‘Penny!’ I dashed forwards and she handed me the dog. Penny had grown loads since I’d last seen her. ‘But I thought she’d been sold to some farmer up north?’ That was what Savage had told me.

‘I’m afraid you were right, Tom. She’s deaf. Completely deaf in one ear and not great in the other one. She’s no good as a sheepdog. Savage told me. Well, he was moaning that the farmer who bought her wanted his money back and that the dog was going to the rescue. I said I’d give him half what the farmer paid so here she is.’

‘She’s awesome.’ I heard the wobble in my own voice. Penny was more beautiful than I remembered. Her blue eyes looked at me like I was the coolest person in the world. I turned to show her to Dad but it was tricky because she was licking my face. ‘Isn’t she gorgeous, Dad?’

Dad was frowning. ‘And you get that she’s living here?’ he asked.

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘But I’ll need to keep the Monday to Friday arrangement with Tom for puppy training purposes, if that’s okay with you both?’ said Maggie, with a wink. What was going on? Had she already spoken to Dad about this? I was definitely missing something.

I froze. This was what I wanted more than anything. I loved my dad, of course I did, but I couldn’t stand being in the house on my own. I hated being lonely. But I’d never told Dad and now I wished I had.

‘Is this what you want?’ Dad asked me.

I nodded. ‘If it’s all right with you.’ I held my breath.

Dad’s expression was hard to read. He looked from me to Maggie and then back again like he was weighing things up. ‘Sure. Why not?’

‘Excellent!’ said Maggie clapping her hands together. ‘It’ll be hard work, mind. She’ll take some training. She’s not your run-of-the-mill dog. Not just because of the deafness but she’s a bit quirky with a mind of her own.’

‘I know,’ I said. ‘That’s what I love most about her.’ I put the puppy down and turned to Maggie. The sparkle in her eyes could attract a magpie. A chance encounter at the library had changed so many things. I was now a proper bookworm. I’d loved all the books I’d been lost in and all the characters I’d shared ups and downs with but what I’d got most from the library was my friendship with Maggie. She’d taught me loads about life, about myself and how to fight for what I wanted. She was my hero. ‘Hug?’ I said. ‘You know. Only if you want to.’