“Hold hands, Benny.” Jessie reached out to take his hand in hers. “We have to stick together. This place is really crowded.”
“It looks like every dog owner in town is at the mall today,” Henry said. In the center courtyard of the mall, there was a long and winding line of people and pets that had shown up for the dog audition.
“This is like waiting for a ride at an amusement park in the middle of summer,” Violet said.
They walked to find the end of the line. They were almost there when Benny suddenly shouted, “Ninja!” He yanked his hand out of Jessie’s.
“Ninja, the TV star?” Jessie asked. She saw Benny dashing towards a tall, thin man with a dog. The dog was a black Labrador on a rhinestone-studded leash. Henry, who was leading Watch, and Violet hurried over to see what the fuss was about.
“Why would Ninja be here in Greenfield?” Violet wondered. “I don’t think it could be him, Benny.”
“I am a million percent sure. That is definitely Ninja,” Benny said, “I’d know him anywhere!”
Benny went up to the dog’s owner. “Hi. I’ve seen every episode of ‘Ninja at Night.’ It’s my favorite show. Ninja is my hero,” Benny said. “Can I pet Ninja? Please?”
The black lab looked up at Benny, his tail wagging eagerly.
“No!” the man said sternly. “No one pets Ninja. He is preparing for his audition and must not be disturbed.” The man pulled Ninja away from Benny. “He needs to concentrate.”
Ninja stopped wagging his tail and lowered his head.
“I cannot believe we have to audition like regular folk,” the man muttered loud enough so that everyone around could hear. “This is outrageous. Ninja is a star.” The man stuck his nose in the air, then turned his back on the Aldens.
“Come on, Benny,” Jessie said, taking her brother’s hand back in hers. She gave it a squeeze.
“We’d better get in line anyway,” Henry said. “Even more dogs have arrived since we first got here.”
“I feel bad for Ninja,” Violet said as they led Watch through the crowd. “That dog looked like he wanted to be petted.”
Benny walked along with the others. He dragged his feet sadly.
The children took their place in line. At exactly two o’clock, a woman in a suit stepped up onto a small platform with a microphone in the middle of the mall courtyard. A younger blonde woman followed her carrying a clipboard.
“Testing. One. Two. Three. Attention everyone.” The woman in the suit spoke. A hush fell over the crowd. Benny looked down to make sure Watch was listening. His terrier ears were standing up at attention.
“Good dog,” Benny whispered. He scratched Watch behind the ears.
“Welcome. My name is Margaret Werner. I am the Advertising Manager for the Wundermutt Company. Let me begin by telling you how thrilled we are that so many dogs and their owners came to the mall today.” The woman gave a small smile. “Now, I must let you know that the Wundermutt Company has decided that we are looking for a larger dog.”
Some people in the crowd began to mutter.
“I am so sorry,” Ms. Werner told them. “But if your dog is shorter than this,” she put her hand by her knee, “it will not be allowed to audition today. Maybe another day we will come back looking for a smaller dog. Thank you so much for supporting the Wundermutt Company and our delicious dog food and other products.”
A number of people and their small dogs left the audition. The Alden children and Watch were able to move up in line.
“Watch is just the right size!” Benny said.
“So far, so good,” Henry agreed.
Ms. Werner spoke again. “We are also looking for a dog that is not too skinny. Too fat. Or too old. The dog must be healthy and well trained.”
More people and their dogs left the line. The Alden children could hear some people sigh sadly as they left.
“Watch still fits,” Violet said.
“Whew,” Jessie breathed in relief. “I think he’s got a really good chance! He’s certainly well trained and can do a lot of great tricks.”
Henry took a quick count. “There are now only about fifty people and their dogs left in line.”
Benny reached into his pocket and pulled out a lucky penny. “Here,” he told Henry, “rub it for luck.”
Henry smiled and took the penny. He ran his finger over Lincoln’s face, then handed it back.
Benny grinned. He put his good luck charm back into his pocket.
Ms. Werner continued,” In just a few minutes, I will go down the line and take a close look at each dog. If your dog has the right look for the commercial, I will give it a bowl of our food to snack on. All other dogs will be sent home.”
