Puppy Love Prank

  Chapter

  TAIL-WAGGING WEDDING

  “Stop!” Bess Marvin shouted as she came to a halt. “We forgot something super important!”

  Nancy Drew stopped walking too. So did her other best friend, George Fayne. All three girls were carrying plastic bins filled with treats for the wedding they were going to today.

  “We didn’t forget to dress up for the wedding,” Nancy told Bess. “We’re both wearing party dresses and George is wearing a button-up shirt.”

  “Yes, but every wedding has something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue,” Bess explained. “We don’t have any of those.”

  George raised a foot and said, “My sneakers are old.”

  Bess rolled her eyes at George’s grubby, frayed sneaker. “That’s for sure,” she sighed.

  “And I’m wearing Hannah’s sparkly poodle pin,” Nancy said. “That’s borrowed.”

  “Your dress is new, Bess,” George said, “like everything else you wear.”

  “Very funny,” Bess said with a smirk.

  Nancy giggled. She had known Bess and George forever but still couldn’t believe they were cousins.

  Bess washed her long blond hair almost every morning, painted her nails pink, and had a closet filled with stylin’ clothes. The only time George trimmed her nails was when they grew too long for her computer keyboard or softball catcher’s mitt.

  But like Nancy, Bess and George were great at solving mysteries. That’s why all three friends had their own detective club called the Clue Crew. Nancy even had a special notebook where she wrote down all their suspects and clues!

  “We need something blue, you guys,” Bess insisted. “It’s a wedding tradition.”

  George’s dark curls bounced as she shook her head. “It’s a dog wedding, Bess,” she pointed out. “There’s nothing traditional about that.”

  Nancy, Bess, and George stood outside Mayor Strong’s mansion, where the dog wedding would take place. Getting married were Helga and Horatio, the fluffy white bichon frises of Mrs. Ainsworth, the richest woman in River Heights.

  “Let’s not forget the main reason for this wedding,” Nancy said. “To let everyone know about the pet shelter Waggamuffins and all the dogs who need homes.”

  “And because my mom is catering the wedding,” George said proudly. “We get to walk three of those dogs down the aisles as brides-mutts. How cool is that?”

  “It would be even cooler,” Bess sighed, “if we could find something blue.”

  Nancy, Bess, and George carried the bins filled with doggy cupcakes up the path to the mayor’s mansion. Mrs. Fayne and her staff unloaded the catering truck to one side of the driveway.

  When Mrs. Fayne saw the girls, she smiled. “Thanks for bringing the pupcakes, girls,” she said. “You can put the bins on the rolling cart.”

  “Good,” George said with a grin. “These cupcakes may be for dogs, but there’re enough to feed ten elephants!”

  “Where are Helga and Horatio, Mrs. Fayne?” Nancy asked while stacking the bins. “We’d love to meet them before the wedding!”

  “Mayor Strong arranged a special room for the dogs,” Mrs. Fayne said, pointing to a door at the back of the house. “It even has its own entrance.”

  Mrs. Fayne returned to her work and the girls turned toward the door. Nancy brushed aside her reddish-blond bangs to read a sign on the door. It read: PRIVATE.

  “Now we can’t go inside the room to meet Helga and Horatio,” Nancy said, disappointed.

  “Who says we can’t?” George asked. She walked to the rolling cart, grabbed two pupcakes, and said, “Special delivery for Helga and Horatio!”

  Nancy knocked three times on the door. They waited until a woman’s voice called, “Enter!”

  Bess opened the door. As they stepped inside, the girls looked around the room. The first things they noticed were a doggy-size wedding dress and tuxedo hanging on a rack. Standing by the rack and waving a steamer was a boy of about nine or ten.

  A silver-haired woman sat on a velvet throne-like chair holding two fluffy white dogs. “You missed a wrinkle on the left suspender, Ludlow,” she told the boy. “Keep steaming, please.”

  “Yes, Grandma,” Ludlow replied.

  Nancy guessed the woman was Mrs. Ainsworth. The dogs had to be Helga and Horatio!

  “Hello, Mrs. Ainsworth,” Nancy said. “We’ve come with pupcakes for the happy couple. They’re cupcakes baked for dogs—”

  “Not these dogs,” Mrs. Ainsworth cut in. “What would my babies do if they got cream on their clean fur?”

