Anna, Banana, and the Puppy Parade

  For my parents

  (and Schnippy, Chance, and Hund)

  —A.M.R.

  Chapter One

  Would You Rather

  “Okay, I’ve got one,” my best friend Sadie said. “Would you rather have your own magic unicorn, but you have to keep it a secret, or have a regular horse that isn’t magic but everyone can know about it?”

  “The unicorn,” my other best friend, Isabel, said immediately. “Who wouldn’t choose the unicorn?”

  Sadie swallowed a mouthful of her peanut butter and banana sandwich. “I wouldn’t. I’d choose the horse so I could ride him to school and show him off to people and stuff. Horses aren’t magic but they’re still beautiful.” She looked at me. “What about you, Anna?”

  I chewed a slice of apple while I thought. This was a hard one. Sadie was really good at this game. “I’m not sure,” I said. “I’d love to have a unicorn, but I can’t keep secrets from Banana.” Banana always seems to know what I’m thinking. That’s part of what makes her the best dog ever.

  Sadie grinned. “Telling Banana wouldn’t count.”

  “Okay, but I’d also want to tell you guys,” I said. “So I choose the horse.” I pictured the three of us riding through a field on a chestnut mare. We’d braid her mane and brush her coat until it shined, and I’d always keep sugar cubes in my pockets for her. The best part of having a horse would be sharing her with my friends.

  “My turn,” Isabel said. “Would you rather be a famous actor or a famous singer?”

  “Actress!” Sadie said.

  “Singer,” I said.

  “Me too. We can sing duets,” Isabel said to me.

  “Hey, then I want to be a singer too!” Sadie said. “No, wait. I’ll still be a famous actress and you guys can sing the sound tracks for all my movies.”

  “Deal,” Isabel said.

  It was my turn to ask a question next. I looked around the lunchroom for inspiration. “Hmm. Would you rather look like a troll but smell like roses, or be super pretty but always smell like the school cafeteria on hot-dog day?”

  “Ew!” Sadie said. We all burst into giggles.

  Banana loves hot dogs, which is funny because she’s also shaped like one, all long and skinny in the middle. The hot dogs we eat at home are tasty, but today’s hot lunch smelled like ketchup and skunk stew.

  At least the ketchup came in packets instead of squeeze bottles, so we didn’t have to listen to ketchup farts while we ate. My brother gets those bottles to make the grossest sounds possible. He’s disgustingly good at it.

  “I’d be a nice-smelling troll, definitely,” Isabel said when she’d caught her breath.

  Sadie scrunched up her nose and shook her head. Her curls bounced. “I can’t answer this one,” she said.

  “We’d still love you if you smelled like school lunch,” I promised her.

  “We’d just love you from a little farther away,” Isabel teased.

  Sadie stuck out her tongue. She folded up her sandwich wrapper and wiped her lips with a paper napkin. As usual, Sadie’s side of the table was much neater than Isabel’s and mine. Though most of the mess on our side was Isabel’s.

  Isabel stuffed her own trash into her lunchbox. “Oh! I almost forgot,” she said, pulling out a piece of paper. “I brought you a surprise.” She smoothed out the wrinkles and thrust the paper at me. “Ta-da!”

  Chapter Two

  Paws on Parade

  I took the light blue paper from Isabel’s hand and saw the word “puppy” on it, upside down, in all capital letters. Before I could even turn the page right-side up, Sadie was leaning across the table to look. “What is it?” she asked.

  I read it out loud. “ ‘Calling all pups for the Puppy Parade! Paws, prizes, treats, tail-wagging, music, and more.’ ”

  Isabel shimmied in her seat. “It’s perfect, right? They were handing them out at the grocery store,” she said.

  “Let me see,” Sadie said. She pulled the paper out of my hands.

  “Hey! I wasn’t finished,” I told her.

  “Sorry.” She handed it back. Sadie can be pretty bossy sometimes, even with her friends, but I’m learning to stand up for myself when I need to.

