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  Welcome to Sausage Dreams Puppy Academy, where a team of plucky young pups are learning how to be all sorts of working dogs. Let’s meet some of the students …

  MURPHY

  the big one!

  BREED: Leonberger

  SPECIAL SKILL: Swimming

  SCOUT

  the smart one!

  BREED: German shepherd

  SPECIAL SKILL: Sniffing out crime

  STAR

  the speedy one!

  BREED: Border collie

  SPECIAL SKILL: Sensing danger

  PIP

  the friendly one!

  BREED: Labrador retriever

  SPECIAL SKILL: Ball games

  … and some of the teachers:

  MAJOR BONES

  One of the teachers at the Sausage Dreams Puppy Academy. Known for being strict.

  PROFESSOR OFFENBACH

  Head of the Sausage Dreams Puppy Academy. She is a small dog with A VERY LOUD VOICE!

  1

  “Help! Help!”

  The small Labrador puppy splashed in the middle of the river.

  The pups on the riverbank barked frantically.

  “Pip’s in trouble!” woofed Scruff.

  Pip splashed one more time before his head slipped under the water.

  There was nothing they could do.

  “Oh no!” yipped Star. “He’s gone.”

  A few bubbles rose to the surface of the water, then all was still.

  “Who can save him?” barked Scruff.

  “WOOF!”

  A big brown blur whizzed through the air.

  The pups cheered. “Save him, Murphy,” they shouted. “Save him!”

  Murphy hit the water.

  SPLASH!

  He knew what he had to do. His huge webbed paws pulled him forward. His thick fur kept him warm. He swam and swam to the middle of the river.

  He had to save Pip.

  He had to.

  But time was running out.

  Murphy put his head beneath the water, grabbed Pip’s collar, and pulled him to the surface.

  “Come on, Murphy,” barked the pups on the shore. “You can do it!”

  Murphy paddled back to them, keeping Pip’s head above the water. He was almost there.

  Almost!

  His paws touched the soft mud. His claws gripped the ground, and he pulled Pip out onto the riverbank.

  The other pups bounced all around him. “Hooray for Murphy,” they barked. “You did it! You saved Pip!”

  But Murphy was worried. Had he saved Pip in time?

  He looked across at Major Bones, who was holding up his stopwatch.

  Major Bones was a teacher at the Sausage Dreams Puppy Academy for Working Dogs.

  “Thank you, Pip, for pretending to be our pup in trouble today. I can now reveal Murphy’s result.”

  All the pups fell silent.

  Murphy waited. The river water dripped from his fur and pooled in great puddles around his paws.

  “Well, Murphy,” barked Major Bones, “congratulations. You’ve passed your Level One River Rescue. And,” he added, “you rescued Pip in two minutes and five seconds. That’s a new record for the academy.”

  The pups cheered.

  “You’re the champion,” woofed Star, “the best!”

  Murphy puffed out his chest in pride. He was a Leonberger pup. One day he would grow into a huge, lionlike dog. His ancestors were Newfoundlands, which had once been bred to help fishermen in icy waters. Murphy had water rescue in his blood.

  Murphy did what he did best after swimming. He shook himself, starting at his nose, and then his head, and shaking out his chest and body, and then his tail, spraying water over everyone.

  “Hey! Watch out!” yelped Star. “You’ve got most of the river in your fur. We’ll all look like we’ve half drowned today.”

  Pip jumped up and bounced back into the river. “Save me again, Murphy,” he barked. “That was fun. Save me again.” He swam around in circles.

  “No, save me,” barked Star. “It’s my turn.”

  “I want to be saved by Murphy,” woofed Scruff.

  Major Bones stood up. “That’s it for today, pups. It’s time to get back. If we hurry, we might be able to slip Murphy into the Friday award ceremony.”

  * * *

  Murphy and the other pups trotted back to the Sausage Dreams Puppy Academy for Working Dogs. They were in the same class. At the Puppy Academy, pups trained for all sorts of important jobs, such as guide dogs, sheepdogs, and search and rescue dogs. Some pups hadn’t even decided what they wanted to be yet.

