With special thanks to Anne Marie Ryan

  Illustrations by Nina Jones and Artful Doodlers

  Chapter One

  Peggy the pug’s flat, black nose twitched as she napped on the sofa. As carols played softly on the radio and the spicy scent of gingerbread wafted from the kitchen, Peggy dreamed about Christmas. It was her favorite time of year—because it was in December last year that she’d found her home.

  The sound of the front door opening jolted Peggy awake.

  “We’re home!” cried a voice from the hallway, followed by the thud of backpacks dropping to the floor.

  Chloe! thought Peggy, scrambling to her feet. Curly little tail wagging, she raced out to the hallway as fast as her short legs could carry her.

  “Hi, Peggy!” cried Chloe, a dark-haired girl wrapped up in a coat and a woolly scarf. She crouched down on the floor to stroke Peggy’s tan-colored fur.

  “I miss you sooooooo much when you’re at school!” Peggy told her best friend. Of course to Chloe it just sounded like barking, but Peggy covered Chloe’s face with kisses so she understood.

  “Let me pat Peggy too,” said Chloe’s little sister, Ruby. She was clutching a paper snowman decorated with cotton balls. Kneeling down next to Chloe, she patted Peggy on the head.

  SLURP! Peggy licked Ruby’s hand affectionately, catching a faint taste of glue. Chloe was Peggy’s best friend, but Peggy loved the rest of the family too, and missed them all when they weren’t at home.

  This autumn, there had been lots of changes in the Jackson family. Ruby had started going to the kindergarten at Chloe’s school, Finn was at high school now, and Mum had opened her very own café. Dad worked from home sometimes, like today, but mostly Peggy was at home on her own.

  “How was school, girls?” said Dad, coming out of the kitchen with a smudge of flour on his nose.

  “Okay,” said Chloe, shrugging her coat off and hanging it on a peg.

  Hmm, thought Peggy, cocking her head to the side and studying her friend. That’s strange. Normally Chloe chattered about the fun things she’d learned at school, and the games she’d played at break time with her friends.

  “Bad,” said Ruby. “Miss Roberts is horrible and scary. She’s a meanie.”

  “Of course she isn’t,” laughed Dad.

  “She has a loud, scary voice and she likes to tell children off,” insisted Ruby.

  Chloe unzipped her little sister’s coat and helped her hang it up. “I thought Miss Roberts was a bit scary when I started kindergarten. But actually, she’s very kind and a really good teacher.”

  “That’s right,” said Dad, nodding. “It took Chloe a while to settle in at kindergarten, too. But once she made friends with Ellie, she was very happy there.”

  The smile faded from Chloe’s face, like a cloud covering up the sun.

  What’s wrong? wondered Peggy.

  “Let’s go and hang your snowman up,” said Dad.

  Peggy and the girls followed him into the kitchen, where he pinned Ruby’s snowman up next to an advent calendar. Trays of gingerbread cookies shaped like stars, reindeer, and Christmas trees were cooling on the kitchen counter.

  “Mmm,” said Chloe. “Those smell good, Dad. Can we have some for our snack?”

  “Yes, but only one each,” said Dad. “They’re for the bake sale at the school Christmas fair tomorrow.”

  Peggy’s big brown eyes stared up at Chloe pleadingly as Chloe munched her gingerbread. Please, please, please, Peggy’s eyes begged. Just a teeny-weeny bit?

  “You know I can’t resist you, Peggy,” said Chloe, snapping a piece off her cookie and giving it to Peggy.

  Result! Peggy wolfed down the gingerbread.

  “Want to watch Sparkalina?” Ruby asked her sister, heading into the living room and switching on the television. Peggy trotted after them and sat down happily in front of the TV. A beautiful cartoon unicorn flew across the screen, singing the show’s theme tune.

  But Chloe shook her head. “Not in the mood,” she said, trudging upstairs.

  Now Peggy was sure there was something wrong. Sparkalina was Chloe’s favorite television program. If she didn’t want to watch it, something must be worrying her.

  Peggy climbed up the stairs. Chloe’s bedroom door was shut, but Peggy could hear muffled sounds coming from inside.

