A Home for Rascal Read Online Free PDF

them.
    However, when Max opened the front door, Rascal let out a frightened little squeak. He sat down on his bottom and wriggled backwards when Max tried to yank at the lead.
    â€œRascal, walk! Come on, we’re going to the park!” Max said.

    Ellie stifled a giggle, and Max glared at her. “You do it then, if it’s so funny!” He handed her the lead.
    She crouched down next to Rascal, and stroked him gently. “Shall we go for a walk, Rascal?” she murmured. Then Ellie dropped one of his special dog biscuits just below the doorstep. “Come on, sweetheart.”
    Rascal stepped down to snatch the biscuit, and crunched it up. Then he sniffed at the plants by the side of the path, and took a cautious step forward.
    â€œShe cheated,” Max muttered.
    Ellie practised walking Rascal round the front garden first, and then they set off down the road. But it was a very slow walk, because Rascal wasn’t really usedto his lead. In the end, Ellie carried him most of the way to the park, which luckily wasn’t far away.
    When they reached the gate, Rascal stopped and stared at the huge space, dotted with trees, with a hill leading down to the big pond at the bottom. Lots of other dogs were running around, and it looked like dog heaven.
    Rascal pulled excitedly on the lead and barked loudly as a huge black Labrador came snuffling past. Ellie laughed. “Let’s run!” They dashed off across the grass, Max, Lila and Mum racing after them. Everyone laughed at Rascal as he bounced along, jumping so he could see over the long grass.

    Finally, Rascal stopped and sat panting at Ellie’s feet.
    â€œAww, he’s worn out!” Lila laughed.
    But suddenly, Rascal’s ears pricked up. He was staring down the hill at the ducks waddling and flapping around the reeds at the edge of the pond. He shook himself briskly and set off down the slope, his tail wagging madly with excitement. Ellie raced after him, skidding and sliding as they sped through the grass.
    â€œEllie, no!” Mum shouted.
    Ellie tried to stop, pulling hard on the lead, but Rascal was too interested in the ducks. They’d noticed him now, and were starting to quack anxiously, fluttering their feathers and slip-sliding into the water asfast as they could.
    â€œNot in the water! Rascal, stop!” Ellie gasped.
    And he did, skidding to a halt just at the edge, and barking crossly at the ducks as they paddled away.
    Unfortunately, Ellie was running so fast that she stumbled. She wobbled on the edge of the pond, before tumbling forwards and sitting down with a splash, up to her chest in dirty, slimy pond water.
    â€œUurrgh!” Ellie groaned. “Don’t look at me like that, Rascal, this is your fault. Oh, yuck, I’m sitting in duck poo!”
    Max slid down the slope and stood laughing at her. “You’re soaked!” He knelt down and stretched out a hand to helpher up.

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    Rascal yapped sharply.
    â€œMax, look out!” Ellie cried, as Rascal ran up to Max and scrabbled at the back of his legs, knocking him off balance.
    Mum and Lila arrived just as Max toppled into the pond too, sending another wave of muddy water all over Ellie.

    Lila sniggered, then backed off a few steps as Max and Ellie staggered out. “Don’t you dare come anywhere near me!”
    â€œWhat are you two doing? ” Mum asked, staring at them in horror.
    â€œI was trying to help!” Max protested. “I was pulling Ellie out, but Rascal jumped up at me.”
    â€œOh dear.” Mum shook her head. “Maybe he thought you were trying to hurt Ellie. He does seem to think she’s his special person.”
    Even though she was soaking wet and covered in mud (and worse) Ellie felt like she was glowing inside.
    She was Rascal’s special person!

Chapter Ten
A Night Visitor
    “I just don’t know what to do with him, Grandad!” Ellie sighed, watching as Rascal investigated Grandad’s