Grover, Stretch and the Broken Leg

by Claire Garth

  Published by Piccolo Nero,

  an imprint of Schwartz Publishing Pty Ltd

  Level 1, 221 Drummond Street

  Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

  enquiries@blackincbooks.com

  www.nerobooks.com

  Copyright © Claire Garth 2017

  Claire Garth asserts her right to be known as the author of this work.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior consent of the publishers.

  National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry:

  Garth, Claire, author.

  Grover, Stretch and the Broken Leg / Claire Garth ;

  illustrated by Johannes Leak.

  9781863959452 (paperback)

  9781925435832 (ebook)

  Garth, Claire. Grover McBane, rescue dog.

  For primary school age.

  Rescue dogs – Juvenile fiction.

  Dogs – Juvenile fiction.

  Fractures in animals – Juvenile fiction.

  Leak, Johannes, illustrator.

  Cover and text design by Peter Long

  Illustrations by Johannes Leak

  This book is dedicated to rescue dogs everywhere, and to the loving humans who care for them.

  And to Laura, Sophie and Greg, the best friends I could ask for.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Meet Grover McBane and his Friends…

  About the Author

  About the Illustrator

  Sydney Dogs and Cats Home

  Did You Know Grover McBane Is a Real Dog?

  Read More of Grover’s Adventures

  CHAPTER 1

  Grover McBane was SOOO thirsty after a hard day’s work as the Office Dog at the animal shelter. He’d spent most of the afternoon trying to stop two labrador puppies from jumping all over the place and knocking things over. He trotted over to his water bowl and slurped up as much water as he could.

  Grover loved his job – he felt proud looking after all the animals at the shelter, making them feel safe and helping them find new forever homes. He could still remember how scared he had been when he first arrived at the shelter after escaping the Man with Big Boots. Back then he couldn’t have imagined the wonderful life he had now, living with Annie and David at Cavendish Lane. He had lots of toys and tennis balls to play with, and his own wonderfully soft bed. He couldn’t be happier!

  Just as Grover was about to see if Annie was ready to go home, Banjo the Office Cat wandered in.

  The animal shelter had become so busy they’d decided they needed an Office Cat as well as an Office Dog! At first Grover was NOT HAPPY about working with a cat, but Banjo was nothing like Grover’s neighbour, mean Mr Tibbles. Banjo was a five-year-old ginger rescue cat. He’d arrived at the shelter really ill, but he’d slowly recovered. Now that Banjo was better, he helped care for new cats. Although he also spent a lot of time napping.

  Banjo jumped up onto the desk. ‘Hey Grover,’ he said, ‘did you check out that kid who came in earlier today? Man, that little puppy’s sure had a rough ride.’

  ‘No. What happened to him?’

  ‘Dr Cole found him by the front door of the shelter. He’s only ten weeks old, AND he’s got a broken leg, poor kid.’

  Grover was shocked. ‘A broken leg? How did he do that?’

  ‘No idea, but he’s with Dr Cole now. She’s decided to call him Stretch. I think she’s putting a plaster cast on his leg. I heard her say she hasn’t seen a break that bad in a long time.’

  Grover felt so sorry for the puppy. He couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have a broken leg.

  ‘And the worst thing is,’ Banjo continued, ‘Annie and Dr Cole have tried to find out who brought him to the shelter, but they haven’t had any luck. It looks like no one is coming to get him. At least he’s in good hands here. I reckon this is a case for you, buddy! Now, I’ve got to scram. There’s a half-eaten can of tuna in the kitchen with my name on it.’

  As Banjo left the office, Annie appeared in the doorway, holding a skinny greyhound puppy with a huge blue and pink cast on his left front leg.

  ‘Grover, this is Stretch,’ she said quietly. ‘He was in a lot of pain, so Dr Cole gave him some medicine to make him sleepy. Do you mind if he lies on your bed until we take him home? Stretch will be staying with us at Cavendish Lane for a little bit.’

  Grover moved out of the way and Annie placed Stretch gently on the bed. Stretch had the longest legs Grover had ever seen! Even though he was only ten weeks old, Stretch barely fit on Grover’s bed.

