“It’s hard to believe Snowy’s a pedigree, isn’t it?” said Amber.
“It’s hard to believe he’s a dog,” Bella giggled. “He looks more like a sand monster. He needs a lot of work to get him ready for the show tonight.”
They climbed the steps up to the road. Louie and Joe jogged up after them, followed by Snowy and Amber’s mum Claire. Claire was tall and slim, and her short spiky hair was the same colour as Amber’s.
“It’s a big help that Amber and Joe can stay for tea with you today,” Claire said. “I’ve got so much to do for Snowy’s class. The extra couple of hours will be a real help. Sometimes I think this dog show’s more trouble than it’s worth.”
“You don’t mean that, Mum,” said Amber. “You love showing Snowy off.”
“We’ll bring Amber and Joe to the show,” said Bella. “We’re coming anyway. Mum entered Pepper in the Most Obedient Dog class.”
Amber burst out laughing. “But Pepper isn’t obedient!” she said. “He hardly ever does what your mum tells him!”
“I know,” Bella sighed. “But he isn’t a pedigree, and the Obedience class was the only group which had any space left. As usual, my mum left it till the last minute.”
Bella’s dog Pepper was small and brown and very cute. But obedience really wasn’t his thing. Bella felt nervous as she thought about tonight’s show.
Would Pepper behave himself?
Or were they in for the most embarrassing evening of their lives?
They turned into Bella’s road. The bright pink Dream Dogs sign winked and shone at them above Dream Dogs’ window. With its bubblegum-coloured walls, grass-coloured floor and hanging plants, the parlour looked warm and inviting. Bella felt her tummy bubble with joy. She loved Dream Dogs so much. It had been hard work making it perfect, but now it looked as gorgeous as a birthday cake.
Bella pushed open the door. Pepper dropped the smelly bone he had been chewing and leaped out of his basket. He jumped up at Bella and Louie like he hadn’t seen them for days.
“Good day, kids?” Suzi said, straightening up from the parlour’s special dog bath which was raised up on a platform.
“Fine,” said Bella, Louie, Joe and Amber all together.
“Thanks for picking up Bella and Louie, Claire,” said Suzi, turning to Amber’s mum. “I’ve been run off my feet today.”
A very soggy white West Highland terrier scrambled out of the bath and shook himself. Suzi caught the drops in a towel.
“Only two more to go,” she said as she rubbed the little Westie. “No offence to Snowy, Claire, but I’ll be pleased when today is over!”
“Mum?” said Bella hopefully. “Have you been practising the obedience stuff with Pepper today?”
Pepper started jumping madly all over Snowy.
“Down, Pepper!” Suzi ordered, wiping her forehead and leaving behind a trail of soapsuds.
Pepper took no notice.
“I guess not,” Bella sighed.
“Give me a hand, will you, girls?” asked Suzi. She waved two towels at Bella and Amber. “Time’s moving on. I need to make a start on Snowy.”
Amber cheered and threw her school bag down in the corner. She loved drying the dogs, especially when they used the big dog-dryer. Pepper had hated that dryer for the first two weeks. Now he was used to it, and just sighed and stuck his nose under the woolly blanket in his basket.
Bella and Amber dried the Westie, and Louie took Joe upstairs to the flat to see his monster collection. The two mums chatted about the Sandmouth Dog Show as Pepper went back to his bone.
“You wouldn’t believe how seriously some people take it,” Claire said. “I don’t usually go to dog shows with Snowy, but I do this one because it’s local. It’s supposed to be a bit of fun. But some of the other dog owners…Well!”
“I know what you mean,” Suzi agreed. She tested the temperature of the water in the shower attachment. “One lady wanted to book the last available slot before the dog show to make sure her dog was groomed as close to the judging as possible. She was ever so fussy about it.”
“What kind of dog, Mum?” Bella asked, still towelling the Westie.
“A bichon frise,” said her mum, smiling.
“Oh!” Bella gasped, picturing a little fluffy white bichon frise dog. “They are just so cute!”
“I know!” Suzi agreed. “Their fur is so soft and curly. They’re like little teddy bears.”
Claire frowned. “Who’s the owner?” she said.
“Mrs Lockett, she said her name was,” said Suzi.
Claire started laughing. “Look out for Helen Lockett!” she said. “She’s terrible!”
“Mr Boswell is worse,” Amber pointed out.
“Brian Boswell has a bichon frise as well,” Claire explained as Bella and Suzi looked puzzled. “He and Mrs Lockett are arch-enemies. Especially during the Sandmouth Dog Show.”
“Thank goodness he hasn’t booked an appointment, then,” Suzi said.
The parlour’s phone rang. Bella left Amber with the Westie.
“Hello, Dream Dogs,” she said into the receiver.
“I need an appointment for my dog this evening,” snapped a voice.
“I’m afraid we haven’t got an appointment—” Bella began.
“You’ll have to find one,” said the voice. “It’s most important. My usual salon has let me down at the last minute, and I’m entered in the Sandmouth Dog Show. I usually win, by the way. I am also very influential with Sandmouth’s dog owners. If you don’t find me an appointment, then you will be making a big mistake.”
Bella covered the receiver. “There’s a grumpy man on the phone who wants an appointment tonight, Mum,” she said.
Suzi had just got Snowy up the steps and into the bath. She groaned. “Take his name, and I’ll try to fit him in,” she said.
“That’ll be nine dogs today, Mum!” Bella gasped. “That’s more than twice as many as normal!”
“Dream Dogs is a new business,” Suzi said firmly. “I can’t turn anyone down.”
Bella took her hand off the receiver.
