Megan did laugh this time too[35], and so did Bella, but somehow they still sounded sad.
I suppose at least we can send each other emails, Bella said, reaching out to stroke Ellie, and Megan nodded.
And we can phone. Megan laughed. Mum said she thought they might have to get me my own phone line[36], or theyd never get to use the phone themselves! It wont be the same as taking Ellie to the park with you, though.
Ellie stood on the bed, listening to them with her head on one side. Something was definitely going on[37].
Im going to miss her too, Bella agreed, tickling Ellies ears. You know Mum still wont let me get a dog because she says we havent got the time to look after one. Now I wont even be able to share Ellie with you. And shes growing so quickly. I probably wont recognize her soon.
Ellie wagged her tail delightedly as Bella fussed over[38] her.
Ill email you loads of photos, Megan promised. And youre coming to stay.[39] Mum and Dad are going to get me a sleepover bed that slides under mine. Ellie can be half your dog again then.
Youd better record her bark for me[40], too, Bella reminded her. Ill never get out of the house for school in the morning without Ellie barking outside the gate.
Ellie yawned. Megan and Bella kept fiddling around with those boxes and talking, and no one was taking her for a walk. She was bored. She slid off the bed and squeezed underneath it. There were always interesting things to play with under there
* * *
I knew it! Megans dad put his head round the door five minutes later. You two are sitting there chatting, instead of filling boxes.
Sorry! Megan and Bella jumped up, and Megan grabbed a pair of trainers and stuffed them quickly into a box, just to look busy.
And whats Ellie doing under there? Dad asked, peering round the end of Megans bed.
Ellie crept out from under the bed looking rather guilty, with half a roll of brown packing tape attached to her whiskers. It was very chewy, though she didnt really like the taste, and it seemed to have stuck
Naughty Ellie! Megan giggled. Sorry, Dad. Ill clean her up
Dad shook his head. Honestly, after she ate your mums shoe yesterday, youd think shed have had enough of chewing things[41]. Just keep an eye on her, OK?
Megan nodded apologetically, and started to peel the tape off Ellies muzzle. Silly dog, she muttered lovingly, as Ellie squirmed. Yes, I know its not nice, but you cant go round with parcel tape all over you. There!
After that the girls made a real effort to get on with packing, and for the next hour they hardly even chatted[42] at all.
Ellie whined miserably. After Megan had taken the tape away and told her off, shed sat so patiently, waiting for someone to play with her, or take her for a walk, or at least stroke her. But Megan and Bella just kept taking things off the shelves and putting them into those strange-smelling boxes. Ellie didnt like it. This was her room, and it was changing. She liked it the way it was before.
Oh, Ellie, are you bored? Megan picked her up, hugging her gently. I wish I could play with you too.[43] But we wont be much longer.
Actually, I told Mum Id be back around now, said Bella, hugging Megan and Ellie both at the same time. I cant believe youve only got tomorrow left! She gulped. I wish Mum hadnt arranged for us to go and see my cousins,[44] not on your last day. Call me soon?[45] Promise! Bye, Megan! Then she dashed out of the room and down the stairs, almost slamming the front door behind her.
Megan sat down limply on her bed, looking round at the piles of boxes, all labelled by Bella in her favourite glittery felt tips with her best spelling, which was dreadful. Its going to be brilliant, she told Ellie again, but this time she didnt feel quite so sure.
Chapter Two
Packing up had been an adventure to start with, but by the second day, everyone was starting to get grumpy[46]. It was such a huge job. The removals van was coming early the next morning, and everything had to be packed up by then. Megan could tell that her mum was panicking that they wouldnt be ready in time.
She was trying to stay out of the way as much as possible, but it wasnt easy with Ellie. Mum and Dad were far too busy to take her for a proper walk, and Megan wasnt allowed to go out on her own, so Ellie was full of energy, and she couldnt work it off properly. Already that morning shed chewed[47] a roll of bubble wrap into tiny pieces all over the living room floor, and she kept managing to be in everyones way.
Mum, stop! Megan yelled, as her mum lowered a box of books on to the hall floor.
What? What is it? Her mum straightened up, red-faced with effort, and peered worriedly over the top of the huge box.
You were just about to squish Ellie with that! Megan helped her mum put the box down on top of another one, then pointed to the space shed been aiming for. Ellie was sitting there, wagging her tail and looking very pleased with herself.
Mum sighed. Youre going to have to take her into the garden. Im sorry, Megan, but Ellies going to get hurt in a minute. Shes better off outside[48].
Come on, Ellie! Megan tried to sound enthusiastic as she led Ellie out into the garden. Shed found the red-and-white-striped knotted rope toy that Bella had given Ellie for Christmas in her basket, so at least they could play.
Ellie loved racing up and down the garden after the rope, it was her favourite toy, although she didnt see why she always had to give it back to Megan after shed fetched it. It was much more fun to chew it to bits. She shook her head vigorously as Megan tugged at the toy, laughing.
Give it here, you silly girl! Im going to throw it again!
Megan, can you come here a moment! It was Mum, calling from inside. With everyone already a bit grumpy, she knew shed better go and see what Mum wanted, rather than pretend she hadnt heard.
Ill be back in a minute, she promised Ellie, and dashed inside.
Ellie shook the toy a few more times and growled at it, in case it was thinking of fighting back. At last she dropped it on the grass, nosing it hopefully. Where was Megan? This game wasnt as much fun without her. Ellie left the toy and trotted up the garden to the back door.
The door was closed, but Ellie scrambled up the back step, anyway. The door didnt always shut properly, and sometimes she could open it, if she nudged it hard with her nose at just the right place. Ellie pushed at the door. She wagged her tail proudly as it swung open and trotted inside.
Ellie wandered along the hallway, listening for Megan. Ah! That was her voice, coming from upstairs. She bounded up the stairs to find her.
Unfortunately, Megans dad was coming down the stairs, with his arms full of pictures from the bedrooms that he needed to bubble-wrap.
Ellie yowled as he accidentally trod on her paw, and tried to shoot off[49] through his legs.
Megans dad stumbled down the stairs, twisting his ankle. He landed painfully at the bottom.
Clutching his ankle, he looked up to see Ellie staring down at him.
That stupid dog! he yelled. Megan! Ellie just tripped me up on the stairs. Youre supposed to be watching her! I thought Mum told you to put her outside.
Megan and her mum had heard the crash, and they were already running along the landing.[50]
She didnt mean to! Megan protested, hurrying to pick up Ellie, who was whimpering in fright. Im sorry, Dad, she was outside. I cant have shut the back door properly[51] it wasnt her fault. Are you OK?
No, her father muttered crossly, stretching his ankle. Take that dog outside, now. Ow!
Megan carried Ellie back into the garden. The little dog was shivering. She wasnt used to being shouted at[52], and shed never heard Megans dad sound so cross. Megan sat down on the garden bench and cuddled Ellie, whispering soothing words. Ssshh, he didnt mean it. Im sorry, Ellie, I should have made sure[53] you couldnt get back in.