Walking the dog

Walking the dog

"We'll me you back at the car in half an hour. Now remember, don't let that dog off the leash!" said Mom, as she locked the car door.

"We'll be careful!" replied Alex. His sister Nina nodded. The children ran down the path towards Bramble Pond with their spaniel Jeeves at their heels.

Alex and Nina had lived in the New Forest all their lives. They knew every path and track around their village; they knew where to gather primroses in spring and blackberries in autumn; they knew where the wild forest ponies and red deer lived; they knew the best places for exploring or flying a kite. However, this was the first time they had been allowed out alone with Jeeves, their new dog. Trotting and leaping along the path, ears flapping like fans, Jeeves was soon tripping the children up with his leash.

"Honestly!" grumbled Alex, as he untangled himself for the fourth time. "Once more, and I'm letting him off the Leash!"

"You can't do that, Alex!" said Nina bossily. "Mom said we're not allowed." Alex frowned in annoyance. Who was Nina to be bossing him around? He was the eldest! Jeeves chose this moment to curl his leash around Alex's ankle...

"That does it!" yelled Alex, (Now sprawled face down in a puddle). He unclipped the leash. Jeeves, released, shot forward like an arrow, straight into Bramble Pond. Horrified, Alex and Nina pelted after him.

Ten minutes later, Jeeves was still playing happily in the muddy pond. On the slippery edge, the children called and coaxed. It was no use - Jeeves wouldn't budge. "Right, that's it!" roared Alex, purple in the face. "I'm going in!"

"No!" wailed Nina, but Alex was already knee-deep. As Alex splashed his way towards him. Jeeves darted out. He shook himself. cleverly avoided Nina's clutching hands by rolling in a cowpat, then set off again. Paralyzed with fear, the children watched as he wriggled under some barbed wire into a field of sheep.

"We must get him out!" cried Nina anxiously. "He'll get into so much trouble!" But they were excluded by the barbed wire. To make things worse, now the sheep were starting to fuss.

Alex froze. An angry figure brandishing a stick had appeared from the barn. In no time at all, Jeeves was a prisoner. "This your dog?" growled the farmer. "If I ever catch him worrying my sheep again, I'll have the law on you." Gabbling apologies, Alex took Jeeves and Nina clipped on the Leash. As fast as Olympic medalists, they fled along the path until the farmer was out of sight.

"Phew! That was close!" said Alex, relieved. "Well, at least everything's ok now." They set off, grinning happily.

Meanwhile, back at the car, Mom and Dad were waiting. A wet, muddy, filthy and smelly procession drew nearer and nearer. Alex had spoken too soon. Their telling-off broke all previous records.

"I can't believe Mom wouldn't let any of us back in the car," wailed Nina. "I'm really tired!"

"Who cares about the walk? I can't believe we have to give Jeeves a bath and shampoo! I'll never let him off the leash again!"