Read Online Badger the Mystical Mutt and Daydream Drivers by Lyn McNicol - Free Book Online Page B

water in his drinking bowl. Hisneckerchief was freshly ironed and his nails were clipped. He was even willing to share his higgledy-piggledy tower of toast. Standing back to inspect his handiwork, he felt very pleased with himself. He eyed the tower of toast hungrily, and decided he deserved a few slices now. After all, he’d worked very hard cleaning and tidying.
    As he munched on his snack, he heard the distant pomp of an approaching fanfare. Badger peered out into the lane and saw all the birds lined up along the fence, with their chests puffed out in salute. As the fanfare drew nearer, the alley cats emerged to see what all the fuss was about. Badger stood to attention as a long elegant nose came into view, followed by the noble swish of an Afghan hound.
    The Earl of Doodlepoppington had arrived.
    “Greetings, dear fellow,” said the Earl.
    “Hi, Doodles,” answered Badger.
    “Ssssshhhh! Don’t call me Doodles. I shall be addressed by my full title at all times,” said the Earl snootily.

    “Okay, Doodles. Come on in to my gracious abode.”
    The Earl cringed as he stepped through the crack in the fence and into Badger’s garden.
    “Well, I suppose this will have to do,” he sneered. “It’s only for a short time. My work here should be speedy enough.”
    “Your work?” enquired Badger. “I thought this was just a visit.”
    “Ah, indeed, dear boy, a bit of business and er …” the Earl raised a disdainful eyebrow, “… and a bit of pleasure.”
    “What kind of business?” asked Badger, suspiciously.
    “Well, you know, of course, that my father is soon to hand over the business to me, so I must investigate potential sites for development,” boasted his cousin. “But enough of that just now. First, let’s feast and I’ll show you my plans later.”
    Once they’d had their toast and Badger had updated his cousin on all his adventures, he told him about Lennie’s problems with his nightmares and the gang.
    The Earl dismissed Badger’s worries and rolled out the drawings for his latest project: a development of bespoke luxury doghouses.
    Badger’s eyes widened at the plans for kennels designed for over-pampered pups. They included fur-lined, temperature-controlled beds, automated food and waterdispensers, day lounges, spa baths and pawpad entry systems.

    “Toastastic, Doodles! I’ve never seen anything like it. Where are you planning this?” asked Badger excitedly.
    The Earl chuckled, tapped his nose with his paw and said, “Closer than you think, Badger boy. Now, tell me more about this gang. Do they actually
live
on the lane?”
    Meanwhile, the lane shook with the rumble of heavy snoring. Lennie lay amidst the lavender and camomile in a deep, deep sleep. His paws twitched, his tail swished and his eyebrows wiggled from side to side in alarm.
    He was stuck inside another of his nightmares, and this time he was at the seaside. But he wasn’t running in the waves, or chasing a stick. He was lying very still upon the sand. His head was umbrella-shaped, and his paws had become trailing tentacles. Lennie had turned into a squidgy jellyfish.
    Pogo Paws and Pickle sped towards him, with a giant bouncy beach ball. He started to quiver. Suddenly, Pickle threw the ball directly at him, and crushed his wobbly body into the sand. He squished about helplessly whilst Pogo Paws and Pickle aimed again, shouting gleefully:
    “We’ve found you, so finders keepers, losers weepers. Try not to cry, Lennie while we splat you!”

    As eight paws trampled closer to Lennie’s terrified face, he let out an almighty yell: “Don’t squash me, don’t squash me!”
    He jerked awake to see the alley cats looking at him quizzically. At their feet were the remains of a torn old beach ball.
    “It’s okay, Lennie. Playtime’s over. We’ve scratched and burst this ball, so no more squashing for us today,” answered the amused alley cats.
    Lennie stood up and shook himself.
    “Oh no, I must have been asleep for