Gwen looked for Toby, her favorite little purple turtle toy. He was a tiny clay toy, but she loved him very much. She could not find him in any place. She looked in her bedroom, but he was not there.
Next, Gwen looked under the low wooden table in the hall. She checked behind a box that held a big puzzle. There was a green candle on the shelf next to it, but no turtle. She found a shiny blue marble on the floor, but still no Toby.
Gwen decided to check outside. She quickly ate a red apple. "We have a big job today," Gwen said to Gus, her loyal dog. Gus gave a happy wag and a gentle lick on her hand. It was a simple plan: search the backyard from the fence to the middle of the grass.
The grass was still wet from the morning rain. Gwen stepped in a muddy puddle and wet her socks. She walked past the tall green bushes that she liked to call the deep jungle. Gus ran ahead, sniffing every wet leaf and gray pebble.
Suddenly, Gwen tripped on a hidden branch. She felt a sharp pain in her ankle. "Ouch!" she cried, sitting down on the damp ground. She rubbed her sore ankle. It hurt, but she did not cry. Gus trotted back to her side and sat down.
As Gwen sat on the ground, she looked deep into the thick weeds. Right there, tucked under a big leaf, was a flash of bright color. It was her purple toy! He must have come out of her pocket when she played there before.
Gwen let out a happy giggle and grabbed her toy. "Look, Gus, I found him!" she said. Her ankle did not hurt so much now. Together, the girl and her gentle dog walked back to the house to rest.
