Issy & Poppy: Kids Edition - Christmas Dog Story

The Courtyard Concert for GPAR

Casa Adora, Monte Lope Álvarez, rural Andalucía

On a warm late November morning at Casa Adora, Dad sat on the roof terrace, dipping Rich Tea biscuits into his mug of tea while reading How to be Right. Below, Issy and Poppy lounged like two elegant grey statues, occasionally twitching their ears.

"¿Qué calor, no?" Poppy sighed.

"Sí, pero está guay," Issy replied. "Better than that freezing English winter Dad keeps talking about."

Neither greyhound guessed that this ordinary Tuesday was about to turn extraordinary.

The Unexpected Rehearsal

Down the dusty lane came Titi (pronounced Tee-tee), the piano teacher, carrying her portable keyboard and humming cheerfully. Behind her skipped Juanito and Christina, castanets clicking in their hands, and little Laura struggled with cymbals almost as big as her.

"¡Buenas!" Titi called up. "We heard about the donations to GPAR, so we thought—why not a concert? ¡Una sorpresa!"

Dad blinked. "A concert? Here?"

"¡Claro que sí!" Christina piped up. "We’ve been practising that English song you taught us!"

Antonio Chispa arrived with his guitar, and Esperanza carried a tray of refreshments. "Tea and biscuits for you, Phil. Coffee for the grown-ups. Orange juice for the nenes," she said.

Rosa la Catalana appeared, slightly out of breath. "I heard there would be singing. Did someone request Catalan ditties?"

Issy and Poppy exchanged puzzled looks.

A Ghostly Orchestra

As Titi set up the keyboard and the children found their places, the air shimmered near the water trough.

THUMP.

Jasper, the ghost rabbit, somersaulted through, his floral bathing cap askew, clutching a trumpet far too big for him.

"¡Hola, perras! I brought my trumpet!" he announced.

From under the workbench came Spiny Norman the hedgehog. "Music! Or biscuits? Both is importanter!"

Up on the roof appeared Pecky the pigeon and Joey the budgie. The children’s eyes widened.

"Are those… fantasmas?" Laura whispered.

"Sí," Juanito breathed. "Qué guay."

Let the Concert Begin

Titi tapped the keys. Castanets clicked, cymbals crashed, Jasper blew his trumpet PAAAAARP!, and the courtyard filled with joyful chaos.

🎶 If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit, join our Club! 🎶

Esperanza handed out Club biscuits from the box sent by Aunty Debbie.

"Magic biscuits," Poppy said sagely.

"Importanter!" Spiny Norman added.

Rosa sang a Catalan ditty:

🎶
El petit Pau va anar al mercat,
Va comprar peres i un bon formatge,
La veïna va dir: "Quin noi més llest!"
El petit Pau va somriure content.
🎶

The children tried their best to sing along. Jasper may have been playing a completely different song.

A Very Special Visitor

Just as the music reached its peak, Girma from GPAR arrived. She smiled at Dad and the children.

"Thanks to your grandchildren in England," she said, "six dogs will sleep safely tonight. They gave up some of their Christmas presents so these dogs could have food, warmth, and care."

The children clapped. Jasper celebrated with a PAAARP PAAARP!

"Sin gente como ellos," Girma continued, "GPAR wouldn’t exist. Every dog we save is because of thoughtful children like yours."

Dad raised his mug of tea. "Well, I say that’s the best Christmas gift anyone could give."

The Grand Finale

Antonio Chispa strummed his guitar. Titi played the keyboard. The children sang Campana Sobre Campana with all the ghosts joining in, and from the chimney came Glen, the ghost Scottish sheepdog, playing bagpipes.

It was magnificent. Chaotic, magical, and full of love for dogs, music, and kindness.

Spiny Norman summed it up: "This is the importantest thing ever!"

Afterwards

As the sun set, everyone packed up. Girma hugged Dad.

"Tell your grandchildren—Álvaro, Evelyn, Charlie, Amélie, George, and Joseph—that six dogs slept safely tonight because of them," she said.

Issy and Poppy settled back on the patio.

"Well," Poppy said, "that was unexpected."

"Best concert ever," Issy agreed.

Dad’s voice drifted from the roof: "Girls? Who ate all my biscuits?"

"Must have been the ghost rabbit," Poppy suggested.

"Definitely the ghost rabbit," Issy confirmed.

And somewhere in the air, Jasper’s trumpet gave one final, triumphant PAAAARP.

Glossary

Campana Sobre Campana - Spanish Christmas carol

Andalucía - Andalusia, southern Spain

¿Qué calor, no? - It's hot, isn't it?

Sí, pero está guay - Yes, but it's cool/great

¡Buenas! - Hello

¡Una sorpresa! - A surprise

¡Claro que sí! - Of course

nenes - Kids

perras - Female dogs (affectionate)

¡Hola! - Hello

fantasmas - Ghosts

Qué guay - How cool

Sin gente como ellos - Without people like them

People & Pets

Issy & Poppy - Bilingual rescue greyhounds, detective partners
Dad (Phil) - British immigrant, Issy & Poppy’s human
Titi (Teresa) - Piano teacher
Antonio Chispa - Guitarist
Esperanza - Volunteer caterer
Jasper - Bonkers ghost rabbit
Spiny Norman - Ghost hedgehog
Pecky - Ghost Pigeon
Joey - Ghost Budgie
Glen - Ghost Scottish border collie cross
(Ghosts are pets from Dad's childhood and those of his children).

Special Note

GPAR - Grupo de Protección Animal de Rute, a dog refuge in Rute, Córdoba, Spain, rescuing abandoned dogs

For Álvaro, Evelyn, Charlie, Amélie, George & Joseph – may you always know your kindness travels far. Love from Grandad, Issy & Poppy xxx

P.S. The biscuits really were magic.

This story is part of the Issy & Poppy: Kids Edition collection — bilingual adventures with Issy and Poppy in Andalucía. You can explore the whole collection in the Kids Edition Hub.
Esta historia forma parte de la colección Issy & Poppy: Kids Edition — aventuras bilingües con Issy y Poppy en Andalucía. Descubre toda la colección en el Kids Edition Hub.

Footnote: AI images, my stories — The Flexible Chef.