Stories number four.

No pets here.

Joe and Bella had always wanted a pet, but their parents always said No, we're too busy, They said.

Pets make too much mess.

We've enough to do without a Peta's.

Well, Theune One day Bella came home from school.

Very excited.

My friend is he has got a hamster, she told the rest of the family over tea.

She's asked me to go around and play tomorrow so I can meet her.

I wish I could have a hamster.

Well, you can't, said Mom, passing around spaghetti.

No pets here.

I'd like a puppy, said Joe.

You know, we can't have a puppy, said Mom, but we're all too busy to take it for walks.

Then how about a kitten?

Joe asked.

No.

Kittens, either, said Dad.

In fact, no pets at all.

The next day, Bella was going to disease.

House Joe decided to invite his friend Finn round to play in the Garden.

He told Finn, We'll be able to play football for once without Bella getting in the way.

But when the boys got home, Joe had a shock.

Bella and Izzy were there, too.

What are they doing here?

He complained to Mom Is his mom had an appointment, so she dropped Izzy off here instead, Mom explained.

But Finn and I want the garden to ourselves.

Don't worry about that, said Mom.

Bell is busy.

Joe understood when he saw that Izzy had brought something with her.

Her hamster.

She's called Harriet.

Bella told Joe.

Isn't she lovely?

Harriet was small and round with beady eyes golden for on long whiskers.

She sat in Bela's hand on snaffled at Joe.

Then Bella fed her a lettuce leaf.

Nibble, nibble, nibble went Harriet on the leaf, disappeared in no time.

She's cute.

Joe had to admit, Look, she's got a ball, Bella said is he showed them a big a see through ball made of purple plastic.

She put Harriet inside.

Harriet began to run on the ball.

Moved across the floor, you see?

Is he explained.

This way Harriet can run wherever she wants.

Just make sure she doesn't escape, said Mom.

If she did, would never catch her.

Be careful when you put her back in her cage.

Joe and Finn went into the garden to play football.

They were practicing penalties when they heard a shout.

It was Bella, and it was loud the two boys ran for the house.

What's the matter?

Asked Joe.

Hurry, it's gone!

Bella wailed.

What do you mean, gone?

We were lifting her out of her ball, said Bella.

Andi, we dropped Bella and is he began to cry.

Come on, said Joe, We've got to look for her.

They all got down on their hands and knees.

Mom came in and helped to.

But Harry, it must have been scared of all the noise.

Don't worry, said Mom.

She'll come out when she's hungry.

She didn't when Dad came home, they all searched again, but they couldn't find her.

I'm afraid she's gone under the floorboards, said Dad.

We'll never find her now for a whole week.

There was no sign of Harriet.

Then one night, Joe woke up.

I wonder, he thought, if I went downstairs now and was very quiet, he crept downstairs and they're sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor calmly.

Nibbling on a breadcrumb was Harriet.

Bella was very happy, and when she told Izzy the news, she was even happier because is he didn't want Harriet back.

Is he had a new hamster.

She said that Bella could keep Harriet, Please, can I?

Bella asked her parents.

I suppose so, said Mom.

But what about me?

Demanded Joe.

Why should Bella have a Petr?

Not me.

I suppose that's true, said Dad Onda.

That's how Joe got a kitten.

He called him Casper.

Yeah.