“Mrs Stickler caught Rosie and I had to rescue her. But I can’t keep her because…” A lump grew in Bea’s throat. “No one wants a puppy at the palace.”
Keira took Bea’s hand. “I’m sorry, Bea! Why don’t you come to the café and I’ll get us mugs of hot chocolate. My parents are just tidying up.”
Rosie scampered ahead as they walked to the Sleepy Gull Café. Mr Makali was sweeping the floor while Mrs Makali stood beside the till counting the money. Keira ran inside and told her parents the good news about the café.
“I think it was the spring rolls that did it!” added Bea. “My dad loves them so much. They reminded him how lovely your café is.”
“Well, please tell your father we’re very grateful and that I’ll make him my special spring rolls every day if he likes!” Mr Makali laughed. “But you look sad, Princess Bea. Is there anything we can do to help?”
Bea sighed. “It’s really Rosie that needs the help. She’s a stray and no one wants her! I really wish I could keep her at the palace but she loves to run around all the time. She’s already stolen a sausage from the kitchen.”
Mr Makali bent down to stroke Rosie. “I used to have a dog with a splendid grey-and-white coat just like this when I was a boy.”
Keira tugged her dad’s sleeve. “I’ve always wanted a dog, Dad! If Bea can’t keep Rosie, can we have her?”
“Keira!” her mum exclaimed. “Your dad doesn’t want an animal to look after. Anyway, what would our customers say?”
Mr Makali carried on stroking Rosie. “I think they’d like this little dog as much as we do. Look at her, Anita. How can you resist those eyes?”
Rosie looked up at Keira’s mum. Then she lifted a paw and put it on Mrs Makali’s knee. Mrs Makali’s face softened. “Oh well, if you both want to keep her then I don’t mind! But I’m not walking her. I have enough to do already.”
Keira beamed as she turned back to Bea. “Shall we look after Rosie? I promise we’ll take great care of her and you can visit every day.”
“That’s a brilliant idea!” Bea’s eyes shone. “I think she’ll love it here and I can help out by taking her for walks.”
Mr Makali smiled. “I have a big old cushion that would be perfect for her to sleep on. Let me see if I can find it.”
Bea gathered Rosie into her arms and hugged her tightly. “Rosie, this is going to be your new home, but I promise to come and see you all the time, and we can go and play in the woods just like we did this morning.”
Rosie woofed and licked her cheek.
Mr Makali came back with a little red ball. “Look what I found! Perhaps Rosie would like to play in the garden before bedtime.”
Bea and Keira played fetch with Rosie on the grass. The puppy scampered up and down, her ears flapping. Seagulls called softly as they settled on their clifftop nests. The sun sank into the sea and the sky faded from turquoise to silver-grey.
Chapter Nine
Friends Forever
Bea tried to sneak outside before breakfast the following morning, but Mrs Stickler marched her into the dining room where Natasha and Alfie were eating. “You must have a proper breakfast, Princess Beatrice. Oh, we’ve run out of grapefruit juice – I’ll get some more.”
Alfie grinned when the housekeeper left. “I poured the grapefruit juice into there.” He jerked his head at a potted plant.
Natasha looked horrified. “Alfie!”
“Well, it tastes horrible!” Alfie shrugged and turned to Bea. “Where did you go last night? What happened to Rosie?”
“She’s going to live at the Sleepy Gull Café with the Makalis,” said Bea. “We can go and see her whenever we like.”
Alfie pasted a thick layer of chocolate spread on to his toast. “I told everyone you were washing a profiterole stain off your dress so they didn’t go looking for you.”
“Thanks!” Bea glanced at Natasha. “And thanks for helping me get away.”
Natasha nodded primly. “I’m glad the dog has a suitable home, but I don’t think you should pick up a stray animal next time.”
Bea bit back a reply. She knew she’d do exactly the same thing all over again but there was no point telling her sister that. “Was Dad cross about the profiteroles?”
“I don’t think so. But Mrs Stickler got really annoyed and searched the whole palace when she found out Rosie was gone.” Alfie glanced at the doorway. “Watch out, here she comes!”
The housekeeper hurried in and set down the juice. Then she brushed the tablecloth with her fingers. “This is ridiculous! I’m still finding dog hairs everywhere.” She frowned deeply. “I can’t imagine how the creature escaped from under that heavy crate.”
“Maybe she was a puppy with the strength of a triceratops,” suggested Alfie. “Maybe she broke out when she smelled all the lovely profiteroles. I think profiter-ROLL is a great name for those things because they rolled a lot.”
Mrs Stickler sniffed. “Yes, I’ll be trying to fish them out from under the piano for weeks.”
“I saw one under the parlour sofa that must have rolled all the way across the hall! I’ll show you.” Alfie winked at Bea before pulling the housekeeper through the door.
Bea grabbed a piece of toast and slipped outside. She climbed the palace wall and flew down the path to the Sleepy Gull Café.
It was a bright day with little white clouds sailing across the sky. The sea sparkled and the yellow and orange poppies growing beside the path nodded their heads. Mrs Makali opened the window blinds just as Bea reached the café door.
“Good morning, Princess Bea!” Mrs Makali looked amused. “I wonder what could bring you here so early.”
“I came to see Rosie,” said Bea, trying to catch her breath. “Did she sleep all right? Did she like her bed? Has she had breakfast this morning?”
“She’s eaten three sausages already,” replied Mrs Makali. “I don’t think we’ll be throwing away leftover food anymore!”
Bea found Rosie lying on her big comfy cushion. The puppy leapt up and jumped around Bea’s legs, barking happily. Keira came over and they stroked the puppy together.
“Hello Rosie, I’m so glad you’re happy here.” Bea rubbed the dog’s silky coat.
“She’s such a good puppy!” said Keira. “She was waiting patiently when I came downstairs this morning. I bet you missed her though. Do you think the king will ever let you have a proper pet?”
“I don’t know. But even if I don’t get a pet of my own, I’ll never give up caring for animals!” Bea’s eyes shone. “Looking after Rosie was so much fun.”
Rosie barked and licked Bea’s hand, before picking up her red ball.
“Aw, look! She wants to play.” Keira jumped to her feet. “Let’s go out in the garden.”
Bea’s heart glowed as she followed Rosie and Keira outside. Rosie had been a stray but now she had a lovely home. Bea was sure there would be more lost animals that needed her help. She might not have perfect royal manners, but she was brilliant as a Princess of Pets!
Copyright
First published in the UK in 2019 by Nosy Crow Ltd
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Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd
Text © Paula Harrison, 2019
Illustrations © Olivia Chin Mueller, 2019
The right of Paula Harrison and Olivia Chin Mueller to be identified as the author and illustrator respectively of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988
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The Lost Puppy Page 4