Read Izzy's River for Free Online

it!”
    But Billy was too excited to stop. He raced on, pulling Poppy after him.
    “He’s chasing something,” Izzy said anxiously, trying to grab the lead and help Poppy pull, but the lead part was a thin cord, and it just ran through her fingers. “Ugh! It’s a rat!”
    “A water rat,” Poppy panted grimly. “Billy! Stop! Ow!” She fell forwards, tripping over an old bag that someone had abandoned, and let go of the lead. “Oh no! Billy!”
    The big golden dog shot off down the river path, his lead bouncing behind him, chasing something small and brown and furry.
    Unfortunately, the small brown furry thing was a water rat – or at least it was a rat that could swim, because it jumped straight into the water, and Billy jumped after it.
    Billy floundered about in the water, looking very surprised at himself – clearly he hadn’t really meant to jump in, he’d just followed the rat. Luckily it didn’t look to be too deep, and Billy seemed to have a natural doggy-paddle.
    “You idiot dog!” Poppy muttered, crouching down by the bank. “Come here! Come on! He’s going to be a nightmare to haul out, he’s so heavy.”
    “Is there anything we can use to help?” Izzy looked around. “Something he could scramble on to?” There was so much junk, there had to be something.
    “Oh no, Billy, stop, not that way!” Poppy wailed, and there was a hurt whimper from the water.
    “What happened?” Izzy gasped. “Did something bite him?”
    Poppy shook her head. “It’s a bike – I didn’t see it under the water, and I called him – now I think his paw’s stuck in it.”
    Billy was whimpering and struggling, trying to pull his leg free, and getting panicky.
    Izzy felt panicky too, and he wasn’t even her dog, but Poppy lay down on the bank and stretched her arms out to him. “Shhh, shhh,” she whispered, in a soothing whisper. “Keep still, baby, we’ll get it out. Ow,” she added, back in her normal voice.
    “Tell me what to do,” Izzy whispered, crouching next to her. “Can I lift the bike up, or anything?”
    “Yes, lift that bit. And I’ll pull Billy – if he’s hurt he might not want anyone he doesn’t know touching him. Pull! Now!”
    Izzy yanked at the twisted bike wheel, and Poppy heaved on Billy’s collar, and he half jumped, half fell out of the water, right on top of them both.
    “Owwww,” Izzy moaned. “He weighs a ton. Is he OK?”
    Poppy wriggled. “Oooh, Billy, get off. Let’s see your paw. Good boy. What a good dog.”
    Billy limped his way off them, and sat down, holding up his hurt paw, and looking miserable. “Poor baby,” Poppy murmured, using that quiet whisper again. “It’s not cut or anything. Perhaps he just banged it. Oh, Billy, you are a monster,” she said, giving him a big hug. “I’m really sorry, Izzy. I wishthis hadn’t happened when you were with us.”
    “I don’t! If you’d been on your own, you might not have been able to get him out,” Izzy said worriedly.
    “No more loose lead along here,” Poppy sighed. “It wouldn’t have been so dangerous if it weren’t for those stupid people who dumped the bike.”
    Billy put his paw to the ground, and stared at it anxiously, as though he wasn’t sure it was still working, but when he tried to walk he was hardly limping at all.
    “He looks OK,” said Izzy hopefully. “Just wet. And a bit muddy.”
    “Yeah, I think he was lucky.” Poppy shivered. “Let’s get home.” She looked Izzy up and down, and then glanced at her own school uniform. “I think he wiped the mud off on us. You look
awful
!”
    “So do you!” Izzy sighed, holding out the skirt of her summer dress – all muddy and torn.
    “I can lend you something.” Poppy gave her a hug. “Don’t worry. I’ll explain to your dad.”

    “What happened?” Poppy’s mum shrieked, as they let themselves in. They’d been hoping to sneak upstairs quietly, and say that Izzy just fancied getting out of her uniform, but unfortunately