School of Mischief Read online

  “Sure thing! Come on, sleepyhead! We’re going home,” Julie whispered as she gently scooped Storm into her arms.

  Storm stretched, pushing against her T-shirt with stiffened front legs and then he leaned up to lick her chin. “Thank you, Julie,” he woofed gratefully.

  Mrs. Harding wrinkled her nose. “Don’t let him do that, dear. And I don’t want Storm in your bedroom until the vet’s checked him over. He’s probably riddled with worms!”

  Storm sat bolt upright. “I do not have worms!” he yapped indignantly.

  It was all Julie could do not to burst out laughing at the look on his little gray and white round face.

  Chapter ★ FOUR ★

  The following day, Julie woke up early, too excited to sleep any longer. She was about to fling herself out of bed and run straight down to the garage, where her mom had insisted Storm sleep.

  But something warm and furry was curled up in the crook of her arm. “Good morning,” woofed a bright little voice.

  “Storm?” Julie exclaimed. “How did you get up here? Mom will go nuts if she comes in and finds you on the bed!” She turned over to cuddle Storm and began stroking his fluffy, gray and white fur.

  Storm gave her a mischievous doggy grin. “I have used my magic so that only you can see me.”

  “Wow! You can make yourself invisible, too?” Julie said. Storm was just full of surprises. She wondered what else her magical little friend could do.

  Later on that morning, Julie stood outside her gran’s, waving as her mom pulled away from the curb. “See you this evening!” she called.

  While her mom was at work, Gran was taking Julie and Storm to get Storm checked out by the vet. After that he could officially sleep in Julie’s room.

  Gran had arranged a small pet carrier. “It used to be Snowdrop’s. It should be just the right size for Storm.”

  Julie nodded. “Good idea.”

  As Gran was getting her jacket, Storm eyed the carrier warily. “I do not think I want to go into a cage,” he barked.

  “People usually take their dogs to the vet in a carrier. You won’t have to be in it for long,” Julie explained.

  “Very well,” Storm woofed. He still didn’t look too happy, but he allowed Julie to lift him into the carrier and fasten the door.

  It was only a short walk to the vet. The waiting room was filled with a variety of people and their pets. While Gran gave their details to the receptionist, Julie sat on a chair with the pet carrier on her knees.

  A boy about her own age was sitting opposite her. He had a head of floppy, dark hair. His little black mongrel puppy kept weaving in and out of his owner’s legs, getting his leash in a terrible tangle.

  Julie grinned. “He looks like a handful,” she said to the boy.

  The boy shook his head. “Tell me about it!” He frowned at the little dog. “Teddy. Sit!” he ordered, but the puppy ignored him and dived under his chair.

  “Julie Harding?” called a nurse from one of the treatment rooms.

  “That was quick.” Julie smiled at the boy and his puppy on her way past. She placed the carrier with Storm in it on the examination table. Gran followed her in.

  The vet smiled at Julie. She wore a white coat and had short, black hair, smooth, dark skin, and twinkly eyes. “What can we do for you, young lady?”

  “Mom says Storm has to have a checkup. We just got him,” Julie said. “He’s a stray, but I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with him.”

  The vet nodded. “You’re probably right, but it’s smart to make sure with a new puppy.” She opened the carrier and lifted Storm out. “Hello, Storm. You’re an adorable puppy!”

  Storm allowed the vet to check his eyes and teeth and part his fur to look for fleas. He even let her roll him on to his back and pat his round, little tummy.

  “Well, he’s a fine, healthy pup with no obvious problems,” the vet said. “He’s about the right age for his first vaccination. As he’s a stray, I don’t think he’s had it. I could do that now, if you like?”

  “Um . . . I’m not sure.” Julie stiffened. She hadn’t expected this.

  “What is a vaccination?” Storm woofed.

  Julie quickly checked that Gran was speaking to the nurse and the vet was busy tapping Storm’s details into a nearby computer. “It’s an injection to stop you from getting diseases. Is that okay?” she whispered.

  “Injection?” Storm frowned in puzzlement.

  Julie didn’t expect that any of the magical wolves in the Moon-claw pack had ever visited a vet. Before she could elaborate, the vet reached up to a shelf and turned back to the table. She was holding a syringe with a long needle.

