Jess the Lonely Puppy

by Holly Webb

  Jess stood by Chloe’s bed and looked up hopefully.

  “Hello, Jess!” Chloe smiled and patted the duvet. “Come on! Up!”

  Jess bounced on to the bed and settled herself on Chloe’s tummy, staring into her face. “Oof, you’re heavy,” Chloe said. “It’s nice though. You’re like the best sort of teddy bear.” She sighed.

  Jess put her head to one side and whined questioningly. What was wrong?

  “I know you don’t really understand, but you’re a very good listener,” Chloe murmured, tickling her under the chin.

  Jess wagged her tail sleepily and closed her eyes. She was still listening, but she was worn out after all that hard work at the class.

  “I hadn’t really thought about it until we went to the hospital this evening,” Chloe said, gazing at the ceiling. “Of course I’m still looking forward to Will coming home, but it’s going to be hard when he comes back, too.”

  Jess flicked one ear thoughtfully as Chloe mentioned Will.

  “I know Mum said you’re a family dog, but really you’ve always been mostly his. You’re not going to want to play with me, once you’ve got Will back…”

  Chloe sighed and looked down at Jess again. “I’m not even sure we can keep going to dog training, Will was so upset…” Then she smiled, sadly. Jess was fast asleep, floppy as a rag doll, stretched out on her tummy.

  “I’ll make the most of you while I can,” she whispered, stroking Jess lovingly.

  Grandad was very firm with Chloe when she suggested giving up the dog-training classes until Will could take Jess instead.

  “No. Absolutely not, Chlo. That’s not fair on you or Jess. You saw how much she loved training, and she needs it too. She was getting into bad habits. It’s sad for Will, but he loves Jess, and he’ll understand. There’ll be plenty more classes that he can take her to. I’m going to see him this afternoon, so I’ll have a chat with him.”

  Chloe hugged him with relief. She really didn’t want to give up the classes – that first one had been so much fun.

  When she next went to see Will, he glared at her as she came up to his bed, and she wondered if he was still cross.

  “Grandad says I have to say sorry,” Will muttered grumpily. “He says I should be grateful to you for looking after Jess so well.” He sighed. “And I am. It’s only that I was really looking forward to the classes. But Jess needs training now. I know it’s not fair to make her wait.”

  Chloe beamed at him. “You’ll be out of here soon, then you can take her. She’s really good,” she added.

  It was true. They’d had quite a few classes now, as they were twice a week, and Jess was a star at every one. There was going to be a competition at the final training session, Mike had said, and Chloe really wanted Jess to do well. They’d been practising loads in the garden. She didn’t mention training to Will again though; it didn’t seem very fair.

  She just wished Will could have come to the special agility taster session, too. As she and Grandad watched Mike setting up the course, she knew he would have loved it.

  Mike had brought his two adult Border collies to show everybody else what to do. “Aren’t they beautiful?” Chloe whispered to Jess. “You’re going to look like that, when you’re bigger.”

  Jess wasn’t really listening. She was staring eagerly at Mike as he took one of the collies, Marlo, to the start of the course. It had been set up in a big field on a nearby farm.

  Jess’s tail was twitching with excitement and her eyes sparkled as she watched Marlo set off, speeding round the course, leaping over the jumps, darting in and out of the weaving poles, and shooting through a long pop-up tunnel. He even jumped through a hoop, and then finished by running up a see-saw and tipping it down. Everyone clapped when he and Mike completed the course, and Marlo just shook his ears proudly, as if to say it was nothing.

  Mike and another instructor then began to demonstrate how to use the different equipment. Chloe and Jess started with low jumps. Even though Jess was tiny compared to some of the other dogs, she flew over the jumps easily.

  Mike watched her, laughing. “Chloe, promise me, when Jess is a year old and can go to proper agility classes, you’ll bring her along.”

  “Oh, does she have to be a year?” Chloe asked disappointedly.

  Mike nodded. “Some of the agility equipment isn’t suitable for pups because they’re still growing. Things like the weaving poles – those sticks Marlo was going in and out of – they can hurt a young dog’s back.”

  Chloe nodded. “I think she’d love to go to a proper class, once she’s old enough.”

  “Agility is great for collies; they’re so bright and so energetic. And it uses up all that energy too. They can be a real handful when they’re bored.”

  Chloe nodded. “Jess was being so naughty before we came to training,” she agreed. “She was a nightmare.”

  “You should definitely bring her to agility. Did you know some agility teachers run ABC classes?” Mike asked her, grinning. “Anything But Collies. Because they’re so good at it, they leave all the other dogs standing!”

  When they got back Mum dashed out to meet them and hugged Chloe delightedly. “Will’s coming home! Tomorrow! Isn’t that wonderful?”

  Chloe hugged her back. She had missed Will so much. Although it did hurt a little bit to see Jess jumping up and down, wagging her whole back end, not just her tail, she was so excited. “You’re going to be so glad to see him, aren’t you?” Chloe said, giving her a stroke. “Will’s hardly going to recognize you, your fur’s so long now!”

