The Fashion Disaster Read online

  “Wrong!” Peter exclaimed. “All Huey did was eat those stinky dog biscuits—”

  Peter clapped his wet hand over his mouth. A bubble floated out between his fingers.

  “Tell us what happened, Peter,” said Nancy.

  Peter uncovered his mouth. Then he took a long, deep breath.

  “After I saw you on Saturday, Huey dragged me into Lola’s trailer,” he said. “He’s so strong that I couldn’t hold him back—even when he started eating the biscuits from the basket!”

  “All the biscuits?” Bess asked.

  “To the last crumb!” Peter said. “I didn’t know what to do, so I refilled the basket with my own dog biscuits. How was I supposed to know that Lola hated Lick My Chops?”

  “Why didn’t you tell someone?” George asked. “You saw how everyone blamed us.”

  “I was in charge of Huey,” Peter said. “So when he goofed, I didn’t want anyone to know. Especially since he’s the mayor’s dog. I’m sorry!”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” said Bess. “Dogs will be dogs.”

  “You should tell Maya what you just told us, Peter,” Nancy said. “Then maybe she’ll stop blaming us for switching the biscuits.”

  “And start blaming me?” Peter said. “I don’t think so!”

  Huey barked. He jumped out of the pool and began shaking the water off his thick, wet coat. The girls and Peter screamed as they got showered.

  “I think Huey is trying to tell you something,” Nancy said.

  Peter brushed back his wet hair with his hand. “Okay,” he said. “Let’s get this over with!”

  Peter had seen Lola’s trailer on River Street after school. When the kids reached River Street, it was still there.

  “There’s Maya!” Nancy said.

  Maya and her mom were walking out of a pet photography studio. Maya held Lola’s leash while her mom stopped to buy coffee from a cart.

  “Maya!” called Nancy.

  “Leave us alone,” Maya called back. She walked Lola into the trailer. Nancy, Bess, George, and Peter followed them inside.

  “I said leave us alone!” Maya warned.

  “It’s okay, Maya,” Nancy said gently. “Peter Patino was at the park on Saturday. He has something to tell you.”

  “What?” Maya asked.

  “We-ell,” Peter started. He shuffled his feet. “It’s sort of . . . like this . . . you see . . .”

  George gave Peter a nudge with her elbow.

  “Mayor Strong’s dog, Huey, ate Lola’s fancy dog biscuits,” Peter blurted out. “While I was walking him.”

  “He did?” gasped Maya.

  “I couldn’t stop him,” Peter said. “I’m sorry.”

  “Wow,” Maya said. She looked at Nancy, Bess, and George. “So you didn’t switch the biscuits. The mayor’s dog ate them?”

  “Yes,” Nancy said.

  Maya gave a little snort. “That sounds like something a dumb shelter dog would do. They’re nothing but trouble.”

  Nancy frowned. She was glad the Bow-Wow Brigade wasn’t around to hear that!

  “I guess I’m sorry for blaming you,” Maya told the girls. “But you’d better go now. Lola has another photo shoot in exactly ten minutes.”

  “I’m outta here!” Peter declared. In a flash he was out of the trailer.

  “We’d better go too,” Nancy said.

  Maya turned to Lola. She began brushing her coat with a silver-plated hairbrush.

  The girls headed toward the door. Nancy glanced at Lola’s puppy picture on the wall. It showed Maya holding a tiny white poodle in her arms. Nancy remembered seeing it when they were in the trailer before.

  Cute! she thought.

  She was about to follow Bess and George when she noticed something else. In the picture was a crate—the cardboard kind used to bring puppies and kittens home for the first time. Nancy wondered if the writing on the crate was in French, since Maya said that Lola was from France. But the print was too small to read.

  My spyglass! Nancy remembered. She reached into her pocket and pulled it out.

  “What are you doing, Nancy?” whispered Bess.

  Nancy peered through the spyglass as she read the words silently to herself: “Valley View Pet Shelter. Next Stop: Home!”

  “Bess, George!” Nancy gasped. “I think I just found out Maya’s secret!”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Happily Ever After

  Nancy held the spyglass as Bess and George looked through it. They read the words to themselves.

  “Wow!” Bess said.

  “No wonder Rusty knew Lola’s secret,” George whispered. “He volunteered at the Valley View Shelter!”

  “What are you doing?” Maya called.

  The girls turned to Maya.

  “Question,” Nancy said. “Is Lola a shelter dog?”

  Maya froze with the hairbrush in her hand. Then she shook her head. “Shelter dog?” she scoffed. “Ha, ha, very funny.”

  “Then what’s a shelter crate doing in Lola’s puppy picture?” Nancy asked.

  Maya’s eyes popped open wide. She glanced at the picture and shook her head.

  “The puppy in the picture isn’t Lola,” she said. “That’s some Lola wannabe from the Valley View Shelter. We were giving her diva lessons and . . . and . . . and . . .”

  Nancy folded her arms across her chest. Maya’s voice cracked as she tried again.

  “I needed a crate for an arts and crafts project,” Maya said quickly. “So I went to the Valley View Shelter and . . . and . . . and . . .”

  Maya’s eyes darted around the room. They finally landed on Nancy.

  “Okay.” Maya sighed. “My parents adopted Lola as a puppy at the Valley View Shelter. So I guess that does make her a—”

  Maya gulped hard. She opened her mouth, but all that came out was a squeak.

