The Swamp Boggles Read Online Free

up and licked his chin with its pink tongue. “Did you scare off the horrible shadow creature, then, you big fierce dog?”
    â€œI wonder what it was that did make it go,” said Sophie, staring down the dark, tangled path where the thing had vanished. “And what kind of creature it was.”
    Sam nodded. “We’d better check The Shadow Files straight after school. We can ask your grandpa too. He might know.”
    Sophie’s heart sank. What on earth would Grandpa say when he heard that she’d had a chance to get the key back and hadn’t managedit? Or that the creature had nearly bitten her? She really didn’t want to have that conversation at all!
    Just then there was another faint cry through the trees. “Cutie-Pie! Cutie-Pie! Come back!”
    Sam rolled his eyes. “ Cutie-Pie? ”
    â€œThat must be the dog’s owner,” said Sophie. “Come on, let’s take it back.” She’d be glad to get out of here, she realised, glancing around her. The woods seemed to be closing in on them somehow. It felt like dozens of eyes were watching them.
    They hurried back down the path. An old lady with grey hair was standing on the edge of the wood, looking very anxious as she called into the trees. She exclaimed in delight when she saw them. “You found my Cutie-Pie!”
    â€œYes. He’s OK,” said Sam, putting the dogdown. “He just followed a scent into the trees.”
    Cutie-Pie bounded up to his owner and put his paws up on her legs.
    â€œThank you so much for bringing him back, dears,” said the old lady, picking the little dog up. “I had such a fright when I realised he’d gone! You naughty little Cutie,” she scolded, tapping the dog’s nose. “Come on, I’ll give you a nice bowl of chicken for breakfast.” Looking very relieved, she carried the dog away.
    Sam looked at his watch. “We should get to school.”
    Sophie took a breath. After all the excitement it was hard to imagine just going to school like normal, but they’d be late if they didn’t hurry. “Let’s just hope we don’t meet any more shadow creatures on the way!” she said.
    Â 
    It was too risky to talk about what had happened while they were at school, but as soon as the day was over with, Sophie and Sam hurried back to her house to check out The Shadow Files .
    Mrs B opened the door for them. “How was school?” she asked cheerfully.
    â€œOK, thanks,” said Sophie as they went inside. She swallowed, glancing around her. “Is, um… Grandpa in?’”
    â€œNo, he’s at Jack Badgett’s shop,” said Mrs B. She shut the door behind them.
    Sophie let out a relieved sigh. Jack Badgett was Grandpa’s friend, and when they got talking they chatted for hours. At least that meant that she didn’t have to tell him what had happened, just yet!
    â€œCome on, let’s go upstairs,” she said to Sam as they started to take their shoes off.
    Mrs B’s blue eyes were twinkling. “First, come into the kitchen. I bought you a present today!”
    â€œOh.” Sophie tried to look pleased. Mrs Benton was wonderful, and she often bought Sophie presents to make up for the things Grandpa had always treated Anthony to, but the trouble was she had a strange idea of what kind of things Sophie might like. When Sophie was little, Mrs B had bought her endless princess dresses, when all Sophie had wanted was to dress up like a knight or Spider-Man. Just recently, Mrs B had started buying Sophie hair and make-up sets, but although Sophie had waist-length blonde hair, she could never be bothered with trying to put bows or slides in.Still no matter how awful Mrs B’s presents were, Sophie couldn’t bear to hurt her feelings, so she always had to pretend that she liked them.
    â€œIt might not be that bad,” Sam whispered, reading her thoughts.
    Anthony’s