  After stroking Stretch’s tummy, Annie turned to Grover and put one of her hands under his chin. ‘Now, Grover, because Stretch is so young, he’s going to need someone to help him look after his leg. Can you do that? He should try not to knock it on anything, and he can’t get his cast wet. We want him to get big and strong so his leg heals quickly. I know you can do it, Grover. You’re a very responsible Office Dog.’

  Annie gently scratched behind Grover’s ears. It was the BEST feeling.

  ‘I’m just going to speak to Dr Cole,’ she said, ‘and then we’ll take Stretch home. I won’t be long.’

  As Grover heard Annie walk down the corridor, Stretch lifted his head a little and drowsily looked around the office. ‘Where am I?’

  ‘It’s okay, Stretch. You’re at the animal shelter, and our vet has taken really good care of you. My name is Grover McBane and I’m the Office Dog. Dr Cole has put a cast on your broken leg and given you some medicine. Tonight you’re going to go home with me and my human, Annie. We’ll look after you while your leg heals.’

  Stretch nodded slowly. ‘Grover, I feel funny. Will you stay with me?’

  ‘Of course,’ Grover said. He lay down next to the bed and gently rested his head on Stretch’s back. Grover didn’t understand how someone could leave a puppy like Stretch on a doorstep. How could they not care what happened to him? But then he remembered his first owner, the Man with Big Boots, and how mean he had been. Although it was awful for Stretch to be dumped at the shelter, Grover knew he was in the best place to find a new family and someone to love him forever.

  CHAPTER 2

  Grover and Annie took Stretch home, and he slept soundly all night. In fact, Grover had never seen a puppy sleep so well! While Stretch was sleeping, Grover stared at the enormous cast on the pup’s leg. He felt proud that Annie had trusted him with the important task of helping Stretch get better, but he had no idea how he was going to do it.

  How was Stretch going to move around with that heavy thing on? Grover had enough trouble looking after healthy puppies, let alone one with a broken leg!

  The next morning, Grover showed Stretch around the house at Cavendish Lane.

  At first Stretch was slow and quiet, but after a few minutes it was like he was a completely new puppy! When he wasn’t trying to run all over the place and sniff everything in sight, he was right beside Grover, following his every move.

  ‘This place is really nice, Grover! Is this where I live now? Are you my new brother?’

  Grover didn’t know what to say. Poor Stretch had been through so much already. Grover didn’t want to tell him he couldn’t stay here at Cavendish Lane forever.

  But Stretch didn’t even wait for an answer. He hobbled awkwardly with his c
ast over to Grover’s toys.

  ‘OHH, what are these things?’ Stretch asked, wagging his tail.

  ‘These are my favourite toys,’ said Grover. ‘Raccy the Raccoon, and Piggy, who makes a squeaky noise when you push on her belly. OW! That hurt!’

  ‘OOPS, sorry, Grover!’

  Stretch had accidentally stepped on Grover’s back foot.

  Maybe I should get a cast to protect my own leg, Grover thought.

  ‘That’s alright, Stretch, but try to be a bit more careful. Now, here are our food bowls, and here are our water bowls. Watch out, Stretch! Don’t get your cast wet!’

  Stretch had bumped into one of the water bowls and now water was all over the floor.

  ‘Sorry, Grover! I didn’t see it there. Boy, this cast is so annoying. And my leg is really itchy. Can you scratch it for me?’

  Scratch it for him? How am I meant to do that? Grover wondered.

  ‘That might be tricky, Stretch. HMMM, let me see … How about I try putting a stick between your cast and your paw and scratching it that way? Stay here and I’ll go get one.’

  Grover headed to the garden to find a long thin branch. When he saw the perfect one, he grabbed it with his teeth. He then ran back towards the house.

  But just before he went inside, he discovered Stretch with his head buried deep in a plant, his little tail poking out.

  ‘What the heck are you doing, Stretch?’ Grover asked.

  ‘Oh, um, nothing really …’ Stretch replied.

