The Missing Pet

On Saturday morning, Keira went into the garden to feed her pets. The dog, Bramble, wagged his tail beside the kennel. A grey rabbit nibbled a leaf near the flowerpots, and a green parrot called Pip chattered from its perch. But Nibbles, Keira’s hamster, was not in his cage. Keira looked under the table and behind the watering can. Then she spotted a trail of sunflower seeds leading to a small gap beneath the garden gate. Bramble sniffed the ground and gave a quiet bark. Keira followed the seeds to the shed. There, inside an open cardboard box, Nibbles was curled up asleep. Keira carried him gently back to his cage and closed the shed door.