Pepper. Aimee Harper

       One What a Mess!

      “Come on, Louie!” Bella called. She jumped with excitement. “Mum wants both of us to switch on the sign!”

      Bella’s brother Louie put down his football and joined Bella by the light switch.

      “Ready,” he said, grinning up at her.

      Bella looked out of the big glass window. She could see her mum, Suzi, standing outside. Her heart thumped. The Dream Dogs sign was about to light up for the first time!

      “Go!” Suzi called through the window.

      Bella and Louie pressed the switch together.

      Louie stared around the room. “Nothing happened,” he said in disappointment.

      Bella giggled and pointed to where their mum was jumping up and down on the pavement with her thumbs up. “The Dream Dogs sign is outside, remember?”

      “Oh yeah,” Louie said. “I forgot.”

      Suzi flung open the door and beckoned Bella and Louie outside. “Come and see, kids!” she said. “It looks fantastic!”

      Pepper sat up in his basket and pricked up one brown ear. The other ear hung loose and floppy as usual. Bella bent down and ruffled his fuzzy head.

      “Let’s go, Pepper!” she said, kissing him on the nose. Picking him up, Bella tucked him under her arm. He fitted like a neat brown parcel, and tried to lick her ear. Pepper loved cuddles. He liked putting his paws round Bella’s neck and hugging her.

      Bella dashed outside and joined her mum and Louie on the pavement. The curly pink Dream Dogs sign over the window of their new dog-grooming parlour was shining brightly in the dark afternoon. It was the coolest thing that Bella had ever seen!

      “Well, kids,” Suzi said happily, “we’ve done it. Our dream is finally coming true. This time next week, the best dog parlour in the world will be open for business!”

      Bella felt her smile wobbling at the edges. The sign was lovely, but the view through Dream Dogs’ window was awful. And anyone who walked past would see!

      There were pots of paint and piles of boxes everywhere. A heap of rubbish bags lay in the middle of the floor. The walls were still a sludgy green colour from the florist’s that had been here before they moved in, and the carpet was worn.

      “Brilliant, Mum!” said Louie.

      Pepper barked like he was agreeing.

      Bella gulped. “Really good,” she said, trying to sound happy.

      “You don’t sound very excited,” Suzi said in surprise. “I thought you’d love it!”

      Bella swallowed. “Sorry,” she said. “It’s just – well – nothing is ready, is it? And we’re supposed to open on Saturday!”

      “Everything will be fine,” Suzi promised. “You’re such a worrier, Bella!”

      Bella knew it was true. She did worry about things. She couldn’t help it.

      She followed her mum and her little brother back inside. Suzi switched on the radio in the corner and Dream Dogs filled with funky music.

      Pushing the rubbish bags to one side, Suzi and Louie started dancing.

      “Come on!” Suzi laughed, reaching out her hand to Bella. “Dance with us! Let’s celebrate!”

      Bella grinned. She loved this song. Louie was spinning round like a top, getting dizzy. Putting Pepper down, Bella took her mum’s hand. Suddenly it didn’t matter that everyone could see them from out in the street. Pepper joined in, racing round in circles like Louie and barking.

      “Woo-oo-oof!” Louie sang.

      “Woof woof!” Pepper barked back. Bella couldn’t help laughing.

      When the song finished, Suzi flopped down on top of some boxes. Pepper and Louie were so dizzy that they both fell over. Bella put her arm round her mum’s waist as Pepper struggled to his feet, jumped up on a box and licked her chin.

      “I’ve taken some bookings for next week,” said Suzi, pulling Bella in for a cuddle. “I couldn’t