Read Online Remarkable by Elizabeth Foley - Free Book Online Page B

“That wouldn’t be too hard, would it?”
    “But aren’t dogs…I don’t know…a little messy?” her mom asked worriedly. Messiness would make it harder to stay organized, and it was already hard enough since she was married to a man who lost or forgot everything.
    “Maybe at first, when they’re still puppies. But they outgrow it. At least I think they do.”
    “And any dog who came to live here would need a doghouse—right? And not just any doghouse, but a really spectacular and well-designed doghouse…” Jane’s mother’s voice trailed off as she started making preliminary doghouse sketches, and Jane’s heart soared with hope.
    But several months later, Jane still hadn’t gotten her dog. Her mother, however, had been featured in several prestigious architectural magazines for her pioneering doghouse design and had won a trophy for developing the most innovative pet product of the decade.
    When Jane had asked her dad, all he had said was “You know who really needs a dog? One of the characters in my new literary masterpiece.”
    “But can I get a real dog, Dad? I promise I’ll take care of it. I was thinking we could name it Shep or Tip, or maybe Rover…”
    “Hmmm.” He was lost in deep thought. “But I wonder what the dog in my novel should symbolize…” Then he’d gone back into his office and closed the door behind him without answering her question.

Trouble Comes to Town
    W hen Mrs. Belphonia-Champlain discovered that Asta Magnifica was missing, she immediately hired Detective Burton Sly to find her. He was the greatest detective of all time, and naturally, he lived in Remarkable.
    Mrs. Belphonia-Champlain suspected that Asta Magnifica had been dognapped by one of her many rivals from the dog-show circuit. She could easily imagine that Mrs. Drimm of the nearby town of Ditch might want Asta Magnifica out of the way so that her drippy-looking teacup poodle Chamomile would have a chance at winning “Best in Show” in the upcoming regional championships. Or maybe itwas Mr. Tully of the town of Shrub, whose own basset hound Dribbles almost always came in second in the “Best of Breed” competition behind Asta Magnifica. And then there was Mrs. Jeeter, who lived in Squint and had a fleet of Afghan hounds that she unjustifiably thought should win more prizes than they did.
    Mrs. Belphonia-Champlain did not hear the doorbell when Jane arrived with Asta Magnifica. This was because she was completely engrossed in choosing the perfect photograph of Asta Magnifica for a “Lost Pet” poster she was making. But the noise did not escape Detective Burton Sly, who’d been monitoring the phone in case the dognappers called to demand a ransom.
    “Ma’am,” he said. “I heard your doorbell. I believe you will find that someone has rung it.”
    Mrs. Belphonia-Champlain, suitably impressed with the detective’s powers of deduction, went to answer the door. She was so overwhelmed with joy when she saw Asta Magnifica on her doorstep that she didn’t even notice Jane.
    “Oh, my poor little poopsie!” she shrieked. “How did you escape those bad dognappers? Oh, you clever pup!”
    “Ma’am,” said Detective Burton Sly, “if you look up, you will find that there is a small girl attached to your dog by a makeshift leash. I believe she may be responsible for your dog’s safe return.”
    Mrs. Belphonia-Champlain, suitably impressed with the detective’s power of observation, looked up and saw Jane for the first time.
    “My dear child,” she said, “I don’t believe we’ve met. But I will be forever grateful to you for rescuing my poor, dear Asta Magnifica from those wicked dognappers.”
    Jane tried to explain that they had met many times before, and that she hadn’t done anything nearly as interesting as rescuing Asta Magnifica from dognappers, but Mrs. Belphonia-Champlain was too excited to listen. She insisted on giving Jane a large reward for bringing her dog home, and had just gone off to