  But Murphy knew.

  He knew from the very first moment he had seen Boris of Bognor Regis on Dog TV, flying across the sand with the sun on his coat and the wind in his ears.

  Boris was a Newfoundland surf rescue dog. He was the only dog ever to have been awarded the Gold Medal of Gallantry for saving someone in peril at sea.

  Boris was everyone’s hero.

  Murphy wanted to be just like him.

  He wanted to be a hero too.

  2

  “SILENCE, PLEASE!” yapped Professor Offenbach. “AND SIT!”

  Murphy sat next to his friends in the hall. Some of the younger pups covered their ears. Professor Offenbach was the head of the Puppy Academy. No one knew how such a loud sound could come from such a small dog. She could be heard from two miles away when she was really mad.

  Star nudged Murphy and pointed to a new pup in the hall. “Who’s that?”

  Murphy stared at the pup. He looked different from the other pups at the academy. He had no fur, except for tufts on his head and tail and at the ends of his four paws. “I don’t know,” he whispered.

  “It looks like we’re going to find out,” said Scruff. “Look, Professor Offenbach is calling him over.”

  “BEFORE I GIVE OUT THE AWARDS FOR TODAY’S FRIDAY CEREMONY, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO A NEW MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY. WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE RODRIGO LOPEZ VISITING US FOR A SHORT WHILE.”

  Rodrigo gave a small wave to the puppies.

  “RODRIGO HAS COME ALL THE WAY FROM MEXICO. I’M SURE YOU WILL ALL MAKE RODRIGO FEEL VERY WELCOME HERE, AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT ABOUT HIS COUNTRY.”

  “Why’s he visiting us?” whispered Star.

  “SOME OF YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY RODRIGO IS HERE,” woofed the professor. “RODRIGO WILL BE REPRESENTING HIS COUNTRY AT THE WORLD JUNIOR SURF DOG CHAMPIONSHIPS AT BLUE FLAG BEACH. HE WILL ALSO BE CONTINUING HIS WATER RESCUE TRAINING WITH US HERE AT THE ACADEMY. RODRIGO HOLDS THE INTERNATIONAL RECORD FOR THE LEVEL ONE RIVER RESCUE, IN AN ASTONISHING TIME OF ONE MINUTE AND FORTY-FIVE SECONDS.”

  Pip turned to Murphy. “Wow,” he said. “That’s even faster than you.”

  Murphy scowled. “I
could have rescued you faster than that if you hadn’t swum so far out into the river.”

  Scruff tried to get a better view of the new pup. “And he surfs too! That’s pretty cool!”

  “Pfff!” said Murphy. “Surfing’s no big deal. It’s just standing on a plank of wood in the water.”

  But Murphy’s friends weren’t listening to him. They were more interested in Rodrigo Lopez, the new pup in the school.

  “AND NOW FOR THE FRIDAY AWARDS. LET’S CELEBRATE THIS WEEK’S ACHIEVEMENTS,” boomed Professor Offenbach.

  Murphy watched Bertie the basset hound receive the Golden Nose award for following a scent trail for two miles through the woods. He watched Carly the collie collect the Bo-Peep badge for herding Hilda and Mabel, the academy sheep. He watched Lily the labradoodle collect the Doorbell prize for alerting a deaf human to someone at the door.

  All the time, Murphy couldn’t help glancing at the new dog. Could Rodrigo really be that good at water rescue? Could he be better than Murphy? Maybe the other pups would like Rodrigo more. He was probably one big show-off. Murphy began to wish Rodrigo had never come to the academy.

  Professor Offenbach rolled up her piece of paper.

  Murphy sighed. Maybe he wouldn’t receive his award this week.

  “AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST…” yapped Professor Offenbach, “MURPHY, FOR HIS LEVEL ONE RIVER RESCUE BADGE.”

  Scruff prodded Murphy with her paw. “Go on,” she said. “Go and get your badge.”

  Murphy joined Bertie, Carly, and Lily on the giant sausage podium.