  “They’d lick it off,” George said with a shrug. “They’re dogs, right?”

  Mrs. Ainsworth didn’t laugh, but Ludlow did. He blushed when he noticed Nancy, Bess, and George looking his way.

  “Do you go to River Heights Elementary School?” Nancy asked nicely. “You don’t look familiar.”

  “That’s because I live in the next town,” Ludlow said, turning off the steamer. “I’m helping my grandmother with the wedding.”

  “And making sure my babies stay perfectly groomed on their big day,” Mrs. Ainsworth added.

  “Did someone say ‘groomed’?” a voice piped in.

  Nancy, Bess, and George turned to see a couple at the door. Each wore a crisp smock over tailored pants. They carried branded tote bags over their shoulders.

  “And you are?” Mrs. Ainsworth asked.

  “I’m Kelly Davis and this is my husband Kevin,” the woman said, “Better known as the Va-Va-Groom glam squad!”

  “I know what a glam squad is,” Bess said excitedly. “You make people beautiful, right?”

  “We make dogs beautiful,” Kevin stated.

  “Va-Va-Groom is the fancy new dog salon on Main Street,” Kelly added.

  “I heard about Va-Va-Groom,” Nancy said. “It’s way too fancy for my dog, Chip.”

  In a flash Kelly handed Nancy a piece of paper and said, “Take this coupon. It’s for twenty dollars off a soothing sports pawdicure including tax and tip.”

  “Pawdicure?” Nancy asked.

  “Now,” Kelly said, smiling at Helga and Horatio. “Where do we begin?”

  “By leaving, please,” Mrs. Ainsworth said. “I never called for groomers.”

  “That’s because I did!” Mayor Strong boomed as he burst into the room following a huge hairy dog. “For my dog, Huey.”

  Nancy wanted to squeeze her nose but didn’t. Huey smelled a bit ewie. Meanwhile the glam squad stared at the mayor’s dog.

  “Would your dog like a soothing massage, Mayor Strong?” Kevin asked. “Or colorful stencils on his rather matted fur?”

  “Nah,” Mayor Strong said. “Huey rolled in something stinky. Dig out the dead leaves or whatever else you find in there.”

  The mayor gave his dog a final pat. “Oh, and clean the gunk out of his ears, too. So he can hear me whistle.”

  Nancy could tell the glam squad was horrified by the mayor’s request. In a panic the couple turned to Mrs. Ainsworth.

  “Surely there’s something we can do for the bride and groom!” Kelly said. “Instead of Huey?”

  “Pleeeeease?” Kevin squeaked.

  “I’m afraid not,” Mrs. Ainsworth said. “Helga and Horatio were groomed this morning by Mr. Clippy of Canine Couture.”

  “You mean the celebrity dog groomer to the stars?” Kelly gasped. “His salon is in Chicago!”

  “Mr. Clippy makes house calls,” Mrs. Ainsworth said, “in his private helicopter.”

  Nancy could hear Kelly and Kevin growl under their breaths. Just like the dogs they groomed.

  “I’ll leave Huey in your good hands,” Mayor Strong said, sticking the leash between Kelly’s clenched fingers. “See you all at the w
edding!”

  Kelly and Kevin stood frozen as the mayor left the room. George turned to the couple. “Take these for Huey,” she said, holding out the two pupcakes. “I’m sure he won’t mind frosting on his fur.”

  “It would be an improvement,” Kevin muttered.

  “Woof!” Huey barked.

  Kelly steered Huey toward the door. On their way out Nancy heard her say, “Kevin, I think we’ve just been dogged!”

  Nancy didn’t know what Kelly meant by that. But she did know one thing: The Va-Va-Groom glam squad was mad!

  “Should I shut the door, Grandma?” Ludlow asked.

  “Don’t bother, dear,” Mrs. Ainsworth said. “It’s eleven o’clock and time for you to walk Helga and Horatio.”

  Nancy, Bess, and George listened to Mrs. Ainsworth give Ludlow special walking instructions: Walk Helga and Horatio for a half an hour away from the guests. Then bring the dogs back to their room for an hour’s rest before the wedding at twelve thirty.

  While Ludlow fetched the dogs’ leashes, Nancy had an idea.…

  “Why don’t you walk Helga and Horatio in the park across the street, Ludlow?” Nancy asked. “My dog, Chip, loves it there!”

