Rascal's Seaside Adventure by Holly Webb Page B

Ellie said, shuddering. “He’d be banned from kennels for life!”

    There were already bags and bags piled up in the hallway when Ellie and Max got home from school, and Mum was looking a bit harassed. “Hello, you two! Ellie, I’ve just looked in your room, and you haven’t even started packing! You do know we’re going early tomorrow morning, don’t you?”
    Ellie nodded. “It’s OK, Mum, I’ll go and do it now.” She stuck her school bag in the cupboard under the stairs – she didn’t even have to think about school for six whole weeks! Then she raced upstairs to pull out her suitcase from under the bed and decide what she was taking.
    Rascal dashed up the stairs after her,although it took him a bit longer – his legs were a lot shorter than Ellie’s, and he had to scrabble for every step.
    â€œOh! Sorry, Rascal!” Ellie came halfway down again to pick him up. “I’m just really excited about going on holiday! I mustn’t forget to pack for you, too. Your dog-bed, and your bowls – we’ll take the nice ones I painted for you; I want to show them to Gran. And lots of food and dog treats and your toys.” She frowned. “I hope Dad’s remembered he’ll need space in the car for all your stuff, and you in your pet carrier.”
    Ellie’s suitcase was full long before she had fitted in all the stuff she thought she’d need, and then Mum pointed out that she hadn’t packed any pyjamas, and she hadto take everything out and start again. It took ages, and Rascal got bored halfway through and went back downstairs. At last, Ellie sat down on her suitcase, and just about managed to zip it up.

    She sighed happily and eyed the pile of stuff that was still on her bed. Mum might not agree that it was better to take just one cardigan and fit in six books and her favourite pencils, but it would be OK if Ellie didn’t tell her.
    She raced down the stairs, making for the kitchen. She was sure she could smell tomato pasta sauce, and she was starving. But she stopped dead in the hallway, staring at the pile of stuff that was waiting to go in the car.
    Rascal was curled up fast asleep inside Max’s yellow fishing net. It probably still smelled of the crabs Max had used it to catch the last time they’d been to the seaside, Ellie realized as she went closer.She didn’t think Rascal had ever had crab – it wasn’t a popular flavour for dog food. But he seemed to like it – or maybe it was just that the net was nice and chewy. At any rate, it now had several extra holes.
    â€œRascal!” Ellie cried. She had a feeling that her holiday money wouldn’t last very long. There was no way she was going to convince Max that nets were meant to have holes that big in them!

Chapter Three
A Nightmare Jaurney
    â€œRight! It’s all in, just about. Come on, let’s get going.” Dad was looking pleased with himself, and Ellie thought he deserved to be, after managing to squash that huge pile of stuff into the car.
    â€œI hope Rascal’s going to be OK,” she said to Mum, as she picked him up and went over to his pet carrier. “He’s never been on a long car journey before.”
    Mum tickled Rascal behind the ears.“I’m sure he’ll be fine. It’s only an hour and a half, and he doesn’t mind the car, now, does he? He’s been fine when we’ve driven to the woods. He’ll probably just go to sleep after a while.”
    Ellie slipped Rascal into his pet carrier, which was surrounded by bags and boxes. He stood there looking rather confused. He didn’t go in the car very often, and he’d certainly never seen it this full. Dad had made sure he could see out, but it had been tricky.

    â€œIt’s OK,” Ellie told him. “It won’t take that long to get there, and we’re going to have the best time.”
    But an hour later,