The Pug Who Wanted to Be a Unicorn Read online

  With special thanks to Anne Marie Ryan, Nina Jones, and Artful Doodlers

  Prologue

  Peggy wriggled her little bottom and snuggled closer to her two brothers and two sisters. The five little pug puppies were curled up against their mother’s side, snoozing in a furry heap of paws and curly tails. Sighing dreamily, Peggy nuzzled her squashed black nose against her mum’s soft, tan-colored fur.

  Suddenly, her mum stood up, nudging the dozing puppies awake with her nose.

  “Hey!” yelped Peggy’s brother Pablo. “I was sleeping.”

  Yawning, the puppies clambered to their feet.

  “Today’s a very important day for all of you,” announced their mum, gazing down at the puppies fondly with big brown eyes. “You’re going home.”

  “Aren’t we already home?” asked Peggy, puzzled.

  “You’re twelve weeks old now,” her mum said gently. “So your new owners are coming today. They are taking you to your forever homes.”

  Peggy stared at her mum in confusion, her wrinkled forehead creasing even more. Forever home? What’s that?

  “Don’t worry, little ones,” the puppies’ mum reassured them. “For every dog, there is a perfect owner. I know you will all find yours and be happy in your forever homes.”

  SLURP! SLURP! SLURP!

  A rough pink tongue licked Peggy’s face clean.

  “Muuuuum!” protested Peggy, trying to squirm away from her mother’s sloppy kisses.

  “Don’t wriggle,” said her mother. “I want you to look your best.” After one final slurp, she moved on to wash Peggy’s sister Polly.

  When all the puppies’ fur was clean, their mum looked at them proudly. “There! Now you’re ready to meet your new owners.”

  “I hope my owner has a big garden,” yipped Peggy’s brother Paddy, panting with excitement.

  “I hope my owner gives me lots of tasty treats,” yapped Pippa, the greediest puppy of the litter.

  “I hope my owner likes to take naps,” said Pablo, yawning. He stretched out his front paws, sticking his bottom in the air.

  “What about you, Peggy?” asked her mum gently. “What type of owner do you want?”

  Peggy thought for a moment. A garden would be nice. So would tasty snacks. But that wasn’t what Peggy wanted most of all. At last she said, “I hope my owner loves me.”

  Peggy’s mum gazed at her puppies tenderly, her eyes shining with affection. “That’s what I want for all of you, my dears.”

  Chapter One

  CLICK!

  Peggy’s floppy black ears perked up as she heard the key turning in the lock. It could only mean one thing—her owner was back!

  “She’s home!” Peggy cried, scampering around the smoky-gray cat who was basking in a patch of sunlight on the floor. She batted the cat’s nose with her paw. “Wake up, Misha. She’s back!”

  The cat opened her eyes slightly, revealing two green slivers. “Big deal,” Misha hissed, swiping at Peggy with her sharp claws.

  Oops, thought Peggy. Even though she had lived with the cat and her owner, Suzanne, for two months, she always forgot how grumpy Misha was when she woke up. Or anytime. Unlike Peggy, the cat didn’t seem to mind being left on her own for hours.

  “Last one to the door’s a rotten egg,” cried Peggy. She rushed to the front door, her claws skittering on the polished floorboards.

  WHEE! Her paws slipped out from under her and she slid on her bottom.

  WHUMP! Peggy crashed into the front door just as a lady in an elegant designer outfit pushed it open. As her owner dropped bulging shopping bags on the floor, Peggy scrambled back to her paws.

  “Hello!” Peggy barked, trying to get Suzanne’s attention. “Do you want to play?” Peggy ran around and around her owner’s legs in circles until she started to feel dizzy.

  “Hi, darling!” the lady said into the phone pressed to her ear. “I’ll meet you there in half an hour.”

  Ooh! thought Peggy. It sounded like they were going out!

  Peggy loved going for walks. Well, they weren’t really walks. Most of the time she rode in Suzanne’s handbag. Peggy wished she could walk too, but her short little legs couldn’t keep up with her owner’s long strides. But at least she could peek out from the bag and see the world around her—birds flying through the air, cars whooshing past, children zooming by on scooters.

  “Can we go out now?” Peggy begged. “Please, please, pretty please with sausages on top.”

