The shadowy figures stood together in the darkness, their hands pushed deep into their pockets to keep them warm. Tall and short, young and old, their bodies bundled shapelessly in thick winter clothes. A few had torches, sending beams of eerie light upwards on to their faces. They formed a semicircle on the frosty grass, all staring silently in the same direction.
Under a single spotlight, a boy of about twelve scrambled on to a makeshift stage and stood in front of a microphone. He was followed by his sister, just a little younger, who turned and helped a much younger brother up to join them.
‘Welcome to the annual ceremony of the turning on of the village Christmas lights!’ said Ben, the older boy, raising his voice slightly even though the microphone amplified his words. ‘As you know, we always invite a special person to perform this important task and this year it’s our very own local celebrity. I wonder if you can guess who she is?’ Ben beamed at the assembled crowd. ‘Well, here’s a clue: she’s a brilliant and highly trained Secret Service agent; she can defuse bombs, crack codes, understand at least twelve languages –’
‘And she’s caught way more baddies than I’ve had Christmas dinners!’ interrupted Ben’s younger brother, jumping up and grabbing the microphone.
‘Thank you, Ollie,’ frowned Ben, easing the microphone away from his brother. ‘She’s the head of our neighbourhood watch, and a mother of seven – two of them are here tonight …’
At this point there was an excited Woof! Woof! from a small black puppy at the front of the crowd and everyone laughed.
‘And thank you, Spud!’ said Ben, as the young dog jumped excitedly up towards the stage. ‘But most of all,’ he went on, ‘she’s a very important part of my family. Please welcome Secret Agent GM451 – or as we all know her, LARA!’
Gloved hands joined in muffled applause. Several of the smaller, four-legged members barked and meowed as a black-and-white dog about the size of a Labrador, with one ear sticking up and one ear flopping down, bounded up on to the stage.
Lara stood for a moment looking down at the shadowy faces of her friends and neighbours. All her animal neighbourhood watch group were there – except George the tortoise, who always spent Christmas in a cardboard box under the stairs.
In the front row were her two lively pups, Spud and his sister Star, fidgeting about beside their handsome black pedigree dad. Next to them were some of her adopted family – Mr and Mrs Cook and Gran, who lived opposite; and of course the children were on the stage beside her – Lara’s very best friends, Ben, Sophie and little Ollie.
At times like these Lara couldn’t help thinking that things might have been very different if she’d carried on with her early life as a Spy Dog – or worse still, if the bullet that had left a permanent hole in her right ear had been fired just a little lower. That was a terrible mission. She had been forced to go undercover and pretend to be a normal dog. The Cook family had come to the RSPCA rescue centre looking for an ordinary pet, but Lara had selected them as her future family – and the children had soon realized that she was anything but ordinary …
No, thought Lara, I’m glad I’m just a retired Spy Dog now. She felt pleased and proud to be part of such a happy, friendly community. And Christmas is my favourite time. Star and Spud have already put up their Christmas stockings. They’re so excited about Santa!
‘Go on, Lara. What are you waiting for? Turn on the lights!’ whispered Ben.
What am I doing? thought Lara, giving herself a little shake. I’ve only got one mission this evening and it’s an easy one too. I’d better get on with it!
She stood on her hind legs and winked at Ben. He addressed the microphone and counted the crowd down from ten. Lara waited for the right moment before turning the switch with her paw. Hundreds of light bulbs sprang into life along the houses around the village green, and in the middle of the grass a huge Christmas tree could suddenly be seen covered in tiny coloured stars, twinkling brightly into the night, lighting up the faces of the crowd as they cheered and clapped and whistled.
This is the life for me! thought Lara as she and the children jumped down from the stage, and the crowd moved off towards the village hall where bowls of hot punch and mince pies were waiting.
Suddenly, a shiny black four-by-four came screaming down the hill into the village, stopping everyone in their tracks with the sound of its powerful engine. Its tyres screeched as it skidded around the bend beside the pond, then, finding its balance again, it carried on driving straight towards them.
Surely the driver’s going to stop, thought Lara. He can see there’s a crowd of people in the road.
But the car just kept on going. As the people started to scatter, Lara’s training kicked in. Make sure the children are safe. The pups had already scampered to the other side of the road and were waiting there with Mum and Dad, but Ollie and Sophie were just beginning to cross. When they heard the car they hesitated for a second. It was just enough time for Lara to hurl herself in front of them and give them each a really hard push in the chest with her front paws. They tumbled backwards on to the village green and landed in a tangled heap.
Then Lara looked around for Ben. He had started to run but had tripped over Felix the tabby cat, who bolted under his feet. Everyone else was across the road but Ben was lying flat on his face – right in the path of the car!
Lara didn’t stop to think. She leapt into the road and grabbed the seat of Ben’s trousers in her teeth. Then she pulled him on to his feet and, remembering her best judo move, used Ben’s own weight against him to hurl him to the side of the road.
Ben was safe but Lara was still in the path of the speeding car. It was almost on her now. There was no time to run. Lara could see the sickly pale face and squinty blue eyes of the driver and she could tell he had no intention of stopping. Instead he just put his hand on the horn and kept it there … The noise was deafening.
From the roadside Lara heard Sophie scream and Star give a piercing, frightened yelp. A thought shot through her mind – Are these the last sounds I am ever going to hear?
But a Spy Dog never gives up. I’ve got it! Lara took a flying leap into the air. Reaching upwards, she just managed to hook her front paws over the branch of an overhanging tree. As the speeding car shot underneath, she clung on, swinging perilously, the claws of her back feet scraping the car’s roof.
It was over in seconds. The car had gone and Lara lost her balance and tumbled to the ground, doing her best to look casual. It’s all in a day’s work for a Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal, you know. They didn’t call me L.A.R.A for nothing!
Spud and Star ran to their mum for a hug. ‘Who was that nasty driver?’ woofed Star.
Then everyone started talking at once.
‘What a maniac!’
‘Someone could have been killed!’
‘Did you get his number?’
‘No, he was going too fast.’
Dad rushed up to Lara. ‘Lara, I think you just saved Ben’s life!’
‘Yes, er, thanks, Lara,’ said Ben, sounding grateful but embarrassed. Lara had accidentally ripped a huge hole in the seat of his new cargo trousers and some of the girls from school were waiting on the other side of the road. ‘Mum, I think I’ll just go back to the house for a minute. Is that OK?’
Lara shooed the pups off towards the village hall where she knew there would be mince pies. She decided to walk with Ben. Her legs were shaky. That was too close for comfort, she thought. Action and adventure seem to follow me around. I just want a quiet retirement. And a peaceful Christmas.
‘Why is Ben walking backwards?’ asked Ollie loudly.
‘Never mind, Ollie,’ smiled Mum. ‘Let’s go and have a mince pie.’