by
Maymay
nce upon a time there was a puppy called Stripe. None of the people who knew
him knew why he was called Stripe, because he had spots. Stripe had a seven-year-old
owner called James who loved Stripe very much.One day when James took stripe for a walk he let him off his leash to have a run.
Suddenly Stripe saw a rabbit running across the field. He ran after it right into the
forest. Then the rabbit ran into his home, so Stripe turned and started back home.
After a while, Stripe noticed that it was getting dark and the trees were closer
together. Stripe knew he was lost. He howled hoping that someone would hear. Then
he sat and waited but no one came. So he had a sniff around to see if he could find the
way he came. But he couldnít. He felt sad and lonely . He knew that James would be
sad and upset that he couldnít find his puppy. Stripe looked at the sky. It was dark and cloudy. He heard thunder coming and it started to rain. You should have seen it rain and heard the thunder. Stripe was very scared. Suddenly a clap of thunder was right over his head.Stripe ran towards a small green door he spotted in the ground. He opened the
door. He found that there was a drop and then a corridor."Hey! Who are you?" came a voice, "where do you come from? And why are you
in my house?""I'm sorry I didn't think anyone lived here," said Stripe scared.
"Well you do now. Who are you and where do you come from?" Then from a
room on the left came a big badger in a waistcoat with a pocket watch and a small pair
of round rimmed spectacles on his nose. He looked very posh."I'm called Stripe," said the puppy "and I'm lost. It's terrible weather outside and I
am very sorry.""Don't say too much at once. I get muddled up and confused. But I think I got
what you said. Don't worry, I shouldn't have left the door unlocked. Anyway you are
soaked to the bone and you're shivering. Come on into my living room and warm
yourself by the fire while I get you a towel to dry yourself with. I don't want you to
catch a chill," said the badger in a kind voice."Thank you very much, you are very kind." said Stripe when the badger came back
with a towel."Think nothing of it young pup. I usually have lots of lost animals to stay and I like
the company," said the badger. "Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Mr Broc
Badger but you can call me Broc. What did you say your name was?" said Broc."Thankyou Mr Broc. My name is Stripe," said Stripe "You are very kind. I can't
thankyou enough. But I do wish I was at home with my owner James, he'll be missing
me and I miss him," sighed Stripe sadly."Not to worry. You stay here until this awful weather has stopped and I know
someone who knows these woods like the back of her paw or hoof I should say. He
name is Deirdre Deer and she will show you the way out of the forest. Which direction
did you come from?" asked Broc Badger."I think I came from that direction," said the puppy pointing to the South.
"Right. Well you look like you need a long sleep. Follow me."
Holding a candle Broc lead Stripe down a long corridor lit by glow-worms in a jar
eating lots of leaves, but it was still quite dark. Then Broc stopped and opened a door.
Inside there was a little bed, a chest of drawers, a wardrobe and another little door that
lead to a small bathroom. Stripe thought this was very grand. But all the time he
thought of his little basket at home with a warm cover that was hung on the radiator all
day above his bed, which was surrounded by his toys with his special squeaky
snowman that James bought him at Christmas."You can sleep in here," said Broc interrupting his daydream. "It's very cosy."
"Thankyou," said Stripe. "I'll see you in the morning.""Yes. If you need me my room is two doors up from here on the left. Goodnight."
"Goodnight and Thankyou," said Stripe climbing into the little and snuggling down
under the quilt. Thinking, "this is nice, but it can't beat my basket at home." With that
he fell asleep.He was woken by the smell of sausages and bacon. He knew what they tasted like
because James had them for breakfast and saved some for him. He hoped that that
lovely smell was for him and Mr Broc. But of course it is, there's no one else here, is
there?"Good morning Stripe," said Broc cheerfully, as he entered the kitchen. "This is
Nibbles the fieldmouse, he came to visit me on his way to work. He works in the corn
field just through the trees there." said Broc pointing westwards."Hello," said Nibbles getting up and shaking Stripe's paw so hard it nearly came
off. "Nice to meet you.""Yes, it is nice to meet you too," said Stripe, pulling his paw away.
"Are you lost?" asked Nibbles curiously.
"Yes Iím afraid I am. I got caught in the storm last night. I was ever so cold and
wet, and kind Mr Broc let me dry myself by his fire and stay here for the night.""Mmm, Broc is a nice fellow. Well I must be off. I'll be late for work. See you
around maybe," and he scampered out of the door."Well young Stripe, today we will go and find Deidre Deer and she will take you
out of the forest back to your owner James. But first, we must eat," said Broc serving
up the sausages and bacon. After the delicious breakfast they set out to find Deidre
Deer."Deidre, Deidre," shouted the badger. "DEIDRE DEER WHERE ARE YOU?"
shouted Broc, even louder this time. Then there was a small rustle coming from a big
bush, and out came a beautiful young deer."Did someone call? Oh, hello Broc. How are you this fine morning?" she said.
