Pepper Goes Home

At four o’clock, a girl and an old man arrive at the bakery. “Ben?” the girl asks. “I am Beth. This is my grandfather.”

The dog hears the old man’s voice. It runs to him and jumps up. “Toby!” the old man says. He cries and smiles at the same time. Ben smiles too. The dog is with its owner again.

“Thank you,” Beth says. “You are so kind to him in the rain.” Ben says, “For me, his name is Pepper, just for one day.” Everyone laughs.

The grandfather gives Ben a small drawing of Toby. Mrs Stone makes tea and brings a cake for everyone. Mr Lewis brings bread from the bakery. They sit outside in the sun.

Before they leave, the grandfather says, “Come to my house on Saturday. Toby wants to say thank you.” Ben smiles. “Yes, please!” he says.