  Nudging the door open with her paw, Peggy saw Chloe curled up on her bed, sobbing into her pillow. Peggy clambered up onto the bed and nestled against Chloe.

  “Today was such a bad day,” sobbed Chloe, burying her face in Peggy’s fur. “Ellie doesn’t want to be my friend anymore. There’s a new girl named Hannah in my class, and now the two of them are doing everything together. They sat together at lunchtime and picked each other for partners in PE.”

  Peggy licked the salty tears off Chloe’s cheeks. She hated to see her friend so upset.

  “I feel so left out,” wailed Chloe, hugging Peggy tight. “Christmas is going to be so awful if I can’t do fun things with Ellie.”

  You’ve got me, thought Peggy. I’ll always be here for you.

  Last Christmas, Chloe’s family had taken Peggy home from a dog shelter. It was meant to be just for a week, but because of her special friendship with Chloe, the Jackson house had become Peggy’s forever home. Peggy owed everything to Chloe—and she would do anything to make Chloe happy.

  Sniffing, Chloe wiped away her tears and sighed. “Thanks, Peggy,” she said, planting a kiss on the pug’s wrinkly head. “I feel a bit better now.”

  As Chloe started doing her math homework, Peggy heard a commotion coming from downstairs and went to investigate.

  Finn, Chloe’s teenaged brother, was in the kitchen with his friend Zach, eating gingerbread cookies. The boys were in a band together called Avocado Toast. At least, Peggy thought that was what it was called now. They had also been called Velvet Spaceship, the Hammerhead Sharks, and Gandalf’s Beard. The band seemed to change its name on a weekly basis.

  “We’ve had this gig booked for weeks,” said Finn. “Playing at the school Christmas fair is a big deal for the band. You can’t let us down.”

  “I’m sorry, man,” said Zach, shrugging. “I can’t do it. I’m training for a charity race. Ten kilometers is a long way to run, and I’ve only got a week to get ready.”

  “If you don’t play the gig, you’re out of the band!” said Finn angrily.

  “Fine!” shouted Zach. “Then I quit!” He grabbed his guitar case and stormed out of the house.

  “What’s all this shouting?” said Dad, coming into the kitchen holding his laptop. He stared at the crumbs on the now empty cooling racks. “And who’s eaten all the gingerbread?”

  “Sorry, Dad,” said Finn. “I was hungry.”

  “Great!” said Dad, looking cross. “I don’t have time to make more because I’ve got to finish this presentation for work. Now what am I going to bring to the school fair?”

  A short while later, Mum came home from the café, dropping a bag of food containers onto the kitchen table.

  “Dinnertime!” she called up the stairs.

  As they all sat around the table, Mum unpacked the plastic containers of sandwiches, sausage rolls, and salads.

  “Leftovers from the café again,” complained Finn.

  “Business still slow?” Dad asked Mum.

  Mum nodded, looking worried. “I barely had any customers today.”

  Chloe picked at her food listlessly, even though she usually loved sausage rolls.

  She’s still upset about Ellie, thought Peggy.

  “I’m sure business will pick up,” said Dad, “once word gets around and people taste your delicious food.”

  “I hope so,” said Mum gloomily. “Otherwise I won’t be able to repay the bank loan.”

  “Mummy,” said Ruby. “For Christmas can I have a scooter? Oh, and a new teacher?”

  “Christmas!” Mum groaned, burying her head in her hands. “As if we didn’t have enough to worry about already. I can’t believe it’s only two weeks away.”

  Peggy looked from one member of her family to another. Christmas was supposed to be the happiest time of the year. So why did everyone look so sad and worried?

  Chapter Two

  “Can we go to the Christmas fair now, Daddy?” asked Chloe the next morning. “I’ve finished my homework.”

  “Not yet,” said Dad, who was vacuuming the living room.

  “But I want to see the reindeer,” whined Ruby.

  Chloe and Ruby had been excited about their school fair for weeks. As well as lots of fun Christmas crafts and stalls where they could buy presents, there were going to be real, live reindeer!

  When Dad had finished his chores, he and the girls put on their coats.

  “Take me too,” whimpered Peggy. Mum was at the café, and Finn had already gone to the fair to set up his drum kit. Peggy didn’t want to be stuck at home on her own.