  Misha padded into the hallway, her tail twitching. “When will you get it through that wrinkly head of yours, runt?” she said. “Humans can’t understand a word you’re saying.”

  Peggy ignored the cat. She barked louder, pawing at Suzanne’s legs.

  “Be quiet, Peggy,” Suzanne said, pressing her fingers to her temples. “All that yapping is giving me a headache.”

  Purring softly, Misha rubbed against her owner’s legs. The cat shot Peggy a triumphant look as Suzanne bent down to stroke her.

  Peggy whined sadly, and Suzanne patted her head briskly. Peggy’s damp black nose tickled as she caught a whiff of her owner’s flowery perfume.

  ACHOO! ACHOOOO!

  Peggy sneezed, spraying doggie dribble all over her owner’s shoes. Oopsie!

  “Ew,” said Misha, her whiskers twitching. “Dogs are so gross.” She licked her paws and began to wash herself neatly.

  “Ugh,” said Suzanne. “I’d better go and get changed.” She marched into the bedroom and dumped her shopping bags on the floor. Peggy followed her in and noticed something interesting sticking out from under the bed. She pounced on the high-heeled shoe and began to chew, the leather squeaking against her teeth.

  “Hey!” cried Suzanne, grabbing the shoe and pulling hard.

  Yay! thought Peggy. Tug-of-war!

  Chomping down on the shoe, Peggy pulled as hard as she could. But Suzanne was stronger than she was. Her owner yanked so hard that Peggy let go of the shoe. Suzanne flew backward and landed on top of her shopping bags.

  “You win!” barked Peggy, licking her owner’s face to congratulate her.

  “Those are my favorite shoes!” Suzanne cried, pushing Peggy away.

  “Mine too!” barked Peggy. It was so nice to have something in common with her owner!

  Standing up, Suzanne seized her handbag and headed for the door.

  “Wait!” barked Peggy, chasing after her owner. “Don’t forget me!”

  SLAM!

  The door shut and Peggy was alone. Again. Well, apart from Misha.

  “Will you play with me, Misha?” Peggy asked the cat hopefully.

  “As if,” said Misha, curling up on a cushion and shutting her eyes.

  Peggy sighed. She knew she was a lucky dog. She had a dog bed with velvet pillows. She had a different sparkly collar for every day of the week. Her dinners were served in a shiny gold bowl. But her owner was always too busy to play. Sometimes Peggy really missed her brothers and sisters.

  Resting her paws on the back of the white sofa, Peggy pressed her nose against the window and gazed out at the winter sunshine. She saw a friendly-looking dog snuffling around in the garden next door. “Hey!” she barked. “Do you want to play?” But the dog couldn’t hear her through the glass.

  “Fine,” Peggy told herself. “I’ll just have to entertain myself.”

  She wandered into the kitchen and nibbled some of her food. There was a pile of newspapers on the floor next to her bowl. The one on top had a picture of a jolly-looking man with a big white beard. He was wearing a bright red suit and looked very kind. I bet he likes to play, thought Peggy.

  Nudging the stack with her nose, she tipped it over, spreading newspapers all over th
e kitchen floor. Turning the pages with her paws, Peggy looked at the pictures. She liked the ones of animals best of all!

  A voice snarled, “Hey! A little privacy, please!”

  Startled, Peggy looked up from the newspaper. Misha was standing in her litter box on the other side of the kitchen. The cat glared at her.

  “Sorry!” Peggy yelped. Embarrassed, she bolted from the kitchen, tripping over her water bowl on the way out. SPLASH! Water spilled everywhere, drenching Peggy. She ran down the hallway, leaving a trail of wet pawprints behind her.

  I’d better dry myself off, Peggy thought.

  She shook herself, spraying drops of water all over the living room. Then she rolled around and around on the sofa, drying her fur on the fluffy cushions. It felt a bit like rolling around with her brothers and sisters.

  Peggy pounced on a cushion, wrestling with it the way she used to play-fight with Paddy and Pippa. “Grrrr,” she growled, sinking her teeth into the soft cushion.

  RIIIIPPPP! The cushion tore open, scattering white feathers into the air. Peggy jumped off the sofa, trying to catch feathers in her paws. She missed the feathers, but knocked over a vase.

