Aimee Harper - Sasha

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. “What’s your name, please?” she asked.

“Boswell,” said the voice. “Brian Boswell.”

Bella’s heart fluttered. It was the other bichon frise owner. The one Claire and Amber had just warned them about!

“Um,” she said nervously. “We’ll do our best. But I really don’t think—”

“I’ll bring my dog in at six o’clock,” Brian Boswell interrupted. “It can be your last appointment of the day. I’ll make it worth your while. Goodbye.”

The receiver buzzed in Bella’s ear as Brian Boswell hung up. Bella stared at it. He hadn’t left his number, so her mum couldn’t call him back. Bella checked the phone’s screen. Number withheld.

The last appointment? Mrs Lockett had asked for the last appointment. And Mrs Lockett was booked in at five. Bella had a really bad feeling about this!

The West Highland terrier’s owner was an elderly lady called Miss Waldicott. Miss Waldicott was delighted when she came to collect her dog.

“You’ve done a lovely job with Angus, Suzi, dear,” she said to Bella’s mum.

“Thanks, Miss Waldicott,” said Suzi, raising her voice over the noise of the dryer as she worked on Snowy. “Bella and Amber dried him for you. I’ve never been so busy!”

Miss Waldicott patted her Westie on the head. “Will you be at the show tonight?” she asked Bella.

“We’ve entered Pepper in the Obedience class,” Bella said.

“I’ve entered Angus for that as well,” Miss Waldicott said, sounding pleased. “He’s such a good little fellow. Aren’t you, Angus? Show the nice people how you shake my hand.”

The Westie sat obediently and lifted his little white paw into the air.

“Aah,” said Amber as Miss Waldicott gave her dog a little treat.

Bella smiled bravely. Pepper didn’t do that. Pepper didn’t do anything you told him, really. He just liked to cuddle her by wrapping his paws round her neck. And chase white vans. She had a feeling they wouldn’t count.

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