  “The park?” Mrs. Ainsworth demanded. “Do my babies look like they chase squirrels?”

  Suddenly—MEOW! Nancy, Bess, and George whirled around. Standing in the doorway was a cat wearing a ruffled collar and lacy bonnet. Helga and Horatio growled at the little cat, then leaped off of Mrs. Ainsworth’s lap. Yapping all the way, the dogs chased the cat out the door!

  “They may not chase squirrels,” George exclaimed, pointing outside. “But look at them go after that cat!”

  Mrs. Ainsworth jumped up from her chair, wringing her hands. “I told Mayor Strong not to invite cats to this wedding! Somebody bring back my babies!”

  Chapter

  BRIDE AND GLOOM

  “On it, Mrs. Ainsworth!” Nancy said.

  With Ludlow running behind them, Nancy, Bess, and George chased the dogs that chased the cat. They charged through the mayor’s garden, beneath a lawn sprinkler, and through Mrs. Fayne’s catering tent.

  “Whoa!” George shouted as the three animals scampered under the table holding the wedding cake. The tall cake decorated with a dog-couple topper trembled this way and that, but luckily didn’t fall.

  Helga and Horatio chased the cat out of the tent. Ludlow caught up with the dogs, snapping on their leashes and shouting, “Gotcha!”

  Ludlow hurried off with both dogs. Meowing, the cat jumped into the open arms of a girl dressed in a fancy dress and straw hat. “There you are, Cocoa,” she cooed. “I was wondering where you went!”

  Nancy, Bess, and George recognized the girl and her two friends, who walked over carrying cats too.

  The three were in the fourth grade and best friends because of their love of cats. They even gave themselves cat nicknames to prove it: Kitty McNulty, Ally Katz, and Purr-cilla Chang. Everyone at school called them the Kitty Klub!

  “Your cats look so pretty in their frilly collars and bonnets!” Bess said with a smile.

  The Kitty Klub refused to smile back.

  “Mayor Strong just told us that cats aren’t allowed at the wedding,” Kitty said.

  “We want to know why,” Ally demanded.

  “I know why,” George replied. “Cats plus dogs equal zoomies. You just saw for yourself.”

  “But we got something from the registry list!” Purr-cilla complained, holding a chew toy with her free hand. She gave it a squeak and said, “See?”

  “Sorry,” Nancy said gently. “But Mrs. Ainsworth, Helga and Horatio’s owner, said the same.”

  The Kitty Klub traded frowns.

  “Who ever heard of a dog wedding, anyway?” Kitty grumbled as they turned to leave.

  “Yeah, well, somebody is about to hear from us,” Purr-cilla said, “because I just got an idea!”

  The Kitty Klub huddled together, talking quietly as they walked away.

  “I wonder what Purr-cilla’s idea is,” Nancy said.

  “To have a cat wedding?” Bess guessed with a smile.

  “Whatever.” Nancy giggled. “I just hope Ludlow

  holds those leashes tight during the dogs’ walk. Helga and Horatio will take off again the minute they see a squirrel!”

  “You mean like that one?” Bess asked.

  She pointed to a squirrel zooming across the lawn. The bushy-tailed critter rammed into a rock, flipping onto its back. A loud whirring noise rose from the squirrel as his feet kicked in the air.

  “That’s not a real squirrel,” George said. “It’s electronic.”

  “Coming through!” a boy shouted. He ran to the squirrel, picked it up, and turned a switch on its stomach. The creature stopped whirring and kicking.

  The boy was Bradley Bishop, from the other third grade class at school. More than anything Bradley loved to invent, and was good at it too. He even had his own YouView channel called Bradley’s Brainstorms, where he showed off his latest inventions.

  “What are you doing here, Bradley?” Nancy asked. “Did you get an invitation to the dog wedding?”

  “Bradley Bishop needs no invitation!” Bradley declared. “Surely Mrs. Ainsworth will be interested in seeing my latest brainstorms.”

  “Like an electronic squirrel?” George cried.

  “This bushy-tailed brainstorm is perfect for Helga and Horatio to chase down the aisle,” Bradley explained.

  “I think Helga and Horatio prefer cats,” Bess said, and giggled.

  “I also have a rice blaster so guests don’t have to throw rice,” Bradley went on. “Plus a canine cake slicer made to cut perfect dog-size slices.”