  “WELL DONE,” barked Professor Offenbach. She clipped the badge on Murphy’s collar. “MAJOR BONES SAYS YOU ARE READY FOR THE NEXT TEST. NEXT WEEK YOU WILL JOIN RODRIGO AT BLUE FLAG BEACH BEFORE THE SURF DOG CHAMPIONSHIPS TO TRY FOR YOUR SURF RESCUE BADGE.”

  Murphy wagged his tail, although he secretly wished Rodrigo didn’t have to come too.

  “AND I’VE JUST HEARD,” continued Professor Offenbach, “THAT YOUR INSTRUCTOR ON THE BEACH WILL BE NONE OTHER THAN THE WORLD-FAMOUS…”

  Murphy could feel excitement fizz right through him. His whiskers trembled. He didn’t dare to hope too much.

  Professor Offenbach raised her voice even higher “… THE ONE AND ONLY … THE SURF RESCUE HERO … BORIS OF BOGNOR REGIS!”

  3

  The pups packed towels and picnics into the minibus.

  “We’re so lucky we can come too,” said Scruff.

  Professor Offenbach had given all the pups a day at the beach to watch the World Junior Surf Dog Championships. Murphy and Rodrigo would try for their Surf Rescue badge in the morning before the surfing competition began.

  “Look,” said Star, “here comes Rodrigo.”

  Murphy watched as the new pup struggled with his surfboard and bags to the minibus.

  “Come on,” said Pip. “Let’s give him a paw.”

  Murphy stayed behind and watched Scruff, Star, and Pip bound over to Rodrigo. They weren’t the only ones wanting to help him. Other pups crowded around Rodrigo too. Between them, Scruff and Pip carried the surfboard, and the other pups held on to bags and towels.

  Murphy picked up his own bag and climbed onto the minibus. What was so special about Rodrigo? He flumped down on a seat and hoped his friends would join him. Many pups took seats around Rodrigo, but Star, Scruff, and Pip sat down next to Murphy.

  “Have you seen Rodrigo’s surfboard?” said Star.

  “It was designed by Salty Old Sea Dogs, the best surfboard makers in the world,” said Scruff.

  “Rodrigo says it’s a triple-finned shortboard, for faster turns on the waves,” said Pip.

  Murphy pretended to yawn. “Wow, that’s sounds really interesting.” He turned around to look at Rodrigo. Rodrigo’s sun-bleached fur flopped over his eyes.

  “He looks pretty cool, doesn’t he?” sighed Scruff.

  Murphy snorted. “More like a rat with a bad-hair day.”

  “Murphy!” said Star. “That’s a mean thing to say.”

  “Well, look at him,” said Murphy. “He’s got hardly any fur on him.”

  “He’s not supposed to,” said Pip. “He’s a Mexican Hairless dog.”

  “Brainless too, probably,” muttered Murphy.

  “Don’t be like that,” said Star. “He seems nice and really friendly.”

  “He’s a great surf dog too,” said Pip.

  Murphy scowled and turned away. “If he’s so wonderful, why don’t you go and sit with him instead?”

  Star grabbed her bag and got up. She looked at Murphy with hurt in her eyes. “Well, maybe we will.” She turned to the others. “Come on, let’s go and see Rodrigo. I’m not sure we’re welcome here.”

  Star, Scruff, and Pip moved seats, leaving Murphy on his own, all alone.

  Murphy could see Major Bones glancing back at him, but Murphy pretended he couldn’t care less. He stared out the window at the passing hills and fields as the minibus bumped along, and he tried to ignore all the jumbled-up feelings bouncing around, deep down inside him.

  * * *

  As the minibus came down the hill to Blue Flag Beach, Murphy stared out across the sea. It was the very first time he had ever seen the sea, which was bigger and bluer and sparklier than he had ever imagined.

  It was a perfect beach day: warm and breezy. The water glittered in the early morning sunshine. The parking lot was filling up. People and dogs were spilling out of cars with surfboards, bags and towels, and buckets and shovels. It was going to be busy on the beach today.

