Bailey (6 page)

Suddenly, at exactly the same moment, both girls made up their minds. They blurted out, “No!”

Then they burst out laughing because they'd surprised each other, speaking at exactly the same time, saying exactly the same thing.

Just then, Aunt Jenn came bursting through the door. She was clutching her stomach.

“What happened, Aunt Jenn?” cried Kat. She placed Bailey in Maya's arms and rushed over to her aunt. “Is everything okay? Why aren't you grooming Alice?” she asked, putting her arm around Aunt Jenn's shoulders.

“Oh, girls, some dog people are so funny! Just so funny!” Aunt Jenn's shoulders were shaking. Kat realized her aunt was laughing!

“Alice's owner decided to book an appointment for a different day. She just felt Alice was not in the right emotional state of mind to be clipped today,” Aunt Jenn spluttered. “Especially by a groomer who she'd never met.” She put her hand to her chest. “Oh my,” she gasped. “Oh my.”

Kat and Maya started to laugh along with her.

Then the girls suddenly had the same horrible thought. What if they had gone outside just now? Aunt Jenn would have seen them! What would she have said? What would she have done? Right away, they knew they'd been right to follow Aunt Jenn's directions.

“You came out to speak to me a few minutes ago, Kat. Was there something you wanted?” Aunt Jenn asked.

Kat blushed. “No, not really, Aunt Jenn.” Then she added in a rush, “Other than, we just wanted to say thanks for letting us help out with Bailey, and we hope his owner is pleased that she boarded him here.”

Aunt Jenn came over and patted Bailey's head. He looked up at her with his blue eyes and smiled.

“Well, girls, there were two things I wanted to tell you. First of all, there's good news about the backyard. I have someone coming to fix the holes in the fence this weekend. You can't see them from here, but there are several large openings behind those trees. A puppy could wiggle under the fence and be gone in a flash! But once the fence is fixed, we can exercise the dogs back there.”

Aunt Jenn had said “we”! Kat swallowed hard but didn't say anything. Maya clutched her arm hard.

“And the second thing: you've really proven yourselves to me. You've done a fine job following instructions and being so good to Bailey. I hope that you'll be able to help me out on a regular basis. Even if I do get an assistant, and—I know, I know, I need to do that…” She waved her hands around. “Anyway, I wanted to check with you first to make sure you could continue to come and give me a hand.”

Kat and Maya beamed. “We've love to,” Maya cried.

“Thanks so much for asking!” said Kat.

“Well then, it's a deal. Okay, well, I have to get back to the next customer. A supercute little pug that needs his nails clipped,” Aunt Jenn said. “I'll see you soon, right, girls?”

“Right, Aunt Jenn,” Kat and Maya said.

As soon as the door closed behind the groomer, Kat and Maya stared at each other.

“Can you imagine if we'd gone outside with this little guy and he'd escaped?” Kat whispered. “You would have found one of those holes, wouldn't you, Bailey? You're so clever and such an explorer.” She reached out and rubbed his tummy.

“You might have got lost. You might have got hurt…” Maya said softly. Bailey lifted his head and licked her chin.

“And Aunt Jenn never would have trusted us again!” said Kat.

For a moment, the girls didn't speak, and then smiles swept across their faces. “Kat,” Maya said. “We get to come and help out at Tails Up! all the time!”

“And we'll have lots more puppies to add to our Puppy Collection!” cried Kat.

“Let's play with Bailey a little bit more before we say good-bye to him,” said Maya, setting the squirmy golden-yellow puppy back down on the floor.

Immediately, he bounded across the floor toward his knotted rope toy. He grabbed it between his teeth and shook it. Then he threw it up in the air. When it dropped, he ran and pounced on it and shook it between his teeth again.

The girls laughed in delight. They had a real live puppy to add to their collection!

Award-winning author Susan Hughes has written over thirty books—both fiction and nonfiction—for children of all ages, including
Earth to Audrey
,
Island Horse
,
Four Seasons of Patrick
,
Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools around the World
, and
Case Closed? Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science
. She is also a freelance editor and writing coach. Susan lives with her family in Toronto, Canada, in a house with a big red door—and wishes it could always be summer. You can visit her at
susanhughes.ca
.

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