  “Go ahead. Say it,” Nancy said gently.

  “THAT MAKES HER A SHELTER DOG!” Maya blurted. “There! Are you happy now?”

  Lola began licking Maya’s face.

  “Somebody seems to be,” Nancy giggled.

  “But why was it such a big secret?” Bess asked.

  “Yeah,” George said. “Adopting homeless dogs is a great thing.”

  “It started when Lola got famous,” Maya said. “I didn’t think anyone would buy calendars and cards from a shelter dog. So I made up a fancy story to go with Lola’s fancy life. I begged my parents to go along with it and they did.”

  Tears filled Maya’s eyes as she petted Lola.

  “Lola may be a French poodle,” Maya sniffed. “But she’s never even been to France. Not even to Paris, Texas!”

  Maya buried her face in Lola’s coat. She began to sob loudly.

  “Don’t cry, Maya,” Nancy said. “Lola’s story is even better now!”

  “It is?” asked Maya. Her voice sounded muffled through Lola’s fur.

  “Sure,” Nancy said. “Most people don’t know you can adopt purebred dogs at shelters. Or puppies that can grow up to become superstars, just like Lola!”

  Maya choked back the tears as she looked up.

  “Don’t you see, Maya?” Nancy went on excitedly. “Lola is just like Cinderella!”

  “I get it!” George said. “It’s like she went from wags . . . to riches!”

  This time even Bess laughed at George’s dog joke.

  “Lola the Cinderella Dog!” Maya declared. She nodded her head. “I like it. I like it.”

  “So do I,” Nancy told Bess and George. “Not only is Lola’s secret out—but the Clue Crew solved another case!”

  “It’s just like a fairy tale!” Bess swooned.

  Nancy, Bess, and George stood outside the Rollover Rescue Shelter. They gazed at Lola, dressed in a white lace doggy gown and silver tiara. She made the perfect Cinderella—and the perfect poster pup for Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Day!

  While the Bow-Wow Brigade walked adoptable dogs, Maya chatted with a news reporter.

  “Is it true?” the
reporter asked. “Did Lola the Diva Dog really come from a shelter?”

  “Oh, yes!” Maya said. She looked straight into the camera. “I guess you can say she went from wags to riches!”

  “That was my joke,” George muttered.

  Peter came over with Huey on a leash. Nancy couldn’t believe her eyes. Instead of pulling Peter, the big Newfie was walking calmly at his side!

  “What happened to Huey?” asked George.

  “When I told Mayor Strong about Huey and the biscuits, he decided to send him to obedience school,” Peter explained. “Now Huey is an A student!”

  “Way to go, Huey!” Nancy cheered. She jumped back before Huey could drool on her sneaker.

  “Nancy, Bess, George!” a voice called.

  Nancy turned. It was Nicki, walking a small pointy-eared dog on a leash.

  “Look at my new dog!” exclaimed Nicki.

  “I thought you couldn’t have a dog because of your allergic brother,” Nancy said.

  “No problem,” said Nicki. “Meet Enrique—a Mexican hairless!”

  “I never met a bald dog before,” Bess said.

  “No hair, no sneeze!” explained Nicki.

  “Wow!” George said. “I guess there is a dog out there for everyone.”

  Next came the moment the girls had been waiting for. Vincent, dressed like a fairy tale prince, got down on one knee as he fitted Lola with a crystal-clear doggy shoe.

  “Glass slippers can be bought at the Funky Fido Boutique,” Patsy Ray announced. “Get a pair for your princess pup while supplies last!”

  Nancy turned to smile at her best friends. “This fairy tale had a happy ending,” she said. “Thanks to the Clue Crew!”

  “I guess we are good detectives,” Bess said.

  “Are you kidding?” George said with a grin. “We’re doggone good!”

  Say Fleas!

  Who says only divas get star treatment? Now your fave dog or top cat can get face time with their own picture frame, made and designed by YOU!

  You Will Need:

  One picture of your pet

  Acrylic paint

  Fine-tipped marker

  Arts and crafts glue

  Paint brush

  5-x-7-inch piece of plain cardboard

  Pair of scissors or craft knife

  Clear nail polish

  Ribbon or magnet

  On Your Bark . . . Get Set . . . Go!

  Place the picture of your pet in the center of the cardboard, and use a pencil to trace around the picture. Ask an adult to help you cut out a hole for the picture.

  Glue dog biscuits or any solid pet treats to the frame. Add stickers, glitter, feathers—even your pet’s paw print for extra pizzazz!

  Use the marker to write your pet’s name on one of the treats, then brush clear nail polish over the treats for a shiny finish.

  When its dry, flip the frame over and glue your pet’s picture on the back.

  Glue a magnet or colorful ribbon on the back of the frame.

  Wait for the glue to dry, then hang up and enjoy!

  Don’t forget—frames can be for the birds, too! Decorate a frame with jingly bells and colorful bird seed. It’s sure to fly with your best feathered friend.

  You always knew your pet was perfect. Now he’s picture perfect!!

  Read all the books in the

  Blast to the Past series!

  #1 Lincoln’s Legacy

  #2 Disney’s Dream

  #3 Bell’s Breakthrough

  #4 King’s Courage

  #5 Sacagawea’s Strength

  #6 Ben Franklin’s Fame

  #7 Washington’s War

  Coming Soon:

  #8 Betsy’s Star