  Storm’s eyes widened in alarm. He stiffened and laid back his ears. “I do not need this medicine! My magic protects me,” he barked.

  “Hold him still, please. He’s bound to wriggle a bit,” the vet said. The nurse grabbed Storm and held him firmly.

  “No, wait! Don’t give it to him!” Julie cried. “He said that . . . I mean, I don’t think . . .”

  “It’s all right, sweetie. I hated it when Snowdrop had injections, too,” Gran interrupted gently. “The vet won’t hurt Storm. She knows what she’s doing.”

  No, she doesn’t, Julie thought desperately. Storm’s not like any puppy she has ever treated! He’s not even from this world!

  But there was no way she could explain without giving away Storm’s secret and, anyway, she doubted if anyone would believe her.

  Suddenly, Julie felt a strange, warm tingling sensation down her spine as miniature, gold sparks twinkled deep within Storm’s fuzzy, gray and white fur.

  Something very strange was about to happen.

  Chapter ★ FIVE ★

  To Julie’s complete amazement the vet and nurse jerked their hands away from Storm as if they’d both been stung. In a stream of golden sparkles that only Julie could see, they shot backward across the room, as if they were on roller skates.

  Gran took a step back in surprise as Storm did a giant leap off the examination table and landed on the floor, on all fours, right beside the door.

  “Let me out!” he yelped.

  As Julie moved toward him, another nurse popped her head into the room. Storm saw his chance. He dodged around her and shot into the waiting room.

  The vet and the nurse stood there with stunned expressions. They began blinking and rubbing their eyes as if they were coming out of some kind of trance.

  “Storm’s just . . . a bit nervous. We’ll . . . um . . . make another appointment when he’s calmed down,” Julie burbled. “Bye! I have to catch him!”

  Julie rushed out and sprinted across the waiting room. The receptionist, the boy with the little black mongrel, and the other pet owners gaped at her, but Julie ignored them all.

  Storm was pawing frantically at the front door. “It’s all right. I’m here,” she crooned, picking him up and taking him outside. “I’m sorry you were so scared. The vet didn’t understand that you aren’t a normal puppy and I couldn’t really explain, could I?”

  Storm blinked up at her from under his brow. “You did your best, Julie. Do not worry. I am fine now!”

  Julie breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you could use your magic without giving yourself away.”

  Gran emerged from the waiting room with the empty pet carrier. “Oh, thank goodness. You caught him! I’ve never seen a dog jump like that before. Maybe we should change Storm’s name to Skippy!”

  “Who?” Julie asked, puzzled.

  “Skippy. He was a kangaroo in an old TV series,” Gran explained. “Anyway, I had a quick word with the vet. She says we can bring Storm back any time for his vaccination.”

  “Um . . . right,” Julie murmured. She guessed that there was no way anyone would get Storm to go back there now, but she didn’t say so.

  “In the meantime, the vet did say Storm was healthy, so that should satisfy your mom,” Gran reasoned. “Why don’t you take Storm for a walk now to calm him down. There�
��s a park just around the corner. I’ll just drop this pet carrier back off at my apartment and meet you there in a few minutes.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Gran.” Julie was relieved—she wasn’t sure that Storm would be able to magic himself out of trouble at the vet’s a second time!

  They walked back with Gran to the old shoe factory building, but then carried on toward the park. As soon as they came to the wrought-iron park gates, Storm gave a happy woof and ran inside.

  Julie smiled as she watched the tiny puppy rooting around in the grass and searching for interesting smells. Storm picked up a twig and came lolloping toward her with it in his mouth. As Julie strolled along, Storm pranced beside her, proudly holding the twig.

  Some way ahead, Julie noticed the same dark-haired boy with the small, black dog from the vet. The little dog was on a leash.

  “It’s the boy from the waiting room and that’s his puppy, Teddy,” Julie told Storm. “Should we go and say hello?” Julie hadn’t had a friend who was a boy back at her old school, but this boy had seemed friendly and it would be nice to know someone her own age in this town.

  Storm nodded and dropped his twig, wagging his tail eagerly.

