The Lost Puppy by Holly Webb Page A

one?” Ruby asked, crossing her fingers behind her back.
    “The little black girl puppy. I’m calling her Millie. She gets on well with Maisie, I think. And I like the names both beginning with ‘M’.”
    Ruby nodded, a little sadly. She had been hoping that Auntie Nell would keep her favourite puppy, the gorgeous boy with the black back and russety-orange paws. He’d spotted her coming in, and now he trotted over to her eagerly. In her head, she’d named him Toby, although she hadn’t told anyone. There was no point naming him really, as he would be going off to live somewhere else, horribly soon. But Ruby hadn’t been able to help it. Toby was just the perfect name for him.
    He was such a funny little dog, always bouncing about. Ruby rolled a jingly ball across the kitchen floor for him, and he skidded after it eagerly, his paws slipping around on the tiles. He was dashing after it so fast that he overshot, and had to screech to a halt and snatch it out of Millie’s paws. His sister growled at him crossly, and stomped away.
    Toby picked up the ball in his sharp little teeth, and marched triumphantly back to Ruby, his ears swinging jauntily. Then he dropped it at her feet, wagging his tail and nosing it towards her, asking her to do it again.
    Ruby stroked his glossy fur. “Oh, you’re so gorgeous.”
    Anya, who had been lying on the kitchen floor so as to be on the same level with the puppies, wriggled her way over to Ruby and Toby, and nuzzled him, nose to nose. Toby looked slightly shocked, but he nuzzled her too, and then licked her generously all down one cheek.
    Anya squealed with delight, and was about to lick him back when Mum grabbed her. “No licking the puppies!”
    Mum glanced worriedly at Dad, but he was laughing.
    “It’ll be fine,” he told her.
    Ruby frowned at them. What did they mean? She was sure Toby licking Anya just once wouldn’t do her any harm.
    “Why don’t you pick him up?” Auntie Nell asked her. “He won’t mind.”

    Ruby gently slipped her hands under Toby’s smooth tummy, and snuggled him against her. He had climbed into her lap before, but she had never actually picked him up properly. He was so good to cuddle. She sighed quietly as she rubbed her cheek against his warm head, wondering if this was the last time she would see him. 
    Toby sighed too, but happily. He dug his nose under the shoulder of Ruby’s jumper, which made her giggle and squirm, then he scrabbled his claws against the fabric lovingly.
    Auntie Nell smiled at her. “So, do you like your present?”
    Ruby looked up, confused.
    Dad laughed, and Mum smiled at her, then eyed Toby meaningfully.
    “Toby? The puppy, I mean?” Ruby stared at them all, her mouth falling open in surprise.
    “I told you she’d already named him!” Auntie Nell said. “He’s always been the one Ruby liked best. A lady wanted to choose him yesterday, Ruby, but I told her he was reserved for you!”
    “You’re giving me Toby for my birthday?” Ruby sounded dazed. “Can we take him home?” she added hopefully. “Or is he mine but at your house?” Mum and Dad had always said no to a dog before, because Anya was too young. She looked up at them uncertainly. “You said not while Anya was little…”
    “But he’s not going to get big enough to knock Anya over, is he?” Dad pointed out. Toby was a miniature dachshund – he’d never be bigger than about thirty centimetres tall. “And yes, he’s coming home with us. Mum and I have decided you’re both old enough now. He’ll be yours mostly, Ruby, but Anya’s allowed to cuddle him too, OK?”
    Ruby nodded. She didn’t mind sharing at all. She was still gobsmacked that they were actually getting their own dog! “Are we taking him home today ?” she asked Auntie Nell.
    “Absolutely. But you have to eat lunch first. And I made you another birthday cake!”
    “Oh wow! Oh, I have to call Beth and tell her we’re really getting a dog,” Ruby whispered. But