  I kept reading. “ ‘Bring your family and your fabulous furry friend for a day of fun at the Happy Homes Animal Shelter’s first annual dog show. Parade starts at the east entrance of Piddleton Park at 10 o’clock sharp. Refreshments provided by Rosie’s Bakery and Yip Yap Yums.’ ” I looked up at my friends. “That’s the shelter where we got Banana. This sounds like so much fun!”

  Sadie reached for the flier again and this time I let her take it.

  “You have to enter Banana,” Isabel said. “She’ll win for sure.”

  Sadie was nodding. “Banana is definitely Best in Show,” she said. Best in Show was the top prize in the dog show Sadie and I watched on TV last year, back before we met Isabel. We’d seen so many cute dogs, all fancily groomed and well behaved—but no dog was as special as Banana, I thought. I was glad to hear my friends agreed.

  I imagined Banana in a sparkly gold collar, marching past the judges with her ears perked and her tail in the air. I pictured myself in a matching gold headband, holding Banana’s leash and smiling proudly as the crowd gasped at her cuteness. Banana would be a star. And that would make me a star too.

  “ ‘Saturday the twelfth,’ ” Sadie read. “That’s this weekend. We only have two days to get ready!”

  We? I hadn’t pictured Sadie and Isabel being in the parade—I’d assumed it would just be Banana and me. But of course Sadie and Isabel would walk with us. It would be even more fun with my best friends by my side. I’d still be the one holding the leash, though, so everyone would know that Banana is my dog.

  “Good thing we’re having a sleepover at your house tomorrow,” Sadie said, pushing the flier back across the table. “There’s so much to do. We need to start planning right away.”

  “We do?” I said. I was excited about the parade and the sleepover too, but I wasn’t sure what kind of planning Sadie had in mind.

  “Yes!” Sadie jumped up as the bell rang. The cafeteria filled with the clanging and banging of kids all around us rushing to bus their trays. “I’ll make a to-do list and write down ideas.”

  “And I’ll help!” Isabel said as she and Sadie started for the door.

  I grabbed my lunch bag and hurried after them, feeling weirdly left out. Banana was my dog. Why was Sadie in charge of the parade plans? “Then what am I supposed to do?” I asked when I’d caught up.

  “You’ll add ideas too,” Sadie said. “We’re all in this together, right?”

  “Right!” Isabel cheered, and I realized I was being silly. They weren’t trying to take over. They just wanted to be part of the fun.

  “Right,” I echoed. Sadie hooked her arms through Isabel’s and mine, and we skipped down the hall back to class.

  Chapter Three

  Fraction Distraction

  I tucked the dog show flier into my pocket and put my lunch bag in my cubby before sliding into my seat next to Isabel’s. Our teacher, Ms. Burland, clapped twice to get everyone’s attention and asked Justin and Keisha to hand out the worksheets we’d be using for math.

  Justin walked up the first row of desks, making a big show of putting down each worksheet turned in the wrong direction. Sadie giggled as he plopped one onto her head instead of placing it on her desk. I rolled my eyes. Justin thinks he’s so smart. I wished Sadie wouldn’t encourage him.

  When he got to Isabel, he delivered her worksheet with a crash-landing sound, just quiet enough that Ms. Burland wouldn’t hear it. Isabel said, “Thanks,” and flipped it
the right way around. I tried to think fast of something clever to say when Justin reached me, but he surprised me by putting the page down normally.

  “Good,” I mumbled. Justin smirked.

  I tried to pay attention as Ms. Burland started the lesson on converting fractions into decimals and decimals into fractions, but my mind kept going back to Banana and the Puppy Parade. I wondered what other kinds of dogs would be there and what the prizes would be. Would Banana stand on a tall podium at the end, all high up above the crowd, and get a medal placed around her neck, like in the Olympics? Or would they put the medal around my neck and pin a first-place star to Banana’s collar instead?

  I wondered if there would be any TV cameras there. Maybe someone from Hollywood would see us and Banana would get discovered. She could be cast in a movie or star in her own show. Maybe she’d get her own channel! I’d watch Bananavision all day, if my parents would let me. But I wouldn’t actually have to watch Banana’s show, since of course I’d be in it with her. We’d invite Sadie and Isabel to come be on it sometimes too, as special guest stars.

