Вебб Холли - Щенок Элли, или Долгая дорога домой / Ellie the Homesick Puppy

Холли Вебб

Щенок Элли, или Долгая дорога домой / Ellie the Homesick Puppy

Дорогие читатели!

Вы держите в руках необычную книгу. Для тех, кто изучает английский язык в школе или дома, она станет настоящим подарком! Эта книга билингва. Современный английский язык, на котором говорят герои знаменитой писательницы Холли Вебб, и прекрасный перевод станут замечательным подспорьем для того, чтобы учить язык просто и интересно. Если английский текст станет совсем непонятным, всегда можно подсмотреть, как та или иная фраза переведена на русский, а все грамматические конструкции или устойчивые выражения, которые вы можете не знать или забыть, объясняются внизу страницы.

С такой книгой вы быстро освоите все сложности английского и сможете похвастаться превосходными знаниями на уроках, а также в общении с носителями языка!

Holly Webb

Ellie the Homesick Puppy

For Tom, Robin and William

Chapter One

Megan, youre meant[1] to be packing those books, not reading them!

Megan looked up guiltily at her mum.

Sorry! I found this one down the side of my bed, and Id forgotten Id even got it[2]. I havent read it[3] for ages. Megan reluctantly put the book inside a box and sighed.

Mum smiled. Oh, go on, you can keep it out weve got a couple more days till we go anyway. Youll go mad without a book to read.

Megan nodded and laid the book on her pillow as Mum headed back downstairs. She sat down on her bed and shook her head disbelievingly.

A couple more days, Ellie. Only two more nights sleeping in this bedroom, she murmured.

Ellie clambered up onto Megans knee, wagging her tail, and then licked her hand lovingly. She didnt know why Megan sounded worried, but she wanted to help.

Youre excited too, arent you? Megan said, smiling. You havent got to go to a new school[4] though, lucky Ellie. She stroked Ellies golden ears, and the little puppy shivered with delight. Then she curled up on the duvet again, working herself into a little yellow furry ball.

Moving house was exciting and scary at the same time. Megans bedroom in the new house was much bigger than this one, which would be great but then she was really going to miss her best friend[5] Bella, and all her mates from school. They had broken up for the Easter holidays the day before, and everyone in her class had got together to make her a huge card[6], with all their photos on it and a message from each of them. Shed almost cried when they gave it to her, thinking how theyd all tried so hard to make it special. It was sitting on her desk now, so she could pack it very carefully at the top of one of the boxes, last thing. Megan looked at it and sighed.

It wasnt as if they were actually moving all that far only about ten miles; it wasnt the other side of the country, or anything like that. But it meant a new school, of course, and a whole load[7]of new people. New friends, Megan told herself firmly.

The best thing was that in two days time, Megan and Ellie would be able to step out of their back door and ramble wherever they wanted. Here they only had the park, and Megan wasnt allowed to walk Ellie[8] on her own[9]. She knew she was going to have to be very careful[10] going for walks in the countryside near their new house, and every time she mentioned it, Mum kept reminding[11] her about being responsible and not going too far. But all the same, she was practically going to have a wood at the end of her garden! It was going to be brilliant! Shed be able to take Ellie[12] over to her Grans house, too, as Gran lived just about in walking distance[13] from their new house.

Megan gently stroked Ellies soft golden back, and the little dog gave a sleepy whine[14] and half rolled over, inviting Megan to stroke her tummy[15]. She yawned hugely, showing her very white teeth, and opened her eyes, blinking lovingly up at Megan.

Megan smiled back at her. I just cant wait to take you for walks in those woods, she whispered happily. Its going to be the best thing ever!

Ellie sprang up[16] and gave an excited, hopeful little bark[17].

Megan laughed. You heard me say the W word, didnt you, Ellie-pie[18]? I cant believe you want to go out again, weve only been back home an hour!

Ellie was wagging her tail madly now, staring up at Megan, but Megan shook her head.

Im sorry, Ellie. Mum says I have to pack.

Ellie didnt understand exactly what Megan was saying, but she knew what that tone of voice meant. No walk. She lay back down on the bed, her head resting[19] mournfully on her paws. She knew theyd had a long walk, but now shed had a little sleep, she felt just like another run[20].

Megan laughed at her. Youre such an actress, Ellie! Youre behaving like I never take you for walks. And its not fair, because you know Id love to[21]. But we have to get everything into boxes. She sighed. And Mums only given me these ones. She says if I cant get all my stuff in here, Im going to have to sort some of it out and get rid of[22] it. She looked round her room worriedly. It seemed an awful lot to fit into such a small stack of boxes.

Megan went over to the window sill and started to pack her collection of toy dogs into a box. She had loads, all different breeds, but more than half of them were Labradors, like Ellie. Officially, she was a Yellow Labrador, but Megan thought yellow wasnt the right word at all. Ellie was really a rich honey-golden colour, with pale cream fur on her tummy. Her ears were a shade darker than everywhere else, and super-silky. Mum reckoned that Ellie might get darker as she got older, to match her ears, but Megan wasnt sure. She would be growing for ages[23], anyway; she was just four months old at the moment. But even though Ellie was only a puppy, she was always bursting with energy.

Ellie stared soulfully at Megan, watching her tape[24] up the box. It looked fun. Her ears twitched, and her tail wagged a little. Perhaps she could jump at that tape? She was never quite sure what was naughty, and sometimes jumping at things got her told off[25]

Suddenly, Ellies ears pricked up. She could hear someone coming down the path. Tail wagging, she stood up on the bed to look out of the window, and gave Megan a little warning bark. It was Bella!

Before Bella even had the chance to ring the bell, Megan and Ellie raced out of the room and down the stairs, making for[26] the front door. Ellie won easily. She always did[27]. She was amazingly fast. She scrabbled at the front door with her paws, barking excitedly, until Megan caught up[28].

Ssshh! Ellie, ssshh! Come back, look, I cant open the door when youve got your paws on it, can I?

Ellie scampered back, panting excitedly. She knew Megans friend Bella, and she hoped this meant a walk after all[29]. She was used to walking[30] with Bella, as Megan and her mum usually picked Bella up on the way to school. Ellie and Megan often walked round the corner to Bellas house when they went to the park too, as Megans parents didnt like her going on her own, even when she had Ellie with her.

Hi, Megan! Mum said I could come round and help you pack, if thats OK with your mum and dad? Bella looked hopefully at Megans dad, who was struggling into the hall[31] carrying a massive box of china[32] from the kitchen.

Umph! Fine by me, Dad said, putting down the box carefully. But make sure you do pack[33], girls, OK? Not just chatting.

* * *

Bella stared around Megans room. All these boxes! She slumped down on Megans bed sadly, and Ellie scrambled up after her to lick her face. Oof, not so much, Ellie! Oh, Megan, Ive known for ages you were going[34], but it seems so real now.

Megan sat down beside her, and Ellie wriggled happily between them. I know. Packing makes it seem as though it really is happening. The day after tomorrow Megans voice wobbled, and Ellie turned to lick her too. What was the matter with them both? She looked worriedly from Megan to Bella and back again, making her big puppy ears swing. Something was definitely wrong. Ellie stood up with her paws on Megans shoulder, and stuffed her cold black nose firmly into Megans ear. That always made her laugh.