“A snack!” Benny exclaimed. “I wish they had a snack for the dog owners, too.” His brother and sisters all smiled. Benny had a bottomless appetite.
The Alden children were now close to the platform where Ms. Werner and the blonde woman stood. They watched as Ms. Werner stepped off the platform. “Lisa,” she said to the blonde woman, “I’m going to get the food and bowls. You stay here and hand out coupons.”
Lisa didn’t look happy about her job. She grumbled as she sat down behind the coupon table.
A few minutes later, the Aldens saw Ms. Werner return with a pushcart. She had a big bag of Wundermutt dog food and a stack of plastic souvenir dog bowls. She started at the head of the line and poured a bowl of food for a very pretty golden retriever.
But the next two dogs in line did not get food. “I’m so sorry. Yours are not the kind of dogs we are looking for today. Lisa will give you some coupons for our dog food on your way out,” Ms. Werner told the owners.
“Yours gets a snack,” Ms. Werner said, and gave food to another dog as she continued down the line.
Benny put his hand in his pocket and rubbed his lucky penny again. “I sure hope Watch gets food instead of getting sent home,” he told Violet.
“Me, too,” Violet agreed. Benny handed her the penny. She rubbed it and handed it back.
“Yippee for Ninja!” Benny said happily when he saw the black Lab get a bowl of food.
But Ninja’s owner didn’t like being stuck in line. “My dog is a star,” he said. “He should have simply been given the role.”
Ms. Werner shook her head. “As I already told you, your dog must try out just like everyone else’s.”
“Hmph,” said Ninja’s owner. Ms. Werner turned away.
Ms. Werner continued down the line. When she finally got to Watch, she took a few extra seconds studying him.
Benny squeezed his penny tight. Jessie crossed her fingers. Violet was so nervous, she closed her eyes. Henry tapped his toe against the floor.
After what seemed like a very long time, Ms. Werner said, “A snack for your terrier.” She poured Watch a big bowl of food.
“Whew!” The Aldens all breathed huge sighs of relief. Watch had made it through the first round of the audition!
Ms. Werner set the bowl down in front of Watch. Jessie noticed the scent of a strong perfume.
“Do you smell flowers?” she asked her brothers and sister as Ms. Werner moved off to check out the next dog.
“Not flowers.” Henry lifted his nose and took a long sniff. “It’s more like lemons.”
“Achoo,” Benny sneezed. “Whatever it is, it’s making me sneezy!”
“I’m trying to remember exactly where I’ve smelled that odor before.” Violet stood quietly thinking for a while. “I know!” she declared at last. “That fragrance isn’t flowers or lemons. It’s citronella.”
“Citron … what?” Benny asked, rubbing his nose and sneezing again.
“Citronella,” Violet said. “It’s a lemony, flowery smelling oil that’s put in candles and sprays. It keeps bugs away.”
“Maybe Ms. Werner is wearing a new citronella perfume—perfect for summer time,” Jessie said with a laugh. “Whatever it is, I like it.” Jessie sniffed and added, “The scent sure does last a long time. I can still smell it even though she’s all the way down near the end of the line now.”
“Hmm,” Violet said, pinching her lips together and tugging at her long brown pigtails.
“What are you thinking?” Henry asked his sister.
“I don’t know yet,” Violet replied. “But something doesn’t feel quite right.”
“I was thinking that too, but not about the citronella.” Jessie said. “I was wondering why a big star like Ninja needs to audition for this commercial. What’s a Hollywood dog doing in our little town of Greenfield?”
“Want to know what I’m wondering?” Benny asked his siblings.
“What?” Henry, Violet, and Jessie asked at once.
Benny pointed at Watch who was sniffing the bowl of dog food in front of him. “Wundermutt food is Watch’s favorite. But he’s not eating it. Why not?” Benny took a step back and looked down the line. “Look,” he told his brother and sisters. “None of the dogs are eating the food.”
Jessie, Henry, and Violet glanced up and down the audition line. “Benny is right,” Jessie said. “Not even one dog in the whole line is eating the food. The bowls are all still full.”
“Strange,” Henry said, rubbing his chin. “Most dogs will eat almost anything … It looks like we’ve stumbled onto a mystery.”
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