…These holidays are going to be the worst,’ Codey said, and hooked his arm around Buckets’ fat neck. ‘Stuck at home with nothing to do.’

Codey and Buckets were on the back step, staring across their backyard. Codey had his chin on his knees, and his other arm wrapped around his legs. His arms and legs were short. ‘I wish I was tall,’ he was always saying.

Buckets had short legs as well, but he never complained – and if you've never seen a dog that looks like a bucket, just get over to the Jones's place…

…The whole screen turned blue. ‘Uh-oh,’ said Codey. Blue spread out from the screen. Blue spread around the room. Uh-oh, said Buckets and backed towards the door. They were surrounded by deep sea-blue.

The room tipped to one side. Buckets rolled forward and wrapped his four legs tightly around Codey.

Codey grabbed for the edge of the table as he was thrown back the other way. But it wasn't a table. It was the top of a hatch. A very wet hatch. He flung himself across it, holding firmly to the far side.

‘Help!’ he called. But his voice was whipped away. He could feel the throbbing of an engine, rumbling through the hatch, shaking his body. In front of him a set of stairs disappeared downwards. Beyond that was a small high deck with windows around it, where two men stood looking out to sea.

Looking out to sea? ‘Yikes! Help!’ he screamed…