A Home for Shimmer by Cathy Hopkins Page A

would like to make things to sell at the shop. Everyone is very enthusiastic. One farmer said he could supply meat and would speak to other farmers in the area. Most people said that they’d spread the word – I think today has been a real success!’
    It was then that I noticed that Shimmer wasn’t around. ‘Shimmer . . . Dad, where’s Shimmer?’
    Everyone looked around, but there was no sign of her.
    ‘When did you last see her?’ asked Mum.
    ‘Not long ago. She was here a moment ago. I’m sure she was! Maybe she’s in one of the back rooms, you know how she loves sniffing around new areas,’ I said and raced off to search the hall, my heart thumping in my chest.
    Everyone started searching the building, calling her name, but she didn’t come.
    I felt a rising panic. I couldn’t bear it if anything had happened to her.
    Caitlin came and put her arm around me. ‘She must have wandered out when people left. She can’t be far.’
    ‘But I tied her lead to a chair,’ I said, panicking more now. ‘She couldn’t have got out unless she dragged the chair with her – and we’d have heard that.’ Tears sprang to my eyes as I imagined how scared she would be if she’d got lost.
    ‘And we kept the doors shut after people arrived,’ said Josh. ‘I’ve kept an eye on it all afternoon and made sure it was closed and only open to let people leave.’
    I raced to the doors and out on to the pavement, where I looked up and down the road. There was no sign of her. She had definitely gone.

Chapter Eleven
    Looking for Shimmer
    ‘Let’s split up,’ said Dad. ‘Josh, you take the left on foot, Caitlin and Amy, you go right. I’ll get in the car and drive up and down the streets.’ He turned to Mr O’Neill. ‘Maybe you could drive around too, Mike. I’ll go north, you go south.’
    ‘I’m on it,’ said Mr O’Neill, heading off to his car. ‘Don’t worry, Amy, we’ll find her.’
    Mum pointed at Mrs O’Neill. ‘Shannon and I will stay here and clear up and see if Shimmer comes back, or anyone finds her. She might have just wandered off somewhere. Everyone got their phones?’
    Caitlin, Josh and I nodded.
    ‘I’ll be base camp,’ Mum continued. ‘Call me if there’s any news.’
    Everyone shot off in the direction Dad had directed them. I felt breathless and close to tears as we ran up and down the road, looking in front gardens, peering over fences and calling Shimmer’s name. ‘I can’t bear it if anything’s happened to her,’ I said. ‘It’s my fault, I should have been keeping a closer eye on her!’
    ‘Don’t worry, we’ll find her,’ said Caitlin. ‘SHIMMER! Where are you?’
    ‘I can’t believe she’d have gone off on her own. She never likes to be far away from me. I honestly don’t understand what could have happened. Her lead was tied to the chair. Do you think it came loose? Or . . . oh Caitlin, do you think someone might have stolen her? She is so beautiful.’
    Caitlin squeezed my arm. ‘We’ll find her. It had crossed my mind that someone might have taken her – but this is a small village, it would get out if someone had her. Someone would notice.’
    As we ran along the road, we saw a man who had been at the hall. ‘Excuse me, have you seen my dog?’ I asked. ‘She’s a golden retriever.’
    ‘I saw one in the village hall but not since,’ he replied. ‘Why, have you lost her?’
    I nodded. ‘We looked around and she’d gone.’
    The man shook his head then rolled his eyes. His face had a pinched look and his hair looked as though it needed a good wash. ‘You’re the people who want to run the animal rescue centre, aren’t you?’ he said. ‘And you can’t even keep track of your own dog? Not a good start that, is it?’
    Caitlin pulled me away. ‘That’s not very helpful, Mr . . .’
    ‘Mr Braithwaite,’ said the man. ‘Best of luck.’ He turned and went into a terraced house nearby.
    ‘He didn’t sound like he meant that,’ said Caitlin