Puppy Pie Read Online Free Page A

want to lose his money, his farmhouse, his family or his life. But this time, Fred was well and truly up the creek. His hands were tied. And so were his feet.’
    Tiny stifles a laugh: she knows Ma has no sense of humour, and doesn’t mean to be funny.
    â€˜So,’ continues Ma, ‘it was now up to your ancestors to save the family and the farmhouse. But what could they do? The dogs were asleep under the house and unaware of the threat. So, your ancestors did the one thing they did best: they bit the sleeping dogs awake. Next, the dogs rushed into the house. As soon as the dogs saw what was happening, they jumped up on the robbers and knocked them to the ground.’
    â€˜Oooh!’ the mites chorus: they love this part of the story.
    Ma pretends not to hear, and continues. ‘Then the fiercest dogs surrounded the robbers with teeth bared, snarling nastily. In the meantime, one of Useless’ smart ancestors yanked and pulled at Fred’s ropes with her teeth until the ropes gave way. In fact, Useless comes from a long line of smart dogs although you’d never think it to look at him,’ she adds picturing Useless asleep below them. ‘Then,’ she says continuing, ‘Fred grabs the robbers’ weapons, releases his family, ties up the robbers with their own ropes, and sends the youngest son on horseback for the police. Fred always believed that even if the robbers had got their hands on his money, they would have burned down the farmhouse just for spite. A lot of people were jealous of old Fred. He’d done very well for himself because he’d worked hard.’
    There is silence while the mites digest this cautionary tale.
    Just then Ma, alert as always, senses tea being poured into a mug. ‘Jump!’ she yells as Useless, ears pricked, tunes into the sounds of morning tea. He gets up immediately, picturing crumbs and fallen titbits. Just in time, the mites land back on Useless who sighs wearily and pads down the stairs to the kitchen.
    Useless noses into the kitchen and plops down under the kitchen table. As he does, Jake begins cutting up the flourless chocolate cake and slicing the date roll.
    â€˜What if,’ Harry begins, ‘there was a crop that not only fed you but clothed you and insulated your house?’
    â€˜This new crop of ours is completely pest resistant,’ Tom breaks in quickly as Useless scours among their feet searching for crumbs.
    â€˜Don’t forget it needs less water to grow than most other crops,’ Lucy says. ‘So it’s perfect for a drought-riddled country like Australia.’
    â€˜Guessed yet Gull?’ Jake asks grinning.
    â€˜That’s easy. Bamboo,’ Gull says triumphantly.
    â€˜Why bamboo?’ Helen asks passing the date roll to Lucy.
    â€˜Well, you said you could eat your new crop, and you can eat bamboo shoots.’
    â€˜True,’ Harry says nodding.
    â€˜Then you said you can make it into clothes. And I’ve touched towels made out of bamboo – so soft. You can make bowls and mugs and other stuff out of it too. Oh and,’ she adds, ‘you can use bamboo for scaffolding on buildings, it’s that strong. So’, she says, ‘I bet you’re going to harvest bamboo.’ She looks around the table and grins.
    Every face smiles at her but then they all shake their heads sadly.
    â€˜Please stop teasing me,’ Gull whines. ‘Tell me somebody. What is it?’

Chapter 2
    â€˜Well, you’re sort of close,’ Tom says. ‘But not close enough.’
    Gull groans.
    â€˜Give up, give up, give up,’ her cousins chant happily.
    â€˜Alright,’ Gull says. ‘You’ve got me. I give up.’
    â€˜But not without a mighty struggle,’ Helen laughs sipping her tea.
    â€˜Well what is it, Helen?’ Gull asks.
    â€˜Hemp,’ the cousins chime before Helen can answer.
    â€˜Hemp?’ Gull echoes. ‘But what can you do with