Duster: Part 5

By MARGARET BEAMES

When they returned, Callum was hugging the metal wastepaper bin from their classroom against his chest. It was full or water that slopped as he walked, soaking the front of his shirt. Daniel was carrying a plastic ice-cream container to use as a bowl, and Callum's lunchbox. Callum had shoved it at him, saying, "Here, bring this too. That dog looks as if it's starving."

As soon as Fliss filled the bowl, the dog drank and drank. Callum filled it again, then Fliss bathed each of the dog's feet in turn, using her handkerchief as a cloth. It was soon covered in mud, but Daniel offered his (Dan always had a clean handkerchief) and she continued her efforts until the little dog was starting to look almost clean.

"He still looks like something out of my mum's rag bag," said Rene. "Put him on the end of a stick and you could use him for a duster."

"He's beautiful! All he needs is a good brushing," protested Fliss, but Rene was crooning, "Duster, Duster," to the dog and he was wagging his tail.

"I guess that's his name, then," said Daniel, and somehow it seemed to suit him.

Callum broke his muffin into pieces and fed them to Duster. He gave him all of it even though it was one of his favourite chocolate ones. From the way he wolfed them down, the dog was clearly starving. Someone produced half a sandwich and someone else had a left-over biscuit.

'That's enough for now or you'll make him sick," warned Fliss.

Publisher: Scholastic

Price: $13.95

Age group: 6-10 yrs

Want to win this book?
Send us all six of this week's Kids into Books coupons from the print edition of the New Zealand Herald and you'll go into the draw.