Tiffany and the Detective Dog

By Will Perks

Tiffany really, really wanted a dog for her eleventh birthday. But when she woke up that morning, it wasn't a cute, fluffy puppy that greeted her in the garden; it was a big, stern Alsatian with grey fur and a very solid handshake. And he could solve mysteries. What on Earth is a girl supposed to do with her own detective dog?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Will Perks
• Release date: Aug 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463302156

Will Perks

Imaginary.

Book preview

Tiffany and the Detective Dog

Copyright 2018 Will Perks

Published by Will Perks at Smashwords

Cover Art by Andy Astruc

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

One

I wanted a puppy for my birthday.

I was going to be eleven years old. To prepare for the responsibility of getting a puppy, I spent an entire year being what my parents called a Proper Grown-Up Girl. I did the washing-up. I did the laundry. I didn’t leave things lying around. I vacuumed my room every week. I even dusted.

All this work paid off, because my parents finally agreed I was Properly Grown-Up enough to look after a puppy.

In the weeks leading up to my birthday, I made it very clear to my parents exactly what kind of puppy I wanted. Not too fluffy, obviously… but still a bit fluffy. Not too jumpy, but still a bit jumpy. Not too tall and not too short and definitely not bitey. I sent my parents photos of puppies I’d found on the internet. I sent them videos of Pugs and Chihuahuas and Labradors and Dalmatians with big, sweet, loving eyes.

Tiffany, some of these puppies are purebred, my Mom said, when she saw the potential puppy pictures I’d stuck to my bedroom mirror. Puppies like this cost hundreds of dollars. We can’t afford one.

I know, Mom. My parents weren’t rich. I’d known I wasn’t going to get a purebred puppy. I don’t mind what kind of dog I get, I said. So long as it’s friendly and it needs a home.

You’re such a good girl.

Mom gave me a hug. I hugged her back, not realizing what a terrible mistake I had made.

On the morning of my birthday, I woke up before my alarm and raced downstairs. I couldn’t wait to see my new puppy. I knew he had arrived, because the whole house smelled faintly of dog. I jumped down the stairs, skidded through the kitchen, and bee-lined for the back door. Letting out a gleeful shriek, I yanked open the door.

Puppy! I shouted triumphantly. Puppy! Puppy! Puppy! Puppypuppypuppy… oh.

I stopped in my tracks.

There was a dog waiting for me in the garden.

The problem was, the dog waiting for me outside was an old dog.

It was an Alsatian, with a narrow, clever face and big brown eyes. It looked like the police dogs you see on television, the ones that are always chasing down criminals. It was pretty big. Sitting down, the dog’s head came up to my chest. Much of its fur was grey or snow white, I guess because it was old. It looked like a smart, fit old dog. But it wasn’t a puppy.

Oh, I said again.

The dog looked at me with its head on one side. I sighed and held out my hand. The dog looked at it. He didn’t lick it, the way I’d expected him to. Instead he held out his paw. After a minute, I shook it. I felt silly doing it. It felt as if I had just made a business deal with a dog.

My family appeared in the doorway behind me: Mom, Dad and my big sister Brittany.

How do you like your new dog? my Dad asked.

Great, I said.

Happy eleventh birthday!

Thanks.

His name is Rasputin, said Mom.

He already has a name? I wanted to name him.

I felt bad as soon as I said it. I didn’t want to