Rascal's Seaside Adventure Read Free Page A

door. “I could hear the barking all the way upstairs!”
    Just then, there was a big crash. Rascal had knocked over a pretty pot of flowers! Gran gasped, and Ellie put her hands over her mouth in horror. Grandpa’s beautiful flowers! Now he would be furious with Rascal too!

    â€œOh, you bad dog!” Gran scolded.
    â€œNo, no, it wasn’t the little pup’s fault,” Grandpa said, patting Rascal, who was standing with his tail between his legs. “It was that dratted ginger cat. Rascal was just doing what dogs do…”
    â€œHmph,” Gran muttered. And Ellie was almost sure that as she turned away to go back into the house, she added, “I just wish he wasn’t doing it here!”
    â€œNever mind, Ellie.” Grandpa gave her a hug. “I was getting bored with those petunias anyway. I’ll nip down to the garden centre later and buy some new flowers.”
    Ellie managed a small smile, but inside she felt miserable. Gran was never going to like Rascal now!

Chapter Five
One Wet Dog
    Ellie and Lila were sharing the little bedroom in the attic of Gran and Grandpa’s house, and the next morning Ellie was woken early by the bright sun shining in through the tiny window above her head.
    â€œLila!” she whispered. Ellie was always careful with Lila in the mornings. If she growled, it would be best to leave her alone. But Lila just made a sleepy sort of sighing noise.
    â€œLila, wake up, it’s really sunny. Do you want to take Rascal down to the beach?”
    â€œWhat time is it?” Lila groaned.
    â€œUm, seven.”
    â€œElli-eeee! It’s the holidays!”
    â€œBut it’s so sunny and lovely out! Look!” Ellie pulled open the curtains and peered out of the little window. “Oh, Lila, the sea’s all sparkly!” She went over and perched on the end of Lila’s bed. “Please, Lila! I want to take Rascal to the beach and make him run around for ages to wear him out. I’ve got to get him to behave better. What if Gran says she just can’t have him in the house for a whole week?We might have to go home!”
    Lila sat up. “She wouldn’t!”
    Ellie shook her head. “You didn’t seeher after Rascal messed up the garden yesterday. He’s been nothing but trouble since we got here.”
    â€œOK. Just give me a minute to work out what I’m going to wear.”

    Ellie sighed. That meant at least twenty minutes. But Mum and Dad wouldn’t be too happy about her and Rascal going to the beach on their own. She needed someone – and Max was even worse to get out of bed in the morning.
    Lila was obviously worried about Gran and Rascal too, because she was ready fifteen minutes later, in her favourite pink denim shorts.
    The girls crept downstairs, and Ellie fed Rascal while Lila wrote a note for Mum and Dad. Then they set off down the road to the sea.
    A couple of old ladies stopped to admire Rascal, and he sat beautifully and let them stroke him. Ellie sighed as they walkedaway, talking about how lovely he was. If only he’d behave that nicely for Gran!
    â€œThere’s people in the sea already!” Ellie said, as they reached the top of the steps.
    â€œIt’ll be cold this early in the morning.” Lila shivered. “I might go in later though.”
    There was a sign attached to the railings. Ellie nudged Lila. “A sandcastle competition! That’s tomorrow, isn’t it?We should definitely do that. I’m sure Max will want to join in too – he loves competitions.”

    Lila nodded. ”It could be fun.”
    Rascal was pulling on his lead, wanting to get down on to the sand. “OK, OK!” Ellie laughed. “Come on then.” As soon as they got to the beach she let him off his lead, and he raced up and down, sniffing at all the interesting bits and pieces that the sea had left behind, and every so often digging a hole to bury the best