  I picked up the supersparkly rainbow pencil I keep on my desk and imagined it was a glitter baton that I’d twirl and toss above Banana in the parade. I spun it around in my fingers and it flashed in the light before dropping to the floor with a clang. I quickly picked it back up. I’d have to practice my twirling before Banana and I got famous.

  Ms. Burland’s voice cut through my daydream. “I’ve never seen such a sleepy, distracted bunch of third graders,” she said. “What did they feed you at lunch today? Was there a sleeping potion in the milk?”

  Isabel shifted nervously in her seat. I could see from the kittens she’d been drawing in her notebook that she hadn’t been paying attention either. At least I wasn’t the only one. But still, I hated to disappoint Ms. Burland. I sat up straighter and tried to look focused.

  “I know what you need,” Ms. Burland said. Her voice was still stern but her eyes smiled. “Let’s wake up those brains with a lightning-fast round of Beat the Calculator. Amanda and Sadie, you’re up first.”

  Sadie squealed with delight as she jumped out of her seat, and Isabel and I shared a smile. Sadie loves math, and she loves competitions even more. Also, she’s really good at this game—she’s our reigning class champion. Her brain beats the calculator almost every time.

  “Reign” was one of our words of the day last week. It means “to rule,” like a queen or king does, but it can also mean “to be the best.” Sadie reigns at math. Isabel reigns at drawing. Banana reigns at cuteness, which is why she’ll reign at the dog show. I don’t know what I reign at—maybe at remembering the word of the day. It’s one of my favorite parts of school. That, plus art class and science projects, and the cool shoes Ms. Burland always wears.

  Ms. Burland fetched the multiplication and division flashcards from her desk while Sadie and Amanda pushed two chairs together at the front of the room. “Hold on to those worksheets, because we’re coming back to fractions and decimals when the game is over,” Ms. Burland told us. Behind me, Justin groaned. “Now. Who gets the calculator?” Ms. Burland asked.

  “I do!” Amanda said, reaching out to take it. Sadie nodded.

  “Okay, you know the rules,” our teacher said. “I’ll hold up a flashcard and read you the problem. One person solves it with the calculator and the other person solves it in her head. Whoever gets the answer first calls it out. If a player gets two right answers in a row, and gets them fastest, she knocks out her opponent and stays to face the next challenger. Ready?”

  “Ready!” Sadie and Amanda said together, and the game began.

  Ms. Burland held up the first flashcard. “Three times three.”

  “Nine!” Sadie shouted.

  “Correct,” Ms. Burland said, and I beamed at my friend, practicing the winning smile I’d be wearing on Saturday when Banana got first place at the parade.

  Chapter Four

  Funny Bunny

  “Banana!” I said as my brother, Chuck, and I stepped in the front door after school. Banana jumped and barked at our feet, excited as always to see us.

  “Chill, jumping bean,” Chuck said. He’d been crabby like that the whole walk home. I wondered if he’d gotten a bad grade on a test. Or maybe he was just hungry. He sidestepped Banana and headed straight for the fridge.

  “Don’t take it personally,” I told Banana as I crouched down to pat her. She put her paws up on my knee and licked the tip of my nose.

  I’m not really supposed to let Banana lick my face—Mom thinks I’ll get dog germs or something—but Mom was still at work, so she’d never know. Besides, Mom lets Chuck kiss her face. That’s way grosser.

  I shrugged off my backpack and hung my coat on its hook. When I turned around, Banana was holding her favorite squeaky toy in her mouth. She tossed the yellow plastic rabbit into the air and caught it, then tossed it again and pounced on it. The rabbit squeaked as Banana shook it back and forth, growling and pretending to be ferocious. It was adorable.

  “You’ll be the cutest dog in the Puppy Parade,” I said as I took the toy and sent it bouncing across the room. Banana ran after it.

  “What puppy parade?” Chuck asked, setting down the juice glass he’d emptied in one long chug.

