Monty whined – he just didn’t know what to do. But then he heard Amelie calling again and something in her voice made him scramble out from under the bench. He didn’t care if she was still cross. He had to go back to her.
He was shaking the dust and bits of twig out of his fur when he saw them running towards him, Daisy trotting ahead with her tail wagging eagerly and Amelie hurrying after her. Monty looked up at Amelie, uncertain but hopeful, his tail beating slowly from side to side.
“Oh, Monty! We were so worried about you!” Amelie crouched down beside him and brushed a bit of dirt off his nose. “Please don’t ever do that again.”
Her voice was trembling and Monty eyed her uncertainly. She didn’t sound angry with him but she didn’t sound like her usual self, either. He nosed at her hand and she laughed. “We didn’t know where you were,” she whispered, running her hand over his head over and over again. “I was so scared. I’m sorry I was grumpy with you. It wasn’t your fault about my project. I know you just wanted me to fuss over you like I’d been fussing over Daisy.”
Monty sat down and leaned against her knees, loving the soothing murmur of her voice.
“I bet you’re starving,” Amelie said suddenly. “Monty, do you want dinner?” She giggled as he jumped up, his tail wagging like mad. “That’ll be a yes, then. Oh, and we should get back and tell Josh we’ve found you!” She clipped on Monty’s lead and hurried the two dogs back round the lake towards the gate that led out to the alleyway.
Amelie rang the front doorbell in one long peal. Then she peered through the glass, trying to see her brother coming to answer the door.
“I’m behind you!”
Amelie jumped round to find Josh running up the path, grinning at her.
“You found him! Where was he? Wow, Monty, I’ve been looking all over for you!” He crouched down to stroke the puppy, while Monty whined delightedly and scrabbled at his knees. Josh fussed over him for a moment and then looked up at Amelie, frowning. “Hang on! You’re supposed to be in the house in case someone phones! Where have you been?”
Amelie folded her arms and glared. “I got him back, Josh! He had gone out through that hole in the fence – he was in the park. Daisy was right…” Then she spotted Monty’s anxious eyes and softened her voice. “I know I shouldn’t have gone on my own.”
Josh sighed. “At least he’s home. I’d better leave Mum another message. I don’t know what I’m going to tell her, though.”
“I really am sorry, Josh. Daisy was so sure. She pulled the fence up with her paw and I was certain she knew where Monty had gone. I didn’t want to miss the chance of finding him.”
Josh nodded and pulled out his keys. “I won’t say anything to Mum. But don’t ever do anything like that again, OK?”
Monty barked encouragingly as the keys jangled and Daisy gave an excited little yap.
“Yes, all right, you both want dinner. Come on then!” Josh unlocked the door and the two dogs rushed in, jumping around Amelie’s feet while she tried to take off their leads.
“I’ll get the food ready,” Josh called, heading into the kitchen. “Amelie, just look at Daisy. Think back to a week ago!”
Amelie beamed as she finally managed to unclip the lead from Daisy’s collar and the dachshund licked her cheek. “I know,” she said, following the two dogs into the kitchen. “But I feel really bad, Josh. I was worrying so much about her I forgot about Monty. He thought no one loved him any more.”
Josh put the food bowls down – side by side – and watched as the two dogs tucked in. They didn’t look bothered about eating right next to each other at all. “I guess you’re probably right,” he admitted. “We did neglect him – even though we didn’t mean to.”
Monty licked out the last crumbs from his food bowl, cleaning it so thoroughly that it went scraping across the floor. He looked at it for a moment, in case some more food suddenly appeared – and then he yawned so widely that Amelie could see every one of his teeth. He gave the bowl one last sniff and padded wearily over to his basket, climbing in and slumping down.
Daisy inspected her bowl and then pattered across the tiles after him. Their baskets were still next to each other but she didn’t climb into hers at once. She stood there, looking at Monty, who was lying with his nose hanging out over the side of his huge basket. Daisy came a little closer and then hopped in with him, curling up in front of Monty’s tummy.
Amelie held her breath. Monty lifted up his head to stare at Daisy and he seemed a bit surprised but he didn’t look as though he minded. He laid his head down again and lifted one long black paw, draping it lovingly over Daisy’s side.
“He’s hugging her!” Amelie whispered.
Josh pulled out his phone to take a picture. “I’m sending this one to Grandad.”
“She’s like a different dog,” Grandad said, smiling at Amelie. “Having a puppy like Monty to play with has taken years off her. Look at her go!”
Amelie nodded. Daisy was galloping down the garden towards them, chasing Monty, who had a rubber bone in his mouth.
“She’s hardly touching the ground,” Amelie giggled. “Look at her flappy ears! I think she’s going to take off.”
Monty skidded up to them and dropped the bone in front of Amelie, who was sitting by Grandad’s feet.
“You’re so clever!” Amelie rubbed his nose. “Shall I throw it again? Are you going to let Daisy fetch it this time?” She waved the bone at him and then threw it down the garden. Monty hurled himself after it.
“Ha!” Grandad laughed. “Daisy’s got a strategy. She’s not coming all the way back up here, she’s waiting halfway so she can get to it first. Daisy, that’s cheating!”
“She’s allowed to cheat a bit,” Mum pointed out, handing Grandad a mug of tea.
Josh reached over to grab a glass of juice from the tray. “Yeah, look how much shorter her legs are.”
“Don’t you miss her, Grandad?” Amelie asked suddenly. Then she wished she hadn’t – she didn’t want to make Grandad sad. But she couldn’t imagine giving up Monty and she’d only had him for a few months. Daisy had been Grandad’s dog for years.
“Of course I do.” Grandad sighed. “But I wasn’t taking her on enough walks, Amelie. She’s better off here. I’m really settled in my new flat and there are people around to look after me if I need it but I still get to see Daisy. It’s the best of both worlds.”
“It’s been brilliant for Monty, too,” Amelie said, smiling as Daisy whipped the bone out from under Monty’s nose. “He loves having her to play with, especially when we’re at school.”
Mum nodded. “I think we might have to get a bigger basket. Daisy never sleeps in hers any more and Monty’s growing so fast they won’t both fit in his soon.”
Daisy hurtled up the garden towards them and dropped the bone triumphantly next to Grandad’s feet. Then she sat down between him and Amelie, panting heavily and looking delighted with herself.
Monty trotted up to them and nudged his nose against Daisy’s. Then he slumped down on Amelie’s other side, resting his head on her bare feet. He didn’t mind about not getting to the bone first – not that much – but he wanted everyone to know that Amelie belonged to him.