The Contest

“Come on girl,” Zilla called, taking the lead from a hook in the kitchen.

Nettie lifted her head and clambered out of her basket to greet her, wagging happily. Zilla was just about to slip the lead over her eager little head, when she became aware of another animal in the kitchen. Scott looked up at her adoringly, hoping she would take pity on him.

“H e l l o, and where have you come from?” she said, walking over to him and patting his head gently.

Clearly intrigued, Nettie trotted over for a sniff.

I wonder if it’s hungry,” Zilla thought, putting some left over scraps into a bowl and setting it on the floor. After his busy night, Scott devoured the contents greedily.

“What on earth is this?” demanded Roxie, the Chief Cook, who had just emerged from the walk-in larder, carrying bags of provisions for the day ahead. “Not another dog in my kitchen, one is bad enough, it’s not healthy.” she said with a scowl, dumping her heavy bags in the middle of the big wooden table, her disapproval etched on her red, fat, angry face. “And where on earth has it come from?”

“I’ve no idea, I found it sitting beside Nettie’s basket,” Zilla explained. “It must have wandered into the palace searching for food, slipping in through the kitchen door while you were in the larder. But it’s really cute, don’t you think?”

“Oh, if you say so.”

“I’ll take them both out for a walk so they will be out of your way while you start breakfast.”

“Take them both and don’t bring them back.”

Refusing to listen to Roxie’s constant complaining for a second longer, she quickly walked out with the two dogs in tow, who were soon both racing around the palace courtyard, chasing birds, running after a ball and generally having a great time.