  The boy looked up and smiled as they approached. “Hi. Didn’t I just see you at the vet’s? I’m Isaac.”

  Julie smiled back. “I’m Julie and this is Storm.”

  “Hi, Storm,” Isaac said, bending down to stroke Storm. “He’s a gorgeous puppy. What happened back there? I saw Storm sprint out of the examination room and then you ran after him!”

  “Oh, that. It was . . . er . . . just a mix-up. It’s sorted out now,” Julie said vaguely, hoping to avoid more awkward questions. She quickly changed the subject. “Teddy’s really cute, too. Have you had him long?” she asked.

  Isaac glanced down at his shaggy little mongrel puppy. Teddy was still engrossed in sniffing something in the grass and seemed in a world of his own.

  “Just a few weeks,” Isaac said. He made a face. “It’s a bit of a sore point.”

  Julie was about to ask what he meant, but just then, Storm brushed against Teddy, his stumpy tail wagging as he barked a greeting.

  Teddy’s head whipped around in surprise. He launched himself at Storm and yanked the leash right out of Isaac’s hand.

  It happened so fast that Julie, Storm, and Isaac were taken completely by surprise.

  “Yipe!” Storm yelped as Teddy boisterously nipped his ear.

  “Bad dog! Come here!” Isaac yelled at Teddy.

  Still growling playfully, the little mongrel bounced down on to his front legs. Teddy eyed Storm warily, but seemed a bit calmer now that he’d checked Storm out.

  “I said, ‘Come here!’ ” Isaac roared, but his puppy ignored him.

  Julie took matters into her own hands. She stepped boldly between the two puppies and clapped her hands loudly. Storm jumped sideways in surprise, but Teddy just looked up at Julie to see who was standing in his way.

  “That’s enough!” she scolded, frowning angrily and shaking one finger at the little mongrel.

  Teddy rushed toward his owner with his tail between his legs. Isaac immediately grabbed the leash and pulled Teddy to heel.

  “Oh gosh. I’m sorry! I hope Storm isn’t hurt,” he said, red with embarrassment.

  “Of course he is. Your dog just bit him!” Julie snapped, too shaken up and worried about Storm to be polite. “Can’t you control Teddy? Come here, Storm. Let me check your ear.”

  Storm padded over and sat down obediently. “Do not worry. It is not serious,” he woofed.

  Julie examined his ear. There was a tiny cut where one of Teddy’s teeth had caught it. “It’s bleeding a little bit,” she told Isaac. “I’ll have to take Storm back to my gran’s apartment and get his ear cleaned up. She lives in the factory apartments.”

  “I’ll walk along with you—it’s the least I can do,” Isaac said in a subdued voice. “I live at the Gatehouse on Fern Avenue. It’s opposite the old shoe factory building.”

  Julie picked Storm up as they set off, just in case Teddy felt like leaping on him again. But although the little mongrel strained at his leash and kept looking up at Storm, his tongue was lolling out in a friendly grin.

  Julie was puzzled. Teddy seemed like a completely different dog now. They all walked through the park gates in silence and emerged on to the street.

  Isaac chewed his lip and looked miserable. “I’m really sorry,” he apologized again. “I try to get Teddy to behave, but I’m terrible at it. Dad thinks he’s just too strong-willed for me. Yesterday, Teddy chewed a corner of our new rug. Mom nearly freaked out. And now this. Please don’t tell anyone what just happened.”

  Isaac looked genuinely upset and Julie felt her anger starting to drain away. “Well, okay. I wouldn’t want to get you into any more trouble,” she agreed.

  “Aw, thanks,” Isaac said, relieved. He dropped to his knees in front of Teddy and took the puppy’s little face in both hands. “You’re one shaggy little ball of trouble, aren’t you?”

  Teddy wagged his tail and licked Isaac’s chin.

  Julie’s heart softened. There was no doubt that Isaac loved his little mongrel puppy.

  “Why can’t you ever behave yourself ? You’re never going to be let out of your cage,” Isaac said sadly to Teddy.

  Cage? Julie didn’t believe what she had just heard. She was too stunned to react.

