10 Buddy’s Friend

Buddy's Friend written by Pam Holden illustrated by Pauline Whimp

Fluffy was a beautiful white puppy that lived next door to Buddy. The two dogs were good friends, who liked to play together. Whenever Tom took Buddy to the park or the beach, he took Fluffy, too. If Fluffy's owners were taking him for a walk, they whistled for Buddy to go with them.

But one morning, someone left the gate open and Fluffy was able to sneak out. He thought it would be an exciting adventure to go out exploring all by himself. Like most puppies, he was a bit naughty sometimes! He trotted quickly down the street, past the park, until he reached the edge of the town, where he saw a farm. Fluffy had never seen farm animals before. He was staring at some cows, which were staring back at him, when suddenly a rabbit came hopping across the field.

Fluffy began to chase the rabbit, which ran as fast as it could to get away. He was getting closer and closer, when it suddenly disappeared into a hole in the ground. Fluffy didnt have time to stop, and before he knew what was happening, he had followed it right into its burrow! A puppy is too fat to fit in a rabbit's burrow, so poor Fluffy was stuck!

Fluffy tried to pull back, but he was too fat. He tried to push forward, but he couldn't move. He dug at the dirt with his sharp claws, but it didn't make any difference. He was stuck tightly! Poor Fluffy felt lonely and frightened in the dark hole. Nobody could hear him when he barked and whined.

At home, his owners were searching at the park and in the town for him all afternoon. "He is sure to come home when he gets hungry," they told each other. They got a special dinner ready for him, before calling, "Fluffy, dinner time!" All their family and friends helped them to hunt for the missing puppy. Tom made sure that Buddy stayed safely at home. "Don't you get lost, too," he said. But Buddy was very unhappy about being left at home because he wanted to help find Fluffy. He whined and barked in his kennel all night, while poor Fluffy scratched and wriggled all night in the rabbit burrow!