Selby Snowbound Read Online Free PDF

wrong with this kid?’ Selby wondered. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it. Suddenly the monster has turned to mush.’
    ‘I’m sorry,’ the boy blubbered.
    ‘What are you up to?’ Selby asked out loud. ‘What’s your game this time?’
    ‘Do you want to play a game?’Willy asked.
    ‘No, I mean what’s your angle? What’s your pitch? You’re trying to trap me into giving away my secret gift of the gab — I know you are.’
    ‘No, no, cross my heart,’ Willy said crossing his heart with his finger. ‘I’m not gonna be bad to you.’
    ‘Why don’t I believe you?’ Selby said.
    ‘It’s true,’Willy whined. ‘I’ll be good.’
    Selby could hear Dr Trifle’s footsteps approaching.
    ‘Willy?’ Dr Trifle said. ‘Didn’t I warn you not to lay a hand on Selby?’
    ‘I’m not doing anything,’ Willy said, bursting into tears again. ‘I’m not gonna hurt him, honest. He’s a good little doggie.’
    ‘Yes, he is,’ Dr Trifle said. ‘What’s wrong, Willy? Why are you crying?’
    ‘I’m not gonna be bad!’Willy burst out.
    ‘Okay, Willy. Would you like a nice cool drink?’
    ‘No thank you, Dr Trifle,’ Willy sniffled.
    ‘Suit yourself, Willy. Now I’d better go and make dinner.’
    Selby watched as Dr Trifle went back into the house.
    ‘See?’ Willy said. ‘I didn’t tell him you can talk. I didn’t tell him your secret or anything.’
    ‘No, you didn’t,’ Selby admitted. ‘Of course he wouldn’t have believed you — but that’s never stopped you in the past.’
    ‘Shake hands and we’ll be friends,’ Willy said, putting out his hand.
    ‘You’re going to grab me, aren’t you?’ Selby said. ‘You’ve got a trick up your sleeve.’
    Willy began to cry again so Selby reached out slowly and let Willy shake his paw. Then Selby pulled his paw back.
    ‘Maybe Willy
has
grown up,’ he thought.
    ‘Now we’re friends,’ Willy said.
    ‘So you’re not going to call me names anymore?’
    ‘Names? What names?’
    ‘Let’s see now, I think I remember “poo-poo stink-face doggy”. And then there was —’
    ‘No! No more names,’ Willy interrupted.
    ‘Okay, I’ll try to forget about the past,’ Selby said. ‘It won’t be easy but I’ll work on it.’
    ‘Can I just sit here with you?’ Willy asked, wiping his eyes.
    ‘Sure, why not?’ Selby sighed. ‘But this is the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t know what to think. Suddenly the whole world seems like a different place — a nicer place. It’s going to take some getting used to.’
    ‘Whaddaya mean?’
    ‘Never mind, kid. I’ll explain it when you’re older.’
    And so it was that Selby and Willy sat in the darkness talking and talking until the stars came out. When Dr Trifle called, Willy went inside to eat dinner but then he came back for more talk. Finally Dr Trifle called him again.
    ‘Willy? Time for bed.’
    ‘Okay, Dr Trifle, coming.’
    But once again Willy burst into tears.
    ‘Now what’s wrong?’ Selby asked.
    ‘I forgot Selby,’ Willy whimpered.
    ‘What do you mean, you forgot me? I’m right here.’
    ‘No, my teddy Selby.’
    ‘Your teddy bear is named Selby?’
    ‘Yes, I named him after you.’
    ‘Oh, that’s sweet,’ Selby said.
    ‘But I left him at home,’ Willy said. ‘And now I won’t be able to sleep. I need my teddy or I can’t sleep.’
    ‘Maybe you could ask Dr Trifle to pop over to your house and pick him up for you?’
    ‘No. He’s too busy. I don’t want to ask him.’
    ‘Well that’s very considerate of you,’ Selby said.
    ‘He’s right on the floor in my bedroom,’ Willy said looking at Selby with big wide teary eyes.
    ‘Hang on, kid. If you think I’m going to go over there to get your teddy then you’ve got another think coming.’
    ‘Please,’ Willy pleaded. ‘Nobody’s at home.’
    ‘I know,’ Selby said. ‘Your brother’s away and your mother’s in a restaurant with Mrs Trifle. But I’m still not