  Bradley puffed his chest out proudly and said, “Or my latest invention, the Bradley Bishop Blaster Booth.”

  “My mom already ordered a photo booth,” George said.

  “It’s not a photo booth!” Bradley insisted. “I live around the corner—come over and see it.”

  “Thanks, but no thanks,” George said.

  “We have a wedding to go to,” Nancy said.

  As the girls walked away, Bradley shouted after them, “How can it be a wedding without Bradley’s Brainstorms?”

  * * *

  Nancy, Bess, and George had a great time meeting the Waggamuffins shelter dogs they would walk down the aisle.

  Each dog wore a garland or bow tie around their neck and a bib that read TAKE ME HOME.

  Time flew as the girls said hi to more dogs in the Waggamuffins truck parked outside the mansion. Soon it was twelve thirty and time for the wedding!

  “You rehearsed last night,” a wedding volunteer told Nancy, Bess, and George with a smile. “So you know the drill.”

  The girls formed a line with their dogs outside the ballroom where the ceremony was about to begin. From behind the double doors they could hear a string quartet play a song called “Puppy Love.”

  “This is it!” Nancy whispered excitedly.

  Two ushers pulled open the doors. Nancy’s heart fluttered as she looked inside the ballroom. Seated on both sides of a long, satiny aisle were guests, all smiling her way!

  Nancy walked down the aisle first, escorting Barkley. The medium-size Bossi-Poo was part Boston terrier, part poodle. Next in walked George leading a lively Doodleman pinscher named Knuckles, followed by Bess with Dahlia—a tiny Pom-huahua.

  Standing at the end of the aisle was a grinning Mayor Strong. At his side was Huey, still looking scruffy.

  Nancy, Bess, and George took their places alongside the mayor with the dogs. As the orchestra played “Here Comes the Bride,” all eyes turned toward the doors. But where were the bride and groom?

  That’s when—

  “Eeeeek!”

  Everyone gasped, some standing up as a frantic Mrs. Ainsworth charged down the aisle. Helga was in one arm, Horatio in the other. Mrs. Ainsworth was fancily dressed, but neither dog wore their wedding attire. Instead the snowy-white pups wore wild streaks o
f color all over their fur!

  “Omigosh!” Nancy cried to her friends. “The groom and bride are tie-dyed!”

  Chapter

  TIE-DYE THE KNOT

  The whole ballroom was in an uproar as guests crowded around the color-splashed canines.

  “I think we found something blue for the wedding, Bess,” George whispered. “Blue, green, yellow, purple—”

  “Not. Funny. George,” Bess insisted. She gripped the leash tightly as Dahlia became jittery. “Even the Waggamuffins dogs are upset.”

  “Not as upset as Mrs. Ainsworth,” Nancy said.

  Mrs. Ainsworth broke out of the crowd, having overheard Nancy. “You bet I’m upset!” she screeched. “I was busy getting dressed and bejeweled for the wedding. Five minutes before the ceremony I went into my babies’ room and found them like this!”

  She turned to Ludlow and asked, “How did this happen? You were the last to see Helga and Horatio before you put them down for their nap.”

  “And when I did, their fur was totally clean,” Ludlow insisted. “I don’t know how that happened, Grandma!”

  Mayor Strong told Huey to stay, then walked over to Mrs. Ainsworth. “Lola,” he told her soothingly, “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for this … color conundrum.”

  The mayor then turned to the guests and said, “Okay, everybody. Who doodled on the poodles?”

  “They’re not poodles, they’re bichon frises!” Mrs. Ainsworth cried. “But you’re right about one thing: Someone in this mansion painted my pooches!”

  At that moment Mrs. Fayne walked into the ballroom. Not realizing what had happened, she announced with a smile, “Attention, everyone. Helga and Horatio’s wedding cake is now being served in the dining room!”

  “There will be nothing of the kind,” Mrs. Ainsworth snapped.

  “Excuse me?” Mrs. Fayne asked, until she saw Helga and Horatio. “Holy cannoli!”

  Still clutching her dogs, Mrs. Ainsworth turned to Mayor Strong. “I am calling off Helga and Horatio’s wedding immediately,” she declared, “plus my support of Waggamuffins, until the dastardly dog dappler comes forward!”