The Lost Puppy by Holly Webb Page B

then she looked worried. “Don’t we need stuff? A basket … and bowls … and … loads of things…”
    Auntie Nell held up one finger. “Just a moment.” She disappeared into the utility room, and came back out with a huge cardboard box. “One perfect puppy parcel. This is your present from me, Ruby. Toby is from your mum and dad, so I said I would give you all the things you’d need to look after him properly.” She dumped the box down in front of Ruby. “It’s heavy!”
    Toby wriggled in Ruby’s arms, curious to see what was in such a huge box. Ruby laughed. “I think you and Anya are going to be fighting over it,” she told him. “Anya loves boxes.” She hugged Toby gently. It was still hard to believe he was really hers!

Chapter Two
    Toby travelled the twenty-minute journey to Ruby’s house in a special cardboard box with flaps and a handle on top, which Auntie Nell had given them. But Mum had said that Ruby could get him out as soon as the car pulled up at the house.
    When Ruby opened the flaps, Toby was squashed into the corner of the box with his special blanket in his teeth, looking very worried. He really didn’t understand what was happening, and he didn’t like all the lurching about. The box smelled strange too, sort of new and biscuity. He was glad he had the blanket, which smelled of home, and the other puppies, and his mum. But he dropped it when he saw Ruby and wagged his tail, just a little. He didn’t stir out of his corner though.
    “Hey, Toby…” Ruby whispered. “Are you OK? Was it scary being in the car?”
    Toby edged closer to her and stood with his front paws on the side of the box, looking up at her hopefully. He didn’t like it in here. He wanted to be stroked and fussed over. And fed. He was starving. 
    Ruby laughed as she picked him up and he nibbled at her jacket. “Are you hungry? Auntie Nell didn’t want to feed you before we drove home – she said you might be sick. And she thought it would be good to feed you here, you see. Then you’ll have good first memories of being with us. In your new home!”
    Toby barked – a sharp, demanding, “Feed me!” bark. He was sure he knew what Ruby was talking about. Auntie Nell always talked to the puppies. Shall we feed you now, hmm? That was what she said when she was getting the yummy biscuits out.
    “Come on then!” Ruby followed Mum inside, and Dad staggered after them with the huge box, while Anya danced around them, singing a little dog-song she’d made up.
    “We’ve got to do a bit of unpacking and then you’ll get your dinner,” Ruby explained to Toby, as she put him down gently on the kitchen floor. “Your bowls are in here, and a big bag of the food you like.”
    But Toby was distracted from food for a moment, as he looked around the kitchen. Dad quickly closed the door. “We’ve got to keep him in here for a few days, remember,” he told Ruby. “Auntie Nell said to get him used to one room first.”
    “And it’s tiles in here,” Mum added. “So we can wipe up if he makes any puddles. I know Auntie Nell’s started house-training him, but he’s bound to be a bit confused, and he might forget he has to go out to wee. We’d better put some newspaper down too, just in case.”
    Ruby carefully unpacked the box, admiring the cute bowls Auntie Nell had got, with little bones painted on them, and the soft red padded basket.
    “Look! There’s a collar and lead!”

    “Oh yes. We’ll have to get a tag with our phone number put on that.” Dad nodded. “Here’s the food, shall I open it, Ruby? Then you can give him some.” 
    Ruby carefully used the measuring cup to fill the bowl with food – Auntie Nell had explained about measuring out the right amount of puppy biscuits for Toby’s size. As she put it down, Toby immediately stopped sniffing his way along the kitchen units, and raced for the food bowl like some sort of trained sniffer dog. He gulped down the biscuits in huge mouthfuls,