  After dinner, she spread herself out on the living-room floor and taped together six big sheets of drawing paper.

  “There you are! What are you doing?” Dad asked, peering round the living room door.

  “Making a ‘Welcome Home’ banner for Will. I thought I’d put it in the hallway. Can I tie it on to the banisters?”

  “Course you can. That’s a really nice idea, Chlo. Do you need any help?”

  Chloe shook her head. “Only with the tying. Thanks, Dad.”

  The banner took ages, outlining the letters, then painting them in with lots of different colours. When she’d finished filling in ‘Welcome Home!’, Chloe decided to have a break and go and get some juice while it dried.

  She came back with her drink and stood at the door to admire her work – which was now decorated with a pattern of blue and red paw prints.

  “Jess!” Chloe said crossly. “You walked on it!”

  Jess looked up at her guiltily, and gave her tail an apologetic wag. Chloe laughed. “Actually, I bet Will would like it better like this anyway.” She smiled to herself, imagining how furious she would have been if Jess had done something like that a few weeks ago. “You just want to welcome him back too, don’t you? We’d better wash your paws though, before you track paint everywhere.”

  Jess and Chloe sat on the window seat, staring out at the road, waiting for Will to come. Jess kept jumping down, running over to the front door, and then dashing back again. She was so excited her tail couldn’t stop wagging. Will! Chloe had said Will was coming home!

  Chloe peered out of the window. “Yes! There’s the car, Jess. They’re here!”

  Jess shot out into the hallway, barking excitedly and scrabbling at the door.

  Chloe opened it, and they stood watching as Will struggled out of the car on his crutches.

  Jess looked up at Chloe uncertainly as she saw Will hobbling towards them, but Chloe smiled and shooed her forward. Will was beaming, and calling to her, so she went to sniff him, and then licked his hands lovingly. She could tell that she shouldn’t jump up.

  “Good girl, Jess,” Mum said gratefully. “I was worried she might be a bit rough.”

  Will loved the banner. “Great painting, Jess.” He chuckled, balancing on one crutch to ruffle her fur. He looked up at Chloe. “Thanks for looking after her. She looks great.”

  Chloe smiled proudly, but he was saying it as if she didn’t have t
o worry any more. It felt like Will was taking Jess back now. She lagged behind as they went into the house. Feeling as though she ought to let Will and Jess be on their own, she lingered in the hallway. She missed Jess already!

  Jess led Will into the living room, and lay down determinedly on his lap as soon as he sat down on the sofa.

  “She’s not letting you go again,” Dad said, laughing.

  Jess sighed happily. But then she looked round for Chloe. Why wasn’t she here too?

  Jess sat up and licked Will’s hand, then headed out into the hallway, where Chloe was sitting on the stairs. Jess looked up at her and gave a worried little whine. Why was Chloe all on her own? She took the hem of Chloe’s dress in her teeth and tugged, very gently.

  Chloe smiled at her, her eyes widening with hope. “You want me to come too?” she whispered, and Jess wagged her tail. Chloe leaned forwards and kissed the top of her head. “You belong to both of us, now, don’t you?” she whispered gratefully.

  Chapter Eight

  “Jess! Jess!” Chloe ran down the stairs, a worried edge creeping into her voice. She couldn’t find Jess anywhere. Or Will. But she had a horrible feeling that she knew where they were.

  Will had hated being stuck in the house over the last few days. Almost more than he’d hated the hospital. He couldn’t ride his bike or skateboard, and even if he wanted to go upstairs Mum or Dad had to help. But not being able to walk Jess was the worst thing of all. He was desperate to take her out. Mum had driven him and Chloe to the park the day after they came back, so that he could watch Jess running around. But poor Jess hadn’t understood, and she’d kept coming back to Will and staring at him hopefully, wanting him to join in.

  Ever since then, Will had been aching to take Jess out to the park by himself.

  “She’s really well-behaved now, Mum,” he’d pleaded that morning at breakfast. “It isn’t far. Now that she’s been to dog-training classes, I could take her, no problem.”

  “Of course you can’t!” Mum sounded horrified. “You’re only just out of hospital! You need to use your crutches; how can you possibly manage Jess as well?”

  But Chloe didn’t think Will had been convinced. He’d just scowled into his cereal.

  Chloe stopped dead at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes wide. Will’s crutches were propped up by the front door, and Jess’s lead was gone from its hook.

  He’d taken her out, Chloe realized, nibbling her thumbnail anxiously. He’d got so cross with everyone fussing over him that he’d decided to show them, and he’d taken Jess for a walk on his own.

  Chloe stared at the door. If she went and told, Mum would have a fit. Better just to go and find them. She reached for the door keys and let herself quietly out of the house.

  Jess was walking beautifully, not pulling at all, just like she’d learned at the training classes. But Will was holding her lead strangely, she thought, looking up at him. He kept wobbling. He looked like he wanted to turn back, and they were only halfway to the park. Jess stared up at him and whimpered. Something was wrong.

