selling greetings cards and worked from home, in a room she called her office. The family had an elderly cat called Spooks and four silky bantams â small fluffy hens that reminded Ella of teddy bears.
Cradling the puppy in the crook of her arm, Ella stood up. The puppy wriggled himself into a more comfortable position, then thumped his tail approvingly. Ella kissed the top of his head and the puppy licked her arm.
âIâ§ll carry your bag,â offered Isabel, picking it up.
âThanks. Can you manage the box too? We shouldnâ§t leave it here to litter the park.â
Isabel flattened the box by standing on it so that it was easier to carry, then pushed it into a bin as they walked past. Ella looked around her, nervously scanning the area. What if someone tried to claim the puppy back? She hugged the puppy tighter, overwhelmingly desperate to keep him. The puppy had been abandoned, she reassured herself. Why else had he been left in a box under a bush?
It took them ages to get home. The puppy had fallen asleep in Ellaâ§s arms, so they had to walk very slowly so as not to disturb him. Isabel didnâ§t complain once, even though she had the boring job of carrying their school bags. Despite Isabel sometimes being a bit bossy, Ella knew she was lucky to have such a good friend.
Mum was watching from her office window and opened the front door before Ella could get her key out.
âYouâ§re late. I was beginning to worryââ she broke off, suddenly noticing the sleeping puppy. âOh, how cute! Where did it come from?â
âHeâ§s been abandoned,â said Ella. âSomeone left him in a cardboard box in the Country Park.â
âElla! What were you doing in the park? Youâ§re supposed to come straight home.â
âI heard the puppy barking,â said Ella. âHe sounded upset. Itâ§s a good job we found him. Heâ§s far too small to be out on his own. Can I keep him? Please, Mum?â
Ella had often asked if she could have a dog, but this time was different. She felt strangely drawn to the cuddly puppy sleepily snuffling in her arms. She couldnâ§t explain it, but Ella knew they were meant to be together.
âHeâ§s very sweet.â Mum hesitated. âCome indoors while I think about it.â
âPlease,â Ella wheedled. âIâ§ve always wanted a dog and this oneâ§s special. Look how gorgeous he is.â
âI donâ§t know, Ella,â said Mum. âItâ§s a big decision. Iâ§ll have to talk to your dad about it first. He likes dogs, but heâ§s not keen on having one, in case it messes up his garden.â
At least Mum hadnâ§t said no. Now all Ella needed to do was to persuade Dad to let the puppy stay. She was sure that once Dad got to see him heâ§d agree.
âThanks, Mum.â If her arms hadnâ§t been full of puppy, Ella would have hugged her.
âCome on, Izzy. Letâ§s make the puppy a bed and find him something to eat.â
Isabel looked at her watch and pulled a sad face.
âI wish I could, but I promised Mum Iâ§d help her with Billy and Jack. Theyâ§re such a handful.â Gently she stroked the puppyâ§s head. âWhatâ§ll you call him if your dad says you can keep him?â
âBlue.â
Ella glanced at the puppy. The name had come out before sheâ§d even thought about it, but immediately she knew it was right.
âBlue,â said Isabel, trying it out. âLike his eyes.â
âBlue looks like a type of husky dog,â said Ellaâ§s mum thoughtfully. âDid you know they come from the Arctic?â
âA husky!â exclaimed Ella. âWow!â
The snowflake on Blueâ§s collar seemed to sparkle more brightly. Ella couldnâ§t resist touching it, and there it was again. That feeling, like the snowflake was sparking with a strange sort of energy that made her fingers fizz. She closed her eyes and immediately saw a picture of six husky dogs pulling a sled across a snowy landscape. It was so real, Ella imagined herself riding with them, an Arctic wind whipping across her face, snow freezing on her eyelashes.
âElla? I said, ring me when your dad gets in.â
Isabel pulled on Ellaâ§s arm, tugging her out of her daydream. Shivers fizzled up and down her spine. That was amazing! Ella loved the magical white world with the sled pulled by snowdogs.
âIâ§ll ring you,â she agreed, going to the door with her friend.
As Ella went indoors, Blue began to stir. Yawning daintily, he opened his eyes and stared up at her. His look was so intense it felt as if he were begging Ella to let him stay. But her dad was a keen gardener and every year his vegetables won prizes at the county show. Would Ella really be allowed to keep Blue?
âIâ§ll find a way,â she whispered. âI promise.â
Ella had homework and knew she should start it. Getting it done would work in her favour when she asked Dad about keeping Blue. She dragged her school bag over to the kitchen table and pulled out her exercise book and pencil case. It was maths tonight. Ella grumbled under her breath as she read through the questions. Hadnâ§t she worked hard enough at school? Blue gave a small bark.
âI know,â said Ella. âIâ§d much rather be playing with you too.â
Blue climbed out of the cardboard-box bed Ella had made him earlier, pricking up his ears as if he was listening to something. He barked again, louder this time.
âBlue, quiet.â
âWooo!â Throwing back his head, Blue howled and ran to the door.
âSsssh,â said Ella. âMumâ§s still working.â
âWoof!â Blueâ§s bark was surprisingly deep for a puppy as he frantically scratched at the door.
Ella jumped up. Blueâ§s howls really were too insistent to be ignored.
âOh! Do you need to go out? Clever boy!â
As soon as Ella opened the door, Blue raced outside. She followed, expecting him to stop on the grass, but instead Blue shot down the garden as if he was on an urgent mission. The silky bantams scattered, squawking indignantly, and Spooks quickly climbed on to the shed, moving much faster than he normally did.
âBlue, wait!â
Ella chased after him, past Dadâ§s vegetable patch and on towards her den, an old brightly painted caravan at the bottom of the garden. Thinking