  But Storm wasn’t. His head came up and a tiny growl rumbled in his throat. “That is not right. Dogs do not live in cages!”

  Julie’s mind whirled. No wonder Teddy was so badly behaved if he was kept shut up. Any dog would have lots of pent-up energy to get rid of.

  “Yoo hoo!” called a familiar voice.

  Julie saw Gran coming down the street toward them. She waved to her. “That’s my Granny Harding,” she said to Isaac.

  “Sorry I was held up, sweetie,” Gran said as she reached them. “A friend just called me and I had a tough time getting away.” She smiled at Isaac. “You’re the boy from the vet, aren’t you? I’m glad to see that Julie’s made a new friend. Maybe you’d all like to come back and have a snack—”

  “Gran,” Julie interrupted quickly. “Storm hurt his ear. We have to clean it and put some cream on it.”

  “Oh no. How did that happen?” Gran said, frowning.

  “It was an accident. He caught it on something in the grass,” Julie lied.

  Isaac shot her a grateful look.

  Gran bent down to look at Storm’s ear. “It must have only been a scratch. It’s already drying up,” she said as she stood up. She smiled at Julie and Isaac. “Well, should we go, you two?”

  Isaac looked uncomfortable. “Thanks very much for the invitation, Mrs. Harding. But I . . . er . . . have to get home. Maybe some other time? I’ll see you around, Julie,” he said, edging away.

  “Bye,” Julie said, watching Isaac cross the road and head for Fern Avenue, with Teddy pulling at his leash.

  “He seems like a nice boy,” Gran commented.

  Julie didn’t answer. Isaac had seemed really nice. She had started wondering if they might become friends, but now she was confused. There was no way she could ever like a boy who allowed his puppy to be kept in a cage.

  Chapter ★ SIX ★

  Two mornings later, Julie was busy in the kitchen making breakfast as a Saturday treat for her mom and dad.

  As the toast popped up out of the toaster, Julie sighed. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Teddy. Was the little mongrel shut up in a small cage right now?

  “What are we going to do about Teddy?” she asked Storm.

  Storm was sitting curled up on a chair, watching as Julie placed the breakfast things on a tray.

  His bright midnight blue eyes glinted. “I have a plan! We will go and rescue him.”

  “Really?” Julie said, doubtfully. “How can we, without anyone noticing? And then what are we going to do with Teddy? Just let me take this up to Mom and Dad and then you
can tell me what you have in mind. Okay?”

  Storm nodded.

  As Julie folded the morning papers under one arm and went into the hall, she didn’t see the mischievous look on the tiny puppy’s face.

  Upstairs, Julie knocked on her parents’ bedroom door before going in. “Here you go! I thought you’d like breakfast in bed,” she said.

  Her mom sat up looking sleepy-eyed. “Thanks, honey. That’s sweet of you.”

  There was a grunt from beneath the mound of covers and her dad peeked out. His hair was all standing on end. “You’re a star, Julie.”

  “I’m just going to take Storm out for a walk. See you later,” Julie told them.

  “Don’t go too far. And remember to keep him on his leash. You don’t want him running into the road,” her mom cautioned.

  Julie nodded, although she knew that her magical little friend would never do anything so dangerous. Storm was already waiting by the front door when she padded downstairs.

  Julie slipped Storm’s new collar and leash into her shorts pocket. “I’d better take these. We’re supposed to be pretending that you’re an ordinary puppy—” She stopped suddenly, as she felt a now familiar warm prickling sensation run down her spine.

  She saw bright gold sparks igniting in Storm’s fluffy gray and white fur and the tips of his ears were crackling with electricity.

  “What’s going on?” she asked him, intrigued.

  But Storm gave her a mysterious doggy grin. Lifting one fuzzy little paw, he sent a glittering burst of power toward her. A golden mist spun around Julie. She felt a sense of lightness flicker all through her body. There was a whoosh of movement and then she and Storm were flying straight through the front door and zooming upward into the air together.

  “Wow! This is amazing!” Julie couldn’t contain her excitement at what was happening. She held out her arms as they drifted along above the streets and houses. Storm’s gray and white fur rippled in the breeze and Julie’s hair streamed out behind her.