Izzy's River by Holly Webb Read Free Book Online Page A

the sharp mudguard of the bike. Dad wouldn’t shout at her or anything, but he would sigh, in that tired sort of way.
    They galloped down the stairs, and found Izzy’s dad making a fuss over Billy. He was scratching thebig dog behind the ears, and Billy was leaning against his legs with a blissed-out look on his face.
    “Wow, he likes you!” Poppy said in surprise. Billy looked so relaxed he was about to fall over.
    “My dad used to have one of these – Grandad Pete, Izzy. His was called Patch, he looked like a pirate. That was when I was your age, though.” Her dad hugged her. “Oh, you got changed!” he said, sounding surprised.
    “We got a bit wet –”
    “Billy was chasing –”
    “The girls had an accident –”
    Izzy, Poppy and her mum all tried to explain at once.
    “An accident? Are you OK?” Izzy’s dad looked worriedly down at Billy, as though he thought the Bull Terrier might have hurt Izzy.
    “We’re fine, Dad. But Billy chased a rat into the river, down by the park, and then he got stuck in an old bike that someone had thrown in! We had to rescue him, and I tore my school dress. A little bit.” Izzy held it up apologetically.
    Her dad frowned at the tear. “I reckon I can probably mend that. You didn’t get hurt? And Billy didn’t?”
    Poppy shook her head. “He was lucky, though. He sort of caught his paw in the bike wheel, but we managed to pull it out without hurting him.”
    “There’s so much junk in the water down there,” Izzy explained. “Three shopping trolleys, Dad! And there was a TV.”
    “And a fridge on the bank,” Poppy added.
    “Is that the bit of the river that runs through Illroy Park?” Izzy’s dad asked. “With a footpath along it?”
    “Yes, but the footpath’s where loads of the rubbish is,” Poppy explained.
    “I’ve told Poppy she’s going to have to stop taking Billy down there,” her mum said apologetically. “I’m really sorry – I shouldn’t have let the girls go.”
    “No, don’t worry about that, you couldn’t have known Billy would go diving in.”
    Poppy’s mum sighed. “You don’t know Billy. I should have guessed!”
    Izzy’s dad grinned, and scratched Billy’s ears again. Billy groaned happily, and slumped further to the floor.
    “It’s a real pity that it’s in such a mess, though. I haven’t been there for years, but it used to be a great place for walks – your grandad and I used to take Patch down there, actually, Izzy. It’s such a shame.Anyway, we’d better get going. What do you say to Poppy’s mum, Izzy?”
    Izzy rolled her eyes. She wasn’t six. “Thanks for having me,” she said. “And see you on Monday, Poppy.”
    “So, did you have a good time?” Izzy’s dad asked her as they were driving home. He was looking at her worriedly, she could tell.
    “Watch the road, Dad!”
    “Sorry, sorry. I was thinking about you – while I had my tea all on my own.”
    “Oh, Dad!” Izzy gazed at him guiltily.
    “I don’t mean it! I just wanted to know that you were all right. You were, weren’t you?”
    “I had a fab time,” Izzy promised him. “I’m really sorry about the dress, though. It was one of the newish ones, too.”
    “Well, like I said, I think I can mend it. Or if I can’t, I’m sure your gran could.”
    “Was the river really a nice place to go, before?”
    Her dad nodded. “Beautiful. Still a bit wild, but that was good. I saw a kingfisher down there once. And there were some rare plants, I’m sure. I’m really surprised it’s been left to get into such a state.” He glanced down at Izzy. “How about we go down thereon our bikes tomorrow? Ride through the park and along the river?”
    “You don’t have to work tomorrow?” Izzy asked delightedly.
    “Nope, got my invoices done while you were at Poppy’s tonight. I fancy a bike ride. And maybe a picnic.”

    “Whoa.” Izzy’s dad stopped in the middle of the pathway, and stared around. “I didn’t realise it would be this