  CRASH! The vase smashed on the floor, scattering glass everywhere.

  Oopsie! Not wanting to cut her paws on the glass, Peggy scrambled back onto the sofa, her bottom resting on the remote control.

  CLICK! The television switched on. The most gorgeous creature Peggy had ever seen filled the screen—a white horse with a glowing, rainbow-striped horn and a flowing, glittery mane. As it soared through the sky, fluttering its colorful wings, a song blasted out of the TV:

  I’m Sparkalina the magical unicorn,

  Granting wishes with my rainbow horn!

  Always be yourself, whoever you may be,

  Unless you can be a unicorn like

  MEEEEEEE!

  Her eyes wide, Peggy watched the show, transfixed. Sparkalina was amazing! Her magic horn could make flowers grow, turn clouds to cotton candy, and draw rainbows in the sky!

  When the show was over, Peggy settled down on a soft cushion. Sparkalina’s so cool, she thought, as her eyes began to close. Then the little pug fell fast asleep, dreaming of beautiful unicorns flying through the sky.

  Chapter Two

  “NOOOOOO!”

  A piercing shriek woke Peggy up. Suzanne was standing in the living room, a horrified look on her face. Feathers, shards of glass, and scraps of newspaper were strewn all over the floor. Tan-colored dog hair and mucky pawprints were scattered all over the white sofa.

  “I told her a dog would be nothing but trouble,” purred Misha as she wound her sleek body around Suzanne’s legs.

  Peggy gulped. The apartment did look a bit messy. “I was going to tidy up…,” she barked apologetically. “I was just having a nap first.”

  “That’s it!” said Suzanne, stuffing Peggy into her handbag. She didn’t even check whether the bag matched Peggy’s collar.

  Peggy’s heart leaped with excitement. Finally, they were going out!

  As Suzanne strode out of the apartment, Peggy popped her head out of the handbag. Her floppy ears fluttered in the chilly winter air as her owner marched along briskly. Peggy really hoped they were going to the park. Suzanne had taken her a few times, and there had been loads of lovely things to sniff—piles of leaves, scurrying squirrels, and other dogs’ bottoms.

  But Suzanne went past the park without stopping. I wonder where she’s taking me? Peggy thought.

  Eventually, Suzanne came to a halt in front of a big building. The sound of barking was coming from inside. Ooh! thought Peggy. It sounded like there were other dogs to play with! Her tail wagged excitedly. She couldn’t wait to meet some new friends.

  Inside, the barking got even louder.

  “Hello,” said an older lady wearing a sweater with a snowman on it. “Welcome to Doldrum’s Dog Home. I’m Doreen. Can I help you?”

  “Yes,” said Suzanne, plonking her handbag down. “You can take my dog.”

  Doreen frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m sick of her chewing my shoes and making a mess,” said Suzanne, scooping Peggy out of the bag and thrusting her at Doreen. “I don’t want her anymore.”

  Hang on a minute, thought Peggy, struggling to wriggle out of Doreen’s arms. What’s going on?

  “Please reconsider,” pleaded Doreen. “Puppies are a handful, but they do settle down eventually.”

  “She’s right!” Peggy barked. “I’ll settle down! I’ll be good! I promise!”

  “Nope,” said Suzanne, picking up her handbag. “I’m done with dogs. I’m sticking to cats from now on—they’re so much easier.”

  “But our shelter is full up,” protested Doreen. “I really don’t have space for another dog—not even a little one.”

  “NOOOO!” howled Peggy. “Don’t leave me here!”

  “Sorry,” said Suzanne, turning to leave. “Not my problem.”

  “Where am I supposed to put her?” Doreen called after her.

  But it was no use. Suzanne was gone.

  “Oh dear,” said Doreen, sighing. “Some people think that pugs are just fashion accessories.” She squinted at the tag on Peggy’s collar. “Nice to meet you, Peggy. Let’s take you outside to meet the others.”

  She led Peggy to a big grassy area surrounded by a fence. Peggy’s eyes widened. She’d never seen so many dogs in one place! A sleek greyhound sprinted around the pen—a blur of gray—while a tubby bulldog snored noisily in the winter sunshine. A tiny terrier was wrestling with a shaggy sheepdog (and seemed to be winning), while a mastiff chewed on a tatty soccer ball. The noise of all the barking made Peggy’s ears hurt.

