The Wolf Cupboard Read Free

teenagers. They had made those girls on the bus think he was really uncool.
    But Danny went on and on until Leon agreed.

    So, that night, Leon sat on Danny’s bed and opened the book
All About Wolves
.
    â€œJust five minutes’ reading,” said Leon. “And you’ve got to promise me you won’t get scared.”
    â€œI promise,” said Danny.
    Leon looked down the page, to find something nice to say about wolves.

    â€œHey,” he told Danny, “it says here most people are totally wrong about wolves. Real wolves are nothing like the big, bad wolves in fairy tales.”
    â€œSo what are they like, then?” asked Danny.
    â€œIt says real wolves are shy. They run away from people. They only attack you if you hurt them first. Or try to hurt their cubs. I didn’t know that,” said Leon, getting interested.
    He turned over a few pages. “Hey!” he said again. “It says wolves make really good parents. And you know when they howl?”
    â€œYes,” said Danny. “I’m good at howling.” He threw back his head and gave a really loud howl.
    â€œCool!” said Leon. “That’s a great howl!”
    Mum yelled up the stairs, “What’s going on? You and Danny aren’t fighting, are you?”
    Leon shouted down, “No, Mum!” He turned to the book again.
    â€œWhen wolves howl,” he told Danny, “it’s like they’re talking to each other. You can hear a howl ten miles away!”

    â€œWow!” said Danny. “Ten miles!”
    Danny opened his mouth and gave a howl so loud it seemed to shake the house.
    â€œNo more howling!” said Leon, putting his hands over his ears. “Mum will wonder what’s going on.”
    He flipped over another page in the book.

    â€œThe guy that wrote this lived with wolves in Alaska,” he told Danny. “He made friends with them. Look at this!”
    Leon showed Danny the book.
    It was the scary grey wolf from the other photo. And the man who lived with wolves was sitting beside him, scratching his ears, as if he was a great big friendly pet dog.
    Suddenly Danny said, his eyes shining, “I could be friends with that wolf in the cupboard!”
    Leon slammed the book shut. “Oh no!” he thought. “My plan is going all wrong!”
    â€œThat wolf could be my best friend!” said Danny.

    â€œI’ve played along with this stupid wolf in the cupboard story for far too long,” Leon thought. “Now it’s time to get tough!”
    â€œLook, Danny,” said Leon. “I told you before. There
isn’t
any wolf in that cupboard. Only silly little kids would believe that. There
isn’t
a wolf who eats bad kids.”

    â€œI know there isn’t,” said Danny.
    â€œAt last!” thought Leon. “He’s got it!”
    But then Danny went on, “I
know
he doesn’t eat kids. Because wolves are really nice. That book says so. Poor wolf, I bet he’s lonely in that cupboard. I bet he’s just waiting for me to be friends with him.”
    â€œDanny!” yelled Leon. “Will you listen to me?”
    But Danny’s eyes were shut. He had a happy smile on his face.
    And Leon knew just what he was thinking. Danny was thinking about walking down the street, with a big, wild wolf by his side. While the other kids stared and pointed and said, “Wow! How cool is that?”

Chapter Seven

Bad Boy
    Next morning, it was a mad rush to get to school.
    Danny didn’t talk about wolves while he was getting dressed. He didn’t talk about wolves at breakfast.
    â€œMaybe he’s finally got bored with wolves,” thought Leon.
    Today Mum was dropping them off. As she stood by the car, yelling “Hurry up!”, Leon rushed back upstairs to get
All About Wolves
.
    â€œI don’t need this book any more,” he thought. “I’ll take it back to the library on the way