Chapter Six
“Mum says we can make pancakes for after tea,” Becca told Zoe happily, as they took their coats off.
“I love pancakes,” Zoe said, trying to sound a bit more cheerful than she felt. It was a treat to go to Becca’s house, but she would have preferred to have stayed at the shelter with Cookie and the others for a bit longer. It would be rude to say that, though.
The girls curled up on the sofa and watched a film. Zoe was careful not to let herself think about how nice it would be if there were a little puppy snuggled up between them watching as well. But then, next time there might be. Becca’s dad was still outside fixing the fence. When they’d got back, he’d shown them the shiny new wire neatly running round the base of the old wooden fence. They’d taken him out a cup of tea, and a plate of biscuits, and he’d said gratefully that he thought he was nearly finished. It looked like their whole family was really committed to having a dog.
Becca had gone to get them both some juice, leaving Zoe watching the film – they’d both seen it before – and now she came running back in.
“Zoe! I’ve just been talking to Mum and Dad, and guess what!”
Zoe blinked at her in surprise.
“We’re going to ask your aunt if we can reserve one of the three puppies! Mum’s ringing her now! She’s arranging for them to come and do a home visit too!” Becca was dancing round the room in delight, and Zoe stared at her.
This was good news. One of the puppies was going to have a brilliant home, and be beautifully looked after. Zoe would even be able to keep on seeing whichever puppy they chose. She’d know what the puppies would look like when they were grown up, after all!
But what if they chose Cookie? the voice inside Zoe’s head niggled. Then Cookie would belong to someone else. She stopped herself. This was her best friend, Becca, they were talking about. Cookie would have a brilliant home.
“That’s wonderful,” she told Becca finally, swallowing back the lump in her throat. “Auntie Jo will be really pleased.”
“Oh, and Mum says tea’s ready,” Becca added.
Zoe nodded. That was good. After tea it would be time for her to go home, and she wouldn’t have to go on trying to be happy for Becca. She knew that she ought to be, but she wasn’t.
She was burningly, horribly jealous instead, and she felt terrible for it.
“We went out yesterday to that big pet shop over by the supermarket. Have you ever been there?”
Zoe shook her head.
“I hadn’t either. It’s enormous, and it sells everything! You’d love it, Zoe,” Becca burbled happily. “Your auntie emailed Mum a long list of stuff we’ll need, and we even got some things that weren’t on the list, just because they were so lovely! Lots of toys! The puppies loved playing with those toys they had in their pen at the shelter, didn’t they?”
Zoe nodded. “Yes,” she murmured quietly, burying her head as she got her pencilcase and book out of her bag.
“And we have to make sure that our puppy has lots to do, because they might be lonely without any others to play with. Although I’ll be there, of course. Zoe, are you OK?” Becca added. “You’re ever so quiet.”
“I’m fine.” Zoe tried to sound enthusiastic. “Did you get a rope toy? They really like that old bit of rope they’ve got.”
“Yes! A beautiful one. Much nicer than that ratty old bit they have now.”
Zoe sniffed, trying not to cry. But they like that ratty old bit of rope, she thought to herself. And what if Becca chooses Cookie? Zoe stopped herself. Whichever puppy Becca chose was going to be so lucky.
I’d be a good owner too, she said to herself miserably. I know so much about looking after dogs. I’ve fed those puppies, and cleaned up after them, and washed them when they got themselves covered in Weetabix…
“Did you hear me, Zoe?” Becca nudged her gently, and Zoe jumped.
“Um, no. Sorry. What?”
“I just said that we’re going to come to the shelter on Saturday, and choose the puppy, and then it can come home with us!”
“Oh!” So soon! Zoe swallowed hard. “That’s great,” she muttered. “Um, I really need the loo. Tell Mrs Allan, if she comes, OK?”
Zoe tried as hard as she could to be her usual self with Becca that week, but it was so, so difficult.
Becca clearly knew that something was wrong – she wasn’t stupid. Zoe kept avoiding her, and nipping off to change her library book instead of chatting with Becca and their other friends at lunch time. She spent the whole of one morning break hiding in the girls’ loos, after Becca started telling her about the gorgeous collars she’d seen on a pet website. They had little pawprint designs woven in to them, and space for a phone number, so that if the dog got lost it was easy for someone to call you. It had just made Zoe feel too upset. She’d had to tell Becca she felt sick when the bell went.
Zoe hated lying to her friend all of the time, but she didn’t want to admit how jealous and nasty she was really feeling.
By Friday, Becca had stopped telling her about all the things they were doing to get ready for the puppy. She almost wasn’t talking to Zoe at all. And at lunch she went off and played Chain-It with a group of other girls in their class, without even asking Zoe if she wanted to join in.
“See you tomorrow morning then,” she told Zoe, rather awkwardly, as they got their coats on at the end of the day.
Zoe nodded. “Yes. Bye, Becca.”
And that was that. No running out to the gate together. No promises to call later about homework. Becca just walked away, leaving Zoe fiddling with the zip on her jacket, and feeling totally miserable.
Kyra was waiting for her outside school as usual – the secondary school was just up the road from Zoe’s, and she usually got out later than Zoe did, but Zoe had taken ages that afternoon.
“Are you all right?” she asked. “You look really down.”
Zoe shrugged. “I’m sort of not talking to Becca,” she admitted. “It’s horrible.”
“Did you have a fight?” her sister asked sympathetically.
“No.” Zoe sighed. “It’s all my fault. You know the puppies at the shelter?”
Kyra laughed. “No, Zoe, it’s not as if you’ve ever talked about them at home.”
Zoe swung her schoolbag at her sister, making a face. But Kyra was always good at cheering her up. “She’s going to adopt one.”
Kyra smiled, and then looked confused. “But that’s good, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Zoe said, in a small voice. “I just wish I could too, that’s all. I’m jealous… And worse than that, I’m worried that she might choose Cookie.”
“Oh, Zo…” Kyra hugged her. “Look, I haven’t met these puppies but I can see how much they mean to you. Why don’t we stop off at the shelter, so you can show me them?”
“But you hate dogs!” Zoe stared at her.
“I don’t hate them.” Kyra shrugged. “I think I’m getting better. One of my friends at school has got a really cute spaniel. I even let him sit on my lap on the sofa the other day.”
“Wow, Kyra! That’s great!” Zoe smiled. “Of course I’ll show you the puppies. You’re going to love them, ’specially Cookie – she’s gorgeous. I was going to ask Mum if she could take me over there later, but let’s go now.” She grabbed Kyra’s hand, and practically towed her down the road.