and coal tits in the winter jasmine that was growing up the fence. They were scuffling about eagerly, waiting for her to go so that they could swoop in on the delicious mealworms that were their favourite part of the mixture.
    She closed the tub and put on her gloves again – it was so cold her fingers had already started to hurt. Then she crept quietly back to the garden bench and curled up in the corner. If she was very, very quiet and still, the birds might come while she was there. It would be more sensible to go inside and watch from her bedroom window, but she loved seeing the birds up close. They were so funny, the way theysquabbled and shoved each other off the bird feeders. Hannah’s family had five different bird feeders, and their garden was very popular with the local birds.
    Hannah watched, snuggled inside her big scarf and furry hat, smiling to herself as a robin bossily sent all the other birds flapping off into the bushes. She wasn’t going to be able to stay out here much longer; she could hardly feel her fingers. Hugging herself, she slipped into her favourite daydream – that she was cuddled up with a dog next to her, keeping her warm. Almost any dog would do, to be honest. She would really love a big dog that she could hug, but even a little dog would be wonderful.
    Of course, as this was a daydream, she might as well have her all-time favourite. Daydream-Hannah sat there with her arms around a huge, black-and -white spotted Dalmatian. Just like Pongo from her favourite film, 101 Dalmatians . Hannah had watched both versions over and over, and Dalmatians were her dream dogs.
    Hannah’s mum and dad had been thinking about getting a dog for ages – at least, they always said , “We’ll think about it,” whenever Hannah asked. Her dad was quite keen – he loved going on long walks, and he’d shown her pictures of the dog he’d had when he was a boy. But Hannah’s mum was a bit anxious about Zak, Hannah’s little brother. She was worried that a dogwasn’t a good idea with a toddler around. But Zak was coming up to three now, and Hannah had started dropping hints about dogs again. She didn’t think a dog would be a problem for Zak at all – he loved animals as much as Hannah did, and whenever he met a dog he always wanted to hug it. It was more likely that the dog would need protecting from Zak than the other way around.
    Just as she was thinking about her little brother, Hannah heard the kitchen door bang, and he stumbled out into the garden, calling her name.
    Hannah gave a cross little sigh as Zak frightened all the birds away. She’d been enjoying the peaceful moment without him around.
    But as he wobbled round the corner of the house she couldn’t help smiling. Zak was wearing his big red snowsuit, and it was so stiff and padded that he could hardly move. He looked as though someone had inflated him like a balloon.

    “Hannah! Hannah!” He came over and grabbed her hand. “Mummy wants you!”
    Hannah’s mum was coming out now too, a big scarf wrapped around her neck. “You must be frozen sitting out here for so long! Did you see any interesting birds?”
    Hannah shook her head. “Only the normal ones. I was about to come in, it’s getting dark.”
    Mum was beaming. “We came out to tell you some news! I’ve just had a phone call – one I wasn’t expecting.” She took a deep breath. “It was from the lady who runs Dashing Dalmatians.”
    Hannah sat bolt upright, staring wide-eyed at her mum. “Is that – is thata Dalmatian breeder ?” she asked. “Why did she call