Rascal's Seaside Adventure by Holly Webb

Chapter One
Exciting News
    â€œOff the lead training…” Ellie murmured, looking down at Rascal and chewing her bottom lip. He was in a very bouncy mood this evening, and so far he’d tripped her up in walking to heel, and managed to snatch the whole bag of dog treats she’d brought to give him if he was good. She’d had to borrow some spare ones from her friend Jack. Jack’s enormous Great Dane puppy, Hugo, was looking quite annoyed.
    Reluctantly, Ellie undid Rascal’s lead. They hadn’t been doing off the lead work for very long, but Rascal had been starting to get the hang of it. He just didn’t seem to be in the mood to behave today… She glanced anxiously over at Dad. Dad gave her a thumbs up, and Ellie tried to look confident. Their instructor, Jo, was always saying that if they were nervous, their puppies would pick up on it and be naughty.
    Rascal wagged his tail happily as Ellie unclipped his lead. They were supposed to be practising recalling the puppies, so Ellie let him wander off to weave in and out of his big friend Hugo’s legs, and then called, “Rascal!”

    She smiled with relief as Rascal turned immediately, and pattered back to her, looking hopeful. “Good boy!” she told him happily, giving him one of Hugo’s treats. “Well done!” Just then, Ellie noticed out of the corner of her eye that Amelia, who was in Year Six at her school and was always rude about Rascal, wasn’t doing so well. Her pretty little spaniel, Goldie, had got into a scrap with one of the other dogs, and was completely ignoring Amelia. Ellie tried not to look smug as she sent Rascal off again.
    Then she put her hand to her mouth in horror. They’d taken Rascal for a run round the park before dog training – Jo had suggested they always did that, so the puppies could do a wee before they cameinto the class. But obviously Rascal had had a lot to drink today. He was looking around thoughtfully in a way that Ellie recognized…
    â€œRascal! No, wait!”
    Ellie blushed scarlet and rushed over, but she was too late to stop Rascal lifting his leg against one of the big old radiators that kept the village hall warm in the winter. He left rather a large puddle, and Ellie could hear Amelia sniggering behind her.

    â€œOh, dear!” Jo came over. “I’ll nip and get you some kitchen roll, Ellie!”
    Ellie nodded, crouching down next to Rascal so as not to see everyone else giggling. “Oh, Rascal,” she muttered. “And we were doing so well!”

    â€œDon’t worry, Ellie. No one minded,” Dad said soothingly, as they walked home, but Ellie still felt embarrassed. When was Rascal going to become one of those perfectly trained dogs, like Jo’s golden Labrador, Emma?
    They let themselves into the house, and Rascal raced into the kitchen to see if anything had magically appeared in hisfood bowl since he last looked.
    Mum, Lila and Max were sitting at the kitchen table, and Mum had paper and a pen in front of her. She was clearly making one of her “lists”, and Ellie sighed. Mum liked lists, but they always meant lots of work for everyone else.
    â€œSo you need to make sure that any clothes you want to take are in the basket, so I can get them washed before it’s time to pack. Oh, you too, Ellie.”
    â€œPack for what?” Ellie asked.
    â€œWe’re going to Gran and Grandpa’s! Gran just rang up and said it was definitely OK!” Max told her excitedly.
    â€œReally? Brilliant!” Ellie beamed. Their grandparents lived by the sea, in a littletown called Green Bay. It was a proper old-fashioned seaside place, with gorgeous sandy beaches, a pier and the best fish and chip shop ever. “Hey! It’ll be the first time Rascal’s been to the seaside! I bet he’ll love it. When are we going, Mum?”

    â€œThe first week of the summer holiday – so straight after you