  ‘Well, come over here. I’ve found the perfect stick,’ Grover said proudly.

  ‘Um, sure, that sounds great, Grover … I just need you to do something for me first,’ said Stretch.

  ‘Okay, what can I do?’ Grover replied.

  ‘Help me get unstuck.’ Stretch sounded embarrassed.

  ‘Wait, you’re stuck in that plant?’ Grover couldn’t help laughing.

  ‘Yeah … It’s because of this stupid cast! Help me!’ Stretch called out.

  ‘Okay, okay, calm down, I’ll help you.’ Grover wished Annie was there with her camera to capture this very funny moment.

  Grover placed his head gently under Stretch’s skinny tummy, lifted the little pup up out of the garden bed and nudged him over onto the grass.

  ‘Thanks, Grover! I thought I was going to be stuck in there forever. This stupid cast is no fun. No fun at all!’ Stretch frowned at his broken leg.

  ‘You need to take it easy, Stretch. Your leg might take a bit of time to heal, but then you’ll be back to normal. In the meantime, though, if you don’t take better care of yourself, you’ll end up with all FOUR of those skinny legs in casts!’ Grover was joking, but he was also worried. At this rate, Stretch’s leg would never heal.

  ‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. That would be just terrible,’ Stretch replied, but he was already jumping around and falling all over one of Grover’s tennis balls.

  Grover rolled his eyes and sighed. I knew puppies were hard work, he thought, but this guy definitely takes the cake!

  CHAPTER 3

  For the next two days, Grover tried to stop Stretch getting stuck in crazy places, bumping his cast every five seconds, or stealing Grover’s food. It was exhausting! Luckily, Stretch was also incredibly cute. Plus, whenever he wanted to get somewhere fast, he would lift up his broken leg and run as quickly as he could with his three good legs! It was very smart, and so hilarious to watch.

  One morning, Grover was searching everywhere for Raccy the Raccoon and Piggy the squeak toy. Where on earth have they got to? he wondered. I haven’t seen them for days! He looked outside where he usually kept them, but there was no sign of them. He checked under his bed, but they weren’t there either. Just as he was about to search upstairs, Annie reached under the couch while she was cleaning and discovered one of Grover’s tennis balls. Then another … Then ANOTHER …

  There were so many that David started counting.

  ‘Four, five, six, seven, eight …’

  Grover stood by in awe. How had Annie found all his precious balls? And there was Raccy the Raccoon and Piggy! Who had hidden them in such a hard-to-get-to place?

  Hmm, Grover thought, I have an idea who it might have been.

  As Grover turned his head, he saw Stretch sitting in a corner of the lounge room, looking very guilty indeed.

  ‘Eleven, twelve, thirteen!’ said David.

  Thirteen tennis balls, two bones, Raccy the Raccoon and Piggy were all in a pile on the floor. Grover was overcome with happiness. He’d been wondering where all his tennis balls had gone!

  ‘Since when is this your hiding spot, Grover?’ Annie asked, looking at him with a cheeky grin.

  Grover couldn’t reply. He was too busy staring at the real culprit.

  ‘What are you looking at me for?’ Stretch yelped, trying to look innocent.

  ‘Umm, maybe because you’ve been stealing and hiding all my precious things!’ Grover barked.

  ‘Grover, don’t bark at poor Stretch,’ David said sternly.

  Why am I getting into trouble? Grover wondered. He’s the one who did the wrong thing! Grover had spent most of his life not having anything of his own, so his toys and balls meant the world to him. They were the few rare things that were just for him. He cherished them.

  Annie quietly said to Grover, ‘He’s just a puppy and he doesn’t know any better. Be patient with him.’

  Grover suddenly felt awful. Annie was right. He was meant to be teaching Stretch how to be a good dog. If Stretch’s toy-stealing antics were anything to go by, Grover was doing a terrible job.

  ‘Grover, are you angry at me?’ Stretch asked, looking at the floor.

  ‘No, Stretch, I’m not angry. It’s okay,’ Grover said, trying to sound reassuring.

