Oscar's Lonely Christmas by Holly Webb Read Free Book Online Page A

just a puppy! Clever boy, Oscar!” And she reached down and patted him gently.
    Hannah beamed – Auntie Jess had never stroked Oscar before.
    “Hannah!” Zak came running to hug her, and then he hugged Oscar too.
    “We were so worried about you!” Mum told her.
    “Sorry,” Hannah whispered, but she was watching Zak and Oscar worriedly. Then she realized that Oscar didn’t have his ears laid back, and he was thumping his tail on the hall floor.
    “Wow!” Mum murmured. “Oscar’s not being nervous around Zak.” She looked at Oscar thoughtfully. “I suppose he’s just had a really good long walk. You’ve exercised some of his nerves away, Hannah.” Then she frowned as Zak tried to pick Oscar up. “No, Zak. You can stroke Oscar, but you don’t pull him around, OK.”
    Hannah looked at Mum in amazement, as she gently pulled Zak away. “Come on, Oscar’s tired and hewants to go and lie on his cushion now. You play with your new aeroplane. Granny and Grandpa want to see it.” Zak made a face, but he did as he was told, and Mum looked over at Hannah. “What is it?”
    “You never make Zak leave Oscar alone!” Hannah gasped.
    Mum sighed. “Well, we probably should have done. Oscar’s a patient dog, but Zak needs to be a bit more gentle. We’ve been letting him get away with stuff because he’s only little, but this is important. Sorry, Hannah. I know it’s hard being the big sister sometimes.”
    “Thanks, Mum!” Hannah threw her arms round her. Then she let go, looking thoughtfully through theliving-room door at Zak playing with their grandparents. “Oscar is Zak’s dog too, though, I suppose. I probably ought to let him join in more.” She sighed, and then brightened up. “When we start dog-training, do you think Zak can come too? He might learn to be more gentle with Oscar if he saw everybody at dog-training being really careful with their dogs.”
    Mum laughed. “We need to get on and book those classes after Christmas. But right now Oscar deserves a bit more turkey, don’t you think? Come on, Oscar!”
    Hannah nodded, then she put her head round the living-room door. “Zak! Do you want to come and give Oscar some turkey?”
    Zak jumped up and took Hannah’s hand. They followed Oscar as he trotted eagerly into the kitchen, and watched him gobble up the turkey. He pushed the bowl round the floor, licking round the sides, making sure he hadn’t missed any. Then he sighed happily, licked Hannah’s foot and slumped down on his cushion.
    Hannah giggled, and Zak giggled too, looking up at his big sister. Oscar was stretched out on his cushion with his nose in one corner and his back paws almost touching the other. He thumped his tail just a little as he heard them laugh. Then he sighed and wriggled himself back into a ball – worn out, and full, and very, very happy to be home.

About the Author

    Holly Webb started out as a children’s book editor, and wrote her first series for the publisher she worked for. She has been writing ever since, with over sixty books to her name. Holly lives in Berkshire, with her husband and three young sons. She has a pet cat called Marble, who is always nosying around when she’s trying to type on her laptop.

Other titles by Holly Webb:
    Lost in the Snow
    Lost in the Storm
    Alfie all Alone
    Sam the Stolen Puppy
    Max the Missing Puppy
    Sky the Unwanted Kitten
    Timmy in Trouble
    Ginger the Stray Kitten
    Harry the Homeless Puppy
    Buttons the Runaway Puppy
    Alone in the Night
    Ellie the Homesick Puppy
    Jess the Lonely Puppy
    Misty the Abandoned Kitten
    Oscar’s Lonely Christmas
    Lucy the Poorly Puppy
    Smudge the Stolen Kitten
    The Rescued Puppy
    The Kitten Nobody Wanted
    The Lost Puppy
    The Frightened Kitten

Copyright
    STRIPES PUBLISHING
An imprint of Little Tiger Press
1 The Coda Centre, 189 Munster Road,
London SW6 6AW
    Text copyright © Holly Webb, 2010
Cover illustration copyright © Sophy Williams, 2010
Inside illustrations copyright © Katherine Kirkland,