Princess Phoebe Read Online Free

for a few days.
    I carry in the sacking and bowls. There’s enough food for a week and we collect water from the allotment tap. Then we kiss them all goodnight, with a special kiss for Margaret, and get back in Nick’s van.
    â€˜So that was the easy bit,’ he says. ‘What are you going to tell Dad and Pearl?’
    â€˜I’ll tell them the truth,’ I say. ‘I’ll tell them a friend from school wants to give them a home, to save them going to the rescue.’
    When we get back to our house, having dropped Jan at hers on the way, Mum and Dad haven’t even missed the dogs. They are talking about the rent man who’s been calling again, saying we’re behind and if we don’t catch up with the payments he’ll put us out. So I casually drop in to the conversation that I’ve sorted the problem of the dogs and that they’ve gone.
    â€˜What?’ says Dad, ‘what did you say Ellie?’
    â€˜I said the greyhounds have gone, Dad. Don’t freak,’ I add quickly, as he starts changing colour.
    â€˜What d’you mean “they’ve gone”?’ he asks, turning to Nick. ‘D’you know about this lad?’ He often calls Nick ‘lad,’ as if Nick’s someone from the old days.
    Nick looks at me and shrugs, so I get in quick.
    â€˜Jan’s gran’s taken them,’ I say, ‘and she’ll help us find homes for them.’ Of course, this isn’t exactly true. ‘I thought you’d be pleased.’
    â€˜You’re getting above yourself my girl,’ he says, but I can tell by his face that he’s thinking there’s one less thing to worry about . It makes me sad to think that this is the onlything he feels about Queenie going, after all she’s done for him and Frank. But when I go to bed I can’t help worrying. Jan’s gran certainly hasn’t said she’ll help us find homes for the puppies and, in fact, she’s made it clear that they can only stay with her for a few days. What if they dig up her beans? Eat someone’s cat ? I can’t sleep for picturing five full-sized greyhounds going crazy on the allotments and getting even less food than they had in our shed, as I’ve got no money at all. Maybe we haven’t thought it through properly after all.

    Thankfully, next day at school, Jan has another of her ideas.
    â€˜Why don’t we advertise them? There could be loads of kids that want a greyhound.’
    â€˜But what about us?’ I say, ‘we want a greyhound, don’t we? And if all that happens is they get new homes with other people we could have let Dad take them away in the first place!’
    â€˜True,’ Jan agrees.
    â€˜D’you reckon your dad might let you have Jade, if you told him it was an emergency?’ Jan looks doubtful.
    â€˜It is an emergency,’ I insist.
    â€˜I’ll talk to him,’ she says, ‘and I’ll ask Gran to help.’

    When Jan tells me next day that her dad has agreed to her having Jade I’m thrilled to bits – and jealous. ‘What’s more’, she says, ‘Gran’s thinking of keeping Queenie herself.’
    â€˜What d’you say Ellie?’ Margaret asks as we arrive at the allotment later and the puppies jump all over us, ‘wouldyou like me to have Queenie? I’d look after her very well and you’d be able to see her whenever you want.’
    â€˜It’s a great idea,’ I say, feeling terrible.
    As I walk home later I decide that I’ll make Dad agree to let me keep Princess, even if it takes me all night.
    â€˜You’ve got Tag,’ I tell him, ‘Mum’s got Sam and Patrick, and the twins have got each other. I want someone of my own!’
    â€˜But you’ve got all of us Ellie,’ he says.
    â€˜ Please !’ I keep on at him. I sit on his knee and tickle his neck. I get up again and make him a cup of tea and a