  “Can we take Peggy, Dad?” asked Chloe.

  “That’s not a bad idea,” said Dad. “She could use a walk.”

  Hooray! thought Peggy as Chloe clipped on her lead.

  “We need to stop at Mum’s café on the way and pick up some treats for the cake stall,” said Dad.

  Walking briskly because it was cold, they headed into the town center and stopped outside a small café with a sign that said TASTY TREATS.

  Dad pushed the door open and they all stepped into the warmth. Looking around, Peggy saw a glass cab inet filled with a mouthwatering display of cakes, pastries, and sandwich fillings. There was a bright red poinsettia on every table, and garlands of gold tinsel decorated the walls.

  This is lovely, thought Peggy.

  But Mum, who was wiping down the counter, didn’t look very cheerful.

  “Oh dear,” said Dad. “Is it still slow?”

  Mum nodded gloomily. “I’ve only had two customers this morning.”

  “Everyone’s probably doing Christmas shopping,” said Chloe. “They’ll come in later on.”

  “I hope so,” said Mum. She reached underneath the counter, pulled out a box, and handed it to Dad. “Here are some mince pies for the school fete.” Sighing, she added, “It’s not as if I’ll need them at this rate.”

  They left the café, and Peggy trotted by Chloe’s side as they walked to the primary school.

  “Oh, wow!” said Chloe as they entered the school auditorium. It had been transformed into a winter wonderland, with snowflake decorations hanging down from the ceiling. Children shrieked excitedly, spending their pocket money on sweets, face-painting, and the secondhand-toy stall, while their parents sipped mulled wine and chatted. The school choir was singing carols on the stage as Finn and his bandmate, Jasmine, set up their instruments.

  “Can we go outside and see the reindeer?” asked Chloe.

  “Sure,” said Dad. “I’m going to drop the mince pies off at the cake stall.”

  Holding Peggy’s lead, Chloe guided Ruby through the crowded auditorium and out to the playground.

  A pen had been set up on the playing field, and inside it two big animals were nibbling the grass.

  “Reindeer!” cried Ruby, running over to the pen.

  Chloe joined the children clustered around the fence. Peggy stuck her head through the railings and peered up at the reindeer. Their thick, shaggy fur was light brown, and they had velvety antlers.

  “Holly is the smaller one,” explained the reindeer handler, “and Noel is the one with bigger antlers.”

  Peggy gaped at the reindeer. She thought they were beautiful.

  “It’s rude to stare,” said Noel.

  “Sorry,” said Peggy. “I just love your antlers.”

  “Why, thank you,” said Noel. “They are looking rather impressive this year.”

  “I like your curly tail,” said Holly.

  The reindeer handler gave Chloe and Ruby some slices of carrot, and the girls offered them to the reindeer on their palms.

  “Carrots again,” sighed Noel. “I really fancied mushrooms or some brussels sprouts.”

  “That tickles,” giggled Chloe as Holly’s soft lips nuzzled her hand to gobble up the carrot.

  “Reindeer come from near the North Pole,” the reindeer handler informed the children.

  “Don’t they get cold?” asked Ruby.

  “Their fur keeps them warm,” said the reindeer handler. “And they have specially shaped hooves to help them walk on snow.”

  Peggy peered at the reindeer curiously. “Where are your wings?” she asked them. She wondered if the wings were tucked up against the reindeer’s sides.

  “Er, what wings?” asked Holly, confused.

  “I thought reindeer could fly?” said Peggy. Chloe had told Peggy stories about Rudolph and the other reindeer flying Santa’s sleigh through the sky on Christmas Eve.

  Noel snorted with laughter, but Peggy didn’t understand what was so funny.

  “We don’t need wings,” said Holly, kindly, “because we’re magic.” She winked at Noel.

  “Oooooh,” said Peggy, feeling a bit silly. “Have you ever met Santa Claus?”

  “No,” said Noel. “But we did meet Comet and Cupid once.”

  “Comet was really nice,” said Holly, munching a carrot slice. “But Cupid was a bit of a show-off.”

  “Oh, you’re just jealous because she complimented my antlers,” said Noel.

