Oscar's Lonely Christmas Read Online Free

them, Hannah was up in her room learning her lines for the play when she heard a strange noise on the stairs. A whimpering noise, mixed with bumps, and panting. That was Oscar whimpering – and it sounded like Zak was with him! She flung down her script and dashed out of her bedroom. As she’d suspected, Zak was halfway up the stairs, with Oscar dangling from his arms, looking panicked.
    “Want Ossa in my bed!” Zak wailed, when he saw Hannah coming down the stairs looking cross.

    “You know we aren’t allowed!” Hannah told him furiously. Why did Zak always think he could get away with everything? It wasn’t as if she wouldn’t like Oscar in her bed! Oscar wriggled and whimpered again, and Hannah stretched out her arms to him.
    But Zak wouldn’t let go. “My dog!” he whined.
    “Zak! You’re making him sad, stop it. Give him to me!” Hannah was trying not to shout and upset Oscar, but it was hard when she really wanted to yell at Zak.
    “Don’t want to!”
    “Now!” Hannah hissed.
    “No!” Zak burst into tears as Oscar finally wriggled out of his grip and scrambled into Hannah’s arms.
    “Hannah! What are you doing with Oscar – you know he’s not allowed upstairs!” Mum had come out into the hallway, and she was glaring at Hannah.
    “But I wasn’t…!” Hannah gasped.
    “And what did you do to upset Zak?” Mum gave her an accusing look as she picked Zak up. He was really howling.
    Hannah shook her head in amazement. It was so unfair. Sometimes she just didn’t know how Zak managed it. He never got into trouble.

    After she’d caught Zak taking Oscar upstairs, Hannah made a real effort to keep an eye on her little brother andmake sure he wasn’t bothering Oscar too much. She was glad when he had had all his vaccinations, and she and Dad could take him out for long walks. Oscar loved it, especially when they took him to the woods. He even loved splashing in the stream, despite the December cold.
    One Sunday, Hannah finally persuaded Mum and Dad to let her and Lucy take Oscar for a walk on their own, now that Oscar was used to being on the lead. They agreed the girls could go as long as they borrowed Hannah’s mum’s mobile, and promised to be back in half an hour.
    “We haven’t really got time to go all the way to the woods. Shall we go to the park?” Lucy suggested.
    Hannah looked thoughtful. “Oh, I know, let’s go and show Oscar the horses in the field down past school! Dalmatians used to be carriage dogs, who ran alongside coaches hundreds of years ago. They’re supposed to love horses, and I don’t think Oscar’s ever seen any. Shall I nip back and tell Mum that’s where we’re going?”
    Lucy nodded eagerly, and smiled with pride when Hannah passed her Oscar’s lead.
    Oscar gazed up at the new girl with interest. She wasn’t like Hannah, but she was nice. He then looked hopefully towards the house, waiting for Hannah to come back. When she came running down the path, he yapped happily and danced round her feet.

    “He really loves you,” Lucy sighed. “You’re so lucky!”
    “I know.” Hannah nodded. “I love you, too, Oscar,” she told him, rubbing his ears.
    Lucy looked back at the house. “Oh, Zak’s waving to us. He looks a bit sad; I bet he wishes he could come too.”
    Hannah groaned. “He’s being such a nightmare at the moment! He won’tleave Oscar alone, and Mum keeps making excuses for him. Yesterday he decided he wanted to feed Oscar, and he poured a whole bag of the special dog treats into his bowl, so of course Oscar ate them!” She sighed. “And you know what Mum said? That I should have made sure I put the treats away in the cupboard.”
    Lucy giggled. “Sometimes I’m glad I’m the youngest!”
    The horses the girls were going to see belonged to a riding school, and there were usually a few of them out in one of the fields. At the moment they were wrapped up in rugs and not out for the whole day, but Hannah was pretty sure there would be