Rusty has been Nora’s best friend for as long as she can remember. Then Pip, a playful little puppy, joins the family and suddenly needs everyone’s attention. Rusty watches quietly, unsure of his place, until one day Pip goes missing and Rusty shows just how important he still is. A warm family story about jealousy, reassurance, and love that grows instead of fading.
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Nora was a cheerful little girl who lived in a cosy house with her mum, dad, and her dog, Rusty.
Rusty had been part of the family since Nora was very little.
He was a gentle brown dog with soft floppy ears and a tail that seemed to wag whenever Nora was nearby.
Nora and Rusty did almost everything together.
Every morning, Rusty waited beside Nora’s bed, his tail going thump, thump, thump!
He sat near her at breakfast, played with his favourite red ball in the afternoon, and curled up beside her during story time.
Wherever Nora went, Rusty followed.
He wasn’t just her dog.
He was her best friend.
Then, one Saturday morning, something new happened.
Dad came home carrying a little basket.
Something inside moved.
Rustle... rustle...
Nora hurried over.
Two tiny paws appeared.
Then a little black nose.
Then—
Yip!
"A puppy!" cried Nora.
A tiny golden puppy climbed out of the basket.
"This is Pip," said Dad.
Nora gently picked him up.
"Hello, Pip!"
Pip licked her nose.
Nora giggled.
Across the room, Rusty quietly watched them.
His tail gave one small wag.
Pip needed lots of help.
Nora showed him his new bed.
She filled his little bowl.
She took him into the garden.
She rolled a small ball for him.
Pip chased it...
ran straight past it...
and tumbled into a cushion.
Nora laughed.
"Silly Pip!"
Rusty brought over his red ball.
But Nora was busy with the puppy.
"Later, Rusty," she said.
Rusty slowly walked away.
The next morning, Pip followed Nora everywhere.
Into the kitchen.
Into the garden.
Around the sofa.
Nora thought it was funny.
But Rusty didn't bring his red ball that day.
He lay quietly beside the window.
Nora was so busy with Pip that she didn't notice.
That afternoon, Nora and Dad took the dogs into the garden.
Pip bounced after a butterfly.
He hopped through the grass.
He sniffed a flower
Then he spotted a little bird outside the garden. Pip squeezed through a small gap under the gate.
"Pip!" called Nora.
But the puppy was gone.
Nora ran to the gate.
"Pip!"
She looked beside the tree.
No Pip.
She looked behind the flowerpots.
No Pip.
She looked along the path.
No Pip.
Nora's smile disappeared.
"Where is he?"
Rusty stood very still.
Then his nose began to move.
Sniff... sniff...
He sniffed the grass.
He sniffed the gate.
Then he hurried down the path.
"Rusty?" said Nora.
Rusty kept sniffing.
Nora and Dad followed him.
Past the big tree...
around the corner...
and beside a little bush.
Rusty stopped.
A tiny sound came from underneath.
"Yip..."
"Pip!"
The little puppy was hiding beneath the leaves.
Nora gently lifted him out.
"I found you!"
Then she looked at Rusty.
"No," she said with a smile.
"Rusty found you."
Rusty's tail began to wag.
Thump, thump, thump!
Nora knelt and hugged him.
"Thank you, Rusty."
Pip bounced around Rusty's paws.
Then he gave Rusty a tiny lick on the nose.
Rusty looked at Pip.
Pip looked at Rusty.
Rusty gave his face one big—LICK!
Nora laughed.
That evening, Nora sat with her picture book.
Rusty came over carrying his red ball.
Nora put down her book.
"Come on, Rusty."
She rolled the ball.
Rusty chased it.
Pip chased Rusty.
And Nora chased them both.
Soon all three were running around the room.
That night, Rusty curled up beside Nora.
Pip nestled beside him, and Rusty gently rested his head near the puppy.
Nora covered them with a blanket.
“Good night, Pip—and good night, my Rusty.”
She scratched Rusty behind his floppy ear.
Thump, thump, thump.
Rusty closed his eyes.
Pip was the new puppy in the family.
But Rusty was still Nora's best friend.
Nora loved them both.
And now, Rusty had someone new to love too.
Pip snuggled closer to Rusty.
Rusty rested his head beside the little puppy.
And the two dogs fell asleep together.
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