"I'm very well Thankyou. I have come to ask you a favour. Could you show this
young pup out of this forest in that direction?""Why certainly, Broc. What is your name pup?"
"Stripe," said the puppy shyly.
"Right then young Stripe, follow me. Goodbye Broc," said Deidre.
"Goodbye Mr Broc and thankyou very much again. I had a nice time staying with
you last night." said Stripe sadly, he quite liked staying with Mr Broc."Well you must be off, come and visit me whenever you like. Call Deidre and she
will show you the way here," said Broc."Thankyou very much Mr Broc. I would like to come and visit you and--" he
broke off and said more quietly, "could I bring some of my friends to visit and bring
James to meet you?""Of course. I would love to meet James and your friends. Goodbye"
"Bye," said Stripe and Deidre together, as they started Northwards.
It was a long way and Stripe thought he was sure he didnít come this far but he
must have. They walked past some very strange fungi and flowers that Stripe had
never seen before. He picked one his mouth to give to James. It was purple and yellow
with long pointed petals and a green stem. It was still a long way to go so Stripe
practised his alphabet."A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q," then stopped. He always got
stuck on this bit. "Oh yes," he suddenly remembered. "U, V, W, X, Y, Z!!" After he
finished his alphabet he practised his counting. He could only count to ten, but he
knew it very well. '1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10" he said."Pardon?" said Deidre "did you say something?"
"Yes. I was practising my counting. Listen, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10" said Stripe."Very, very good. Now say your alphabet."
"A. B. C. D. E. . G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z" recited Stripe.
"Well done. Look at the big Oak tree. That means only two miles to go. We've
walked two miles already." said Deidre. Stripe was shocked. The thought if that made
his legs ache." Come on it won't take us long if we walk faster," said Deidre who obviously had
walked a great deal in her life. But that was easier said then done, for poor Stripe his
legs ached. He sat down tiredly."Can we stop for a bit please. My feet hurt," said Stripe nearly crying.
"Yes, sure. I'm tired too," said Deidre.
"Thankyou," said Stripe and fell asleep.
He was woken by a clap of thunder. He sat up quickly and looked around for
Deidre, but he couldn't see her anywhere. Then she came bounding out of a bush."Was that thunder I heard?" he asked her.
"No! Come on quickly, run. That was a gun that woke you up. I went to fetch
some water from the stream and I spotted the Hunt and the Hunt spotted me and tried
to shoot me, come on, run as fast as you can, they're coming!!!!" she said, panting.
They shot off towards the way she came from then stopped, turned and ran back the
other way, realising they were running towards the Hunt and not away from it. They
ran and ran."I think weíve lost them," panted Deidre "and look! We're at the edge of the
forest!""My house, Thankyou Deidre. Thankyou, and thank Mr Broc for me. I must go
and meet James. Bye.""Goodbye," said Deidre but she had hardly found time to answer because Stripe
was already racing through the long grass in the field.James was sitting sadly looking out of the window. Suddenly he saw a little white
dot. It had brown spots and it was bounding across the field outside the house.
"STRIPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he shouted, "STRIIIIIIIIIIIIPE!!!! Mummy, Mummy look
itís Stripe." Mummy came to the window."Well look at that. George, come and look at this."
Daddy (who's name was George) looked out the window and saw James and Stripe running towards each otherand Stripe leaping into James' arms who was being licked by Stripe who looked very, very, happy. That night James took Stripeís basket from under the kitchen radiator and took it in to his room, put it under his radiator and called for Stripe. He snuggled
Stripe in his little warm blanket that had been on the radiator all day and surrounded
him with his toys and his special squeaky snowman that he got him for Christmas.
Then he got into his own bed and snuggled down beneath the sheets and said
goodnight to Mummy and Daddy. Then Stripe was so happy he went and slept on
James' bed.But Stripe didnít forget kind, old Mr Broc Badger or Miss Deidre Deer. No. The
next morning Stripe woke James up with a big lick and pulled him out of bed. James
got dressed and Stripe and Stripe pulled him to the door."Mummy, I think Stripe wants to show me something. I'm going to the forest with
Stripe." shouted James."OK, but don't go far, you'll get lost." said Mummy
So Stripe went to the edge of the forest and called for Deidre. Stripe took James to
meet Mr Broc and James was delighted to go so close to a badger and Broc was
delighted to meet James and see Stripe again. So Stripe invites his friends and takes
them and James to meet his best friend Mr Broc, and while James is in bed asleep
Stripe meets his friends and tells them the story of his little adventure in the forest.
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