Oxygen's Adventures

By Jeanne Sélène

Oxygen must be the homeliest dog in the world. However, he soon finds himself unintentionally embarking on quite an adventure. Will you be curious enough to follow him?

8/9 years +

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Nov 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781667412344

Book preview

Prologue

Oxygen is a pretty normal dog. He grew up on a vegetable farm, right in the middle of some asparagus fields. It must be said that he hates asparagus. Their look, their smell, their taste – it all absolutely disgusts him. No chance!

After a carefree childhood, he was taken with his brothers and sisters to the big local Autumn fair. It was there that he met his family - the Savarys. He was getting bored of being in his crate and was calmly climbing out of it with the firm intention of joining his favourite sister when he heard a shout.

Dad! I want him! He’s so funny!

He was indeed very amusing, this tiny black-and-white ratter, with his dark nose and speckled muzzle. His little tail was waggling from right to left, he was so happy with the idea of playing.

Are you sure, Sabine?

The girl had nodded vigorously. Her face had melted into a wide smile.

Fine, her dad had replied. Go and ask your brothers what they think. If everyone agrees, we adopt him!

So this was what happened, much to Oxygen’s delight.

Part One

A beautiful family

1. Jojo, the fish

Every morning, Oxygen takes a few minutes, as soon as he wakes up, to chat to his friend, Jojo. Jojo is a goldfish who the whole family thinks is a boy, and this makes her very sad.

I’m sure they’re wrong! she often says. I feel deep down inside me that I am a girl!

So, to be sure not to offend her, Oxygen takes great care to use adjectives which sound feminine when he speaks to her. Rather than saying:

You look good today, Jojo!

He is careful to say:

You look beautiful and graceful today, Jojo!

This makes the fish glow with happiness:

Oh! You think so, Oxy? Thank you, my dear! I will count for you later.

Because Jojo likes to count. Everything. All the time. Everything is an excuse to go through the little counting rhyme.

One human in the lounge! Two roses on the coffee table! Three paintings on the wall! Four logs in the fireplace...

She never stops spinning round in the bowl, listing everything that passes under her gills. It has to be said that Jojo gets very bored on her eighth very round square metre. It isn’t much fun to be a goldfish perched on a sideboard. The narrowness of her habitat often distresses her and makes her miserable.

That morning, Jojo points out to Oxygen that the branches of the trees outside are frosted.

It’s lucky that the fire is still alight, otherwise the water would end up freezing around me. I hate being cold, she adds, shivering.

Personally, I really like frosty mornings when the dew cracks under my paws on every step. I find it really fun.

Brrr, what a funny idea!

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Ah, there we are, the day begins. I have to go, Jojo. See you later.

2. Léonie, the mother

Mum’s alarm has just gone off... Oxygen leaves his cosy basket and scampers to the bathroom. There’s no time to lose, Léonie is already in the shower. A quick scan is enough for the ratter to notice that a bath towel is missing. In a flash, he opens the