  “Don’t worry, Peggy,” said Doreen, setting her down inside the pen. “We’ll find you a nice new home soon, I promise.” She unfurled a hose and started filling up water bowls.

  “Ha!” grunted an old basset hound, hobbling over to give Peggy a curious sniff. “Don’t be so sure about that.”

  “Why? How long have you been here?” Peggy asked.

  “Five years,” said the basset hound.

  “You mean in dog years?” asked Peggy hopefully.

  The older dog laughed ruefully and shook her head. “Hey, everyone!” she barked. “We’ve got a newcomer.”

  Peggy trembled as a pack of dogs crowded round to get a closer look.

  “Aww!” said a scruffy mutt with a cone around his neck. “She’s just a puppy!”

  “Great,” sniffed a haughty-looking poodle. “That’s all we need around here. More competition.”

  “There’s been a big mistake,” said Peggy. “I already have a home. My owner will be back to get me soon.”

  “That’s what we all thought, dearie,” said a golden retriever with kind eyes.

  Peggy’s eyes filled with tears and she started to howl.

  “Now, now,” said the old basset hound. “Crying won’t solve anything. Run along and play.” She lay down on the ground and began to snore loudly.

  Peggy cheered up a bit. It was true that she’d wanted someone to play with. Well, there were plenty of potential playmates here! She wandered over to the mastiff with the ball. “Can I play too?” she asked politely.

  “Get lost,” snapped the big dog.

  Peggy found a rubber chicken and started chewing on it.

  “Hey!” snarled a Staffie, baring his sharp teeth. “That’s mine!” He snatched the toy away from Peggy.

  Peggy rested her head on her front paws. Why doesn’t anyone want to play? Was she going to have to live here with these unfriendly dogs forever? Her mum had said that every dog had a perfect owner. “Where’s mine?” she whimpered.

  That night, Peggy had to share a pen with the elderly basset hound, who was called Mavis.

  “Here you go, Peggy,” said Doreen, spreading a blanket on the concrete floor. “This will have to do.” Then she shut the door of the pen, locking the two dogs in.

  “I’m too old for a roommate,” Mavis
grumbled. But she budged over to make space for Peggy.

  Peggy lay on the hard floor, trying to get comfortable. Her tummy rumbled. The mean mastiff had gobbled up her dinner before she’d even taken a bite.

  As Peggy tossed and turned, Mavis began to snore loudly, making the whole pen shake.

  ZZZzzzz!

  Whenever Peggy’s eyes started to close, a dog would bark, startling her awake again. She shivered in the dark, missing her velvet dog bed, until sunrise.

  “Good morning,” Mavis said, yawning. “I slept like a puppy—how about you?”

  “I didn’t sleep a wink,” said Peggy.

  “You’ll soon get used to the noise,” said Mavis. She chuckled. “Of course it helps if you’re a bit deaf like me.”

  After breakfast, Doreen took the dogs outside. Suddenly, a family came into the outdoor area. The dad was holding a big dog bed, the mum was pushing a little girl in a stroller, a teenage boy was wearing headphones, and an older girl was wearing a T-shirt with a unicorn it. Peggy gasped. It was Sparkalina—the unicorn from the TV show!

  “Quick!” said Mavis. “Places, everyone! Remember—look sad!”

  The dogs all hurried over to the fence. Some whimpered mournfully, while others rested their heads on their front paws. The mastiff started limping, even though a moment before, he’d been walking fine on all four paws. Mavis’s droopy eyes looked even sadder than usual.

  “What’s everyone doing?” Peggy whispered.

  “Trying to make these people feel sorry for us,” the golden retriever said.

  “Why?” asked Peggy.

  “So they adopt us, dummy,” said the poodle, fluffing up her poofy tail.

  Doreen put down a bag of kibble and hurried over to greet the family.

  “Hello,” said the mum. “There was nobody at reception so we came out here. We wanted to donate this dog bed to the shelter. It belonged to our old dog, Baxter, who died not long ago.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that,” said Doreen, taking the bed. “It’s very hard to lose a much-loved pet. Have you thought about adopting another dog?”