  Peggy had lots more questions she wanted to ask the reindeer, but Chloe tugged gently on her lead. “We’ve got to go back inside,” Chloe told Ruby. “Finn’s band is playing now.”

  Back in the auditorium, a crowd had formed around the stage. Chloe picked Peggy up so she could see better.

  “We’re Avocado Toast,” Finn shouted into the microphone. “Are you ready to rock?”

  The crowd whooped in reply. Peggy barked and wagged her tail. Finn clicked his drumsticks together three times to count Jasmine in. “And a one… and a two… and a—”

  Finn pounded his drums as Jasmine played the keyboards and sang. But without Zach on guitar, they sounded terrible.

  Ouch! thought Peggy. Her ears hurt from the horrible racket.

  “BOO!” called the audience.

  “Oh no,” muttered Chloe.

  At first Peggy thought she was talking about Finn’s band, but then Peggy followed Chloe’s gaze. She was staring at two girls in matching Christmas sweaters. Peggy recognized Chloe’s friend Ellie. But who was the other girl?

  “Ellie’s with Hannah again,” Chloe whispered into Peggy’s ear. “I’ve got to get out of here. I can’t face seeing them together.” She handed Peggy’s lead to Ruby and slipped away, looking upset. Peggy longed to go after her friend, but she knew Chloe wanted her to stay and look after Ruby.

  As the boos from the audience got louder, Finn’s band stopped playing.

  Poor Finn, thought Peggy, watching him pack up his drum kit, his cheeks flaming with embarrassment.

  Suddenly, Ruby tugged on Peggy’s lead. “Come on, Peggy. We’ve got to go—NOW!”

  Peggy’s paws nearly got trodden on several times as Ruby hurried through the crowd to the soft-toy stall—a table piled high with secondhand cuddly toys.

  “Any animal you want for a dollar, sweetie,” the lady running the stall told Ruby.

  Instead, Ruby dived under the table.

  “We’ve got to hide in here,” Ruby whispered to Peggy, “because I saw Miss Roberts.” She peeped out nervously, checking to see if her teacher had gone, then ducked back in. “She’s still out there.”

  Peggy snuggled up next to Ruby. I might as well make myself comfortable, she thought. Who knew how long they’d be hiding out?

  A little boy came over to the soft-toy table. He looked around at all the toys, trying to make up his mind.

  “How about this purple hippo?” said the stallholder. “Or a fluffy duck?”

  “No,” said the boy. “I want a doggie.”

  Good choice! thought Peggy, letting out a yip of approval.

  The boy crouched down and peered under the table. His eyes landed on Peggy and widened.

  “I want this one!” he said, picking Peggy up.

  Hey, thought Peggy, her legs flailing, I’m not a toy!

  “That’s MY dog,” said Ruby, trying to snatch Peggy away from the boy.

  “I saw her first!” cried the boy, refusing to let go.

  Soon Ruby, the little boy, and Peggy were all howling.

  “Peggy!” cried Chloe, running over. Peggy wriggled out of the boy’s arms and ran to her friend, barking with relief. She’d never been so happy to see anyone!

  Chloe quickly explained the situation to the little boy’s mum. The lady running the stall found a toy pug for him. He was still sniffling, but when his mum said, “Let’s go and get a mince pie from the cake stall, Archie—I hear they’re delicious.” he soon cheered up.

  “Can we go home now, Chloe?” Ruby asked.

  Chloe sighed. “Good idea.”

  They found Dad and helped Finn pack up his drum kit. Then they all trudged home miserably. Oh dear, Peggy thought. Even the Christmas fair hadn’t managed to cheer her family up!

  Chapter Three

  That night, Peggy tossed and turned on Chloe’s bed, but it wasn’t because of the strong winds blowing outside. She couldn’t fall asleep because she was worried. Chloe had been so unhappy after the school fair, and even cuddles from Peggy hadn’t cheered her up.…

  * * *

  What can I do to help? wondered Peggy.

  As she lay awake next to Chloe, thinking about the fair, Peggy remembered what Holly and Noel had told her about reindeer being magic. If Peggy were magic too, she could make Chloe and her family happy for Christmas. That’s it! Peggy thought, sitting up in bed, her whiskers quivering with excitement. I’ll become a reindeer!

 

1 2 3 4