  He took a deep breath. Annie had always taught Grover that sharing was one of the nicest things you could do. He said to Stretch, ‘You can play with my toys. I don’t mind. But perhaps ask me first? And try not to hide them under the couch.’

  ‘Okay, Grover, I’ll try.’

  ‘Come on, Stretch, help me take these toys back outside where they belong.’

  ‘YAHOOOO!’ Stretch cried as he bounded out of the corner and onto the pile of balls and toys, spreading them all over the floor.

  ‘Argh, Stretch! Not like that!’ Grover cried, chasing the tennis balls around the room, desperately trying not to lose any of them again.

  ‘Oopsie,’ Stretch whispered, slowly walking backwards into the corner. ‘Sorry, Grover.’

  Oh boy, Grover thought, this puppy is really testing my patience!

  ‘Come on, you rascal, let’s take you outside,’ David said, scooping up Stretch to carry him to the garden.

  Grover gathered together the last of the tennis balls and gently placed them on his bed so they couldn’t roll away.

  ‘You know why Stretch hid all your toys, don’t you, Grover?’ Annie asked, smiling. ‘It’s because he wanted you to play with him. He was just trying to get your attention.’

  Grover thought about it for a minute. If he wanted to play with me, why on earth would he hide all the toys? That’s silly!

  But deep down Grover knew what Annie meant. He’d spent so much of the last two days trying to teach Stretch the rules and protecting his cast, he’d forgotten to play with him!

  Annie bent down and gave Grover’s back a good pat and a rub. ‘I’ve got some good news, Grover,’ Annie said. ‘I think I’ve found Stretch the perfect new family. It’s not definite yet, so please don’t say anything to him. But I’m telling you now because he might be getting a brother and a sister. It’d be really good if you could show him how to be a good brother and play nicely.’

  Suddenly, Stretch stealing and hiding Grover’s toys didn’t seem so important. Grover was SOOO happy for Stretch! And to have a brother and sister to play with – Stretch would love it! As much as Grover wished his hop-along friend could stay at Cavendish Lane, he knew that Stretch deserved to have his own family who would love hi
m and look after him forever. Grover HAD to make sure that Stretch was ready for his potential new home. Now all he needed to do was figure out how!

  CHAPTER 4

  ‘Okay, you two, who’s up for the park? Any takers?’ David asked, walking back inside with Stretch.

  Yes, the park! Grover thought. Maybe my friends can help me teach Stretch how to play.

  ‘A park? Is it a real park?!’ Stretch called out, wriggling in David’s arms until he put him on the ground.

  ‘“A real park?”’ Grover asked, puzzled. ‘Of course it’s a real park! What other sort of park is there?’

  ‘Well, at my old home I never got to go to the park, so sometimes my mum would tell me to close my eyes and pretend I was there. She said there are lots of trees, and more grass than I could imagine. Is that what it’s like, Grover? Is it?’ Stretch asked, his cast banging on the floor as he bounced up and down on the spot.

  ‘Your mum was right, Stretch! It’s the happiest place I know. I think you’ll like it,’ Grover replied.

  Grover wondered what sort of home Stretch had come from. Did he get lots of cuddles and love? Grover wasn’t sure. He was desperate to ask Stretch more, but he didn’t want to upset him. Plus, David was waiting at the door, ready to go.

  As Grover and Stretch walked out the front door, Grover heard a familiar but annoying voice.

  ‘Morning, Dog.’

  Ugh, Grover thought, it’s Mr Tibbles. Again. That cat hangs around like a bad smell!

  But before Grover could reply, Stretch lunged at Mr Tibbles and barked his head off. ‘GRRRRRUFFFF!’

  ‘What on earth is that?’ Mr Tibbles exclaimed, jumping up in fright.

  ‘Oh, that’s my new puppy, Mr Tibbles. His name is Stretch. He didn’t scare you, did he?’ Grover asked. He couldn’t help smiling cheekily.

  ‘Scare me? Never!’ Mr Tibbles scoffed, running his whiskers through his paws. ‘Your kind don’t scare me.’

  ‘RUFF! RUFF! RUFF! RUFF! RUFF!’ Stretch barked again.