  “NOW THEN, PUPS,” boomed Professor Offenbach, “THIS IS A LIFEGUARDED BEACH, BUT TAKE NOTE OF THE DIFFERENT FLAGS. SWIM ONLY BETWEEN THE RED-AND-YELLOW-STRIPED FLAGS, AND NO SWIMMING WHEN THE RED FLAG IS FLYING.”

  “Come on,” yelled Star, climbing out of the minibus. “Let’s find a spot on the beach where we can watch the surf dog championships later.”

  Murphy stayed behind with Rodrigo and Major Bones while the other pups ran off across the beach with Professor Offenbach. Toward the far end of the beach, bright banners with WORLD JUNIOR SURF DOG CHAMPIONSHIPS rippled in the breeze. Already there were lots of pups with surfboards of all shapes and sizes lined up on the sand.

  The ocean was calm. Small waves curled and ran along the shoreline.

  “These waves are too tiny!” cried Rodrigo. “I cannot surf on them!”

  “Maybe the competition will be canceled,” said Murphy. He secretly hoped it would be, so that Rodrigo wouldn’t get the chance to show off in front of the other pups.

  “¡Qué problema!” said Rodrigo. “I have come so far for this.”

  “Don’t worry,” woofed Major Bones. “The surf forecast says the wind will pick up. There will be some big waves this afternoon.”

  “That is good news,” said Rodrigo. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing Aliikai catch some waves.”

  “Aliikai?” said Murphy. “Who’s Aliikai?”

  “Aliikai?” said Rodrigo, flicking his mop of fur from his eyes. “You haven’t heard of her? She is the world junior surf dog champion from Hawaii. She lives up to her name. It means ‘Queen of the Sea.’”

  “Is she better than you?” said Murphy.

  Rodrigo’s eyes lit up. “Amigo, she’s the best. It would be an honor to surf on the same wave as her.”

  * * *

  “Right, you two,” barked Major Bones at Murphy and Rodrigo. “Come with me. It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. We’re off to meet the world-famous surf rescue dog, Boris of Bognor Regis.”

  Murphy trotted across the sand, wagging his tail in excitement. He followed Major Bones up the wooden steps leading to the lifeguard hut.

  The human lifeguards patted the pups’ heads as they passed.

  “Pups!” announced Major Bones. “May I introduce you to Boris of Bognor Regis.”

  “Welcome to Blue Flag Beach,” said Boris.

  Murphy just stared at his hero. He couldn’t think of anything to say. The sea breeze lifted Boris’s silky black fur
, and the sunlight glinted in his deep brown eyes. The Gold Medal of Gallantry around his neck shone brightly. He looked even more magnificent than he did on TV.

  Murphy closed his eyes and imagined Boris placing a gold medal around his own neck.

  “¡Qué vista!” said Rodrigo.

  “Yes,” agreed Boris. “It’s a fine view. From here we can see along the whole beach. It’s important to keep watch at all times.”

  Murphy shook himself from his daydream and looked down the length of Blue Flag Beach. It stretched in a long curve of yellow sand between two headlands. The tide was out. The sea was a vivid blue. It glittered and sparkled beneath the hot sun. Small waves broke on the shore, foaming across the wet sand. The beach was busy now. It was a patchwork of brightly colored towels and striped umbrellas. Murphy could see his puppy friends playing on the sand. Humans were everywhere too: sitting in beach chairs, playing ball games, flying kites. There were lots of people in the water, running in and out, jumping over the small waves, swimming, and lying on bodyboards. So many people, thought Murphy. How could Boris and the human lifeguards possibly watch over them all?

  “So,” said Boris. “Before we head into the water, let’s have a little theory test.”

  Murphy glanced at Rodrigo. He wanted to show Boris that he knew his stuff. He wanted to answer the questions before Rodrigo.

  Boris pointed to the ocean with his huge paw. “Tell me, young pups, what dangers are out there in the sea?”

  Murphy shot his paw in the air. “There might be jellyfish on the sand or in the water?” he said.

  “Very good,” said Boris. “The tentacles of a jellyfish can cause a very painful sting. What else? What about the sea? Is it safe out there today?”