  I pulled the flier out of my pocket. “This one,” I said. Chuck burped and took the paper. “Isabel and Sadie and I are going to enter her. It’s this Saturday!”

  “Hmph,” Chuck said. “What if I want to enter her? She’s my dog too, you know.”

  Banana dropped the toy at my feet as my jaw dropped in surprise. “But . . . but Isabel found the flier. And Sadie’s making a list. We have plans!” I panicked. What if Chuck tried to ruin things? “Besides, I do most of her walks and feedings and stuff,” I said. I didn’t add, so she’s more my dog than yours, but that’s what I meant.

  It seemed like everyone wanted to steal Banana away from me today.

  Chuck snorted. “Just kidding,” he said. “I won’t rain on your parade.”

  My heartbeat slowed to its normal rate. I plucked the paper out of Chuck’s hands. “Banana’s going to be famous,” I said. “Right, Banana?”

  Banana wiggled in agreement, then sat at attention, hoping for a treat. I threw her one from the treats tin and she caught it in midair.

  “That’s my girl,” I said firmly, just in case anyone needed to be reminded.

  Chapter Five

  Only a Dream

  With the dog show and the sleepover both to look forward to, I was almost too excited to fall asleep that night. I lay awake, listening to Banana’s soft doggy snores coming from her basket beside my bed. Mom had already come up to say good night ages ago, so I was well tucked in, but my body buzzed with so much energy, it was as if I’d eaten chocolate pasta with marshmallow meatballs and cotton-candy sauce for dinner instead of Dad’s yummy lasagna.

  When I finally fell asleep, I dreamed Banana and I were walking down the street with hundreds of other dogs, all up on their hind legs, twirling rainbow batons and playing clarinets and tubas in a marching-band parade. I spotted Isabel’s braids and Sadie’s ponytail way up at the front of the crowd, and Banana bounced ahead of me to join them. But I could only march as fast as the music was playing, and couldn’t quite catch up to her and my friends.

  It was a relief to wake up and find Banana right beside me, and sunshine streaming in through my window blinds. I climbed out of bed and peeked outside. It was a perfect day for a sleepover.

  I shook off the strange dream and threw on a “Yay, Friday!” outfit of striped leggings and a smiley-face top. I grabbed a fat yellow ribbon that I’d saved off a present from Nana and Grumps, and was about to use it to tie back my hair when I got an even better idea. I bent down and tied it to Banana’s collar instead.

  “There,” I said as I knotted the bow. “Now you’re all fancy for the sleepover.”

  Banana wagged her whole backside. She looked like a wiggly little present. I bet when Is
abel and Sadie saw her, they’d think the ribbon was so cute they’d insist she should wear it in the parade tomorrow, too. Maybe Mom could help us find more ribbons and we’d all wear them in our hair to match. Or maybe I’d cut this ribbon in half, and just Banana and I would share it.

  “Banana, would you rather march at the front of the parade with Sadie and Isabel, or be stuck in the middle with me?” I asked. I didn’t want to admit it, but I was still feeling a little funny about my dream.

  Banana didn’t even hesitate. She nudged my hand with her snout to show she’d choose me.

  My heart flooded with relief, although of course Banana wouldn’t ever really have to choose. Like Sadie had said, we were all in this together. And it was going to be super fun.

  Chapter Six

  A Spotty Plan

  When Chuck and I got to school, Sadie and Isabel were already there. I spotted them across the playground, sitting on Isabel’s favorite reading rock. I waved good-bye to Chuck and broke into a run.

  My friends were so absorbed in whatever they were doing, they didn’t even see me approach. “Hey,” I said once I was standing right in front of them. I’d have climbed up onto the rock too, but there wasn’t enough space for three.

  Sadie and Isabel finally looked up from the notebook they were huddled over.

  “Hi!” Isabel said, giving me a huge grin. She looked as delighted as Banana does when I scoop kibble into her bowl. “We brought all our sleepover stuff.” Isabel pointed to the two backpacks and sleeping bags that were piled next to the rock.

  “We’ve been writing down ideas for the dog show,” Sadie said. “And I made us a schedule.” She held up the notebook so I could see it too.