  Will suddenly sat down on someone’s front wall, gasping. “Sorry, Jess,” he muttered. “I shouldn’t have brought you out; it was a stupid idea and now we’re stuck.”

  Jess pulled gently at the lead in his hand, but he tightened his grip. “No, sorry, Jess. We’re not going to the park.”

  Jess whined – she had to make him understand. If he let her go, she could fetch help! She took the lead in her teeth this time and tugged at it harder. Then she walked a couple of steps back in the direction of the house and barked encouragingly at him.

  “No, I can’t,” Will tried to explain. “Oh! You want to go home? Do you know the way?” he asked doubtfully.

  Home! Jess sat down, wagging her tail. She pulled the lead with her teeth again, and this time he let it go.

  “Go home, Jess. Find Chloe,” Will told her. The puppy licked his hand reassuringly, before trotting off down the road as fast as she could. She felt anxious – she didn’t like running along with her lead trailing like this. But she had to help Will.

  Chloe dashed down their street, heading for the park. She really hoped Will hadn’t done anything to make his leg worse. What if he’d fallen?

  Suddenly she spotted Jess running towards her – on her own. Where was Will?

  Jess gave a delighted bark. She’d found Chloe! She jumped up at her, barking again and again, and Chloe hugged her tightly. “Good girl, Jess. Shhh! Where’s Will? Can you show me?” she asked, holding Jess’s scrabbly front paws.

  Jess jumped down immediately and turned back, waiting for Chloe to pick up her lead. Then they raced along the road together.

  Will was still sitting on the wall when Jess proudly led Chloe back to him. He was looking very white, and Chloe sat down next to him, wondering if he’d have a go at her if she gave him a hug. She compromised by putting an arm round his shoulder.

  “Don’t say it,” he muttered.

  “I didn’t!”

  Will smiled at her for a second. “Sorry. I should have listened to Mum. It’s a good thing Jess was here. She knew what to do – she made me let go of the lead so she could fetch you.”

  “She’s a star,” Chloe told him, watching Jess panting contently. “You should come to her training classes, you know. The last beginners’ class is on Thursday. It’s a special competition lesson. You’d be really proud of her.” She stood up and helped him pull himself to his feet. Then they set off slowly down the road.

  “Um, maybe,” Will said quietly. “I’m sorry I was so jealous before. It’s just I was looking forward to taking her.”

  “You could help me practise with her,” Chloe suggested. “Even if the walking bits are difficult, you could do sit and stay. And she needs to learn to behave properly for you too.”

  “I suppose so.” Will looked a bit more cheerful. “Grandad told me about her stealing those biscuits. They ought to have a biscuit-hunt in this competition. Jess would win, wouldn’t you?”

  Jess barked, ears pricked, and Will burst out laughing.

  “I’m never taking her anywhere near a shop ever again.” Chloe shuddered. “Come on. If we’re quick, Mum might not have noticed we’ve been gone.”

  They limped back home, with Jess walking at a snail’s pace beside them, giving them both loving looks.

  “I can’t believe how good she is!” Will told Chloe, as he watched Jess sitting on her own in the middle of the church hall, with a biscuit between her front paws.

  “She isn’t even looking at it!”

  “She knows she’ll get it in a minute,” Chloe said, but she couldn’t keep the proud smile off her face. “All that practice we’ve done has really helped.”

  Mike nodded at her, and she walked back to Jess. “Good girl!” she said. “You can eat it now.”

  Jess gulped down the treat happily. She could see Will grinning at her too.

  Mike wrote something on the piece of paper he was holding and looked around the room. “Well done, everyone! That’s the end of the competition, so can you all line up along here with your dogs, please, and I’ll announce the winners.”

  Chloe grabbed Will’s arm and helped him to the centre of the hall, so that he could line up with Jess, too. “She’s your dog as well,” she hissed, as he gave her an I shouldn’t be doing this! look. “Intermediate training classes start next week, and I’ve told Mike we’re both coming – we can take turns leading her. You can be off your crutches for an hour by then, can’t you?”

  Will nodded, grinning. “I’m sure I’ll manage it.”

  Mike was walking along the line with a handful of shiny rosettes. “Well, it’s been very tight, but we have a winner. Chloe and Will, can you bring Jess out for her first place rosette, please!”

  “Jess, you won!” Chloe hugged her, quickly rubbing her cheek against Jess’s silky ruff of fur. “Come on, Will!”

  As they made their way to the front, Chloe looked round delightedly at Mum and Dad and Gra
ndad, all clapping. Grandad had the camera ready too.

  Mike handed Chloe the rosette, and she bent down to pin it to Jess’s collar. The puppy looked up at Will on one side and Chloe on the other, both smiling. And she thumped her tail happily on the floor.

  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

  Illustrations copyright © Sophy Williams, 2010

  First published as an ebook by Stripes Publishing in 2012.

  eISBN: 978–1–84715–273–2

  The right of Holly Webb and Sophy Williams to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work respectively has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.