“She makes Benny crazy.”
“What better way to start a romance?” Nicole teased.
Kat did her “orbiting” routine, circling Olivia while guided by a whistle that no one but the dog could hear.
After that, Olivia started a countdown from ten, the whole crowd joined in and, when they reached “one,” Kat leaped—well,launched—high into the air and gave the trophy a high-five.
The crowd exploded with cheers and whistles. Gracie clapped but shared looks with her mother, aunt, and cousin.
They all knew she was tough competition and they might be bringing home a sad second-placer.
“And now for our final contestant, Benedict McBride and his Cavapoo, Sir Isaac Newton!”
Benny marched on stage to the polite applause, his chest puffed out, his beloved beast trotting proudly beside him. He gave the family a tiny nod, his whole face glowing.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced. “I am proud to tell you that Sir Isaac Newton”—he made a grand gesture toward the dog—“is here to demonstrate the three most famous and important concepts in physical science, the laws of motion, discovered by the original Sir Isaac Newton.”
Laughter and more applause rippled through the audience.
“The first is the law of inertia! An object at rest stays at rest.” He pointed to Sir Isaac Newton. “Rest!”
The dog dropped to the stage floor and pretended to sleep. Pulling a ball out of his pocket, Benny rolled it toward the dog, who stopped it with his nose. “Until acted on by an outside force!”
That got a noisy round of claps and Jack whistled loud enough to get Newt to rise to his feet and bark, only to be instantly quieted by a treat from Benny.
“Relax,” Nicole said to Gracie. “Your son is a pro.”
Gracie gave her a grateful smile and sat a little straighter, ready for the next trick.
“The second of Newton’s laws is known as force and acceleration,” Benny told them. “Force equals mass times acceleration!” He snapped his fingers and the dog started walking across the stage. Benny clapped his hands and yelled, “Turbo boost!”
Instantly Sir Isaac ran, then slid to a dramatic stop at the edge of the stage, which got another enthusiastic applause.
Clapping with everyone, Gracie glanced toward the door Jack had propped open, knowing it was almost time for Red’s big appearance.
“Now, for our grand finale,” Benny said with the flair of a magician. “Newton’s third law, known simply by scientists as action and reaction. That means for every action”—he put the homemade whistle to his lips and his cheeks puffed out as he blew, making the dog bark five times—“there is an equal and opposite reaction!”
The double side doors swung open, letting in a rush of cold air and…Red.
Everyone hooted, clapped, and hollered as Santa strode in, pushing a chipped and rickety popcorn machine on iron wheels.
Most of the lettering had faded off, and steam puffed from a tarnished copper spout. But popcorn was moving through themachine, wafting enough melted butter through the air to make the room smell like a movie theater.
“Ho, ho, ho!” Red bellowed. “Let’s make some noise and have some snacks!”
The audience roared with laughter and cheers as Red cranked the handle, kernels popping wildly inside the brass kettle. Around the stage, the dogs barked excitedly, noses twitching.
The barking increased with the scents and cheers, not to mention Red’s overenthusiastic “Ho-ho-ho-ing” as he wheeled his way to the front.
“Wait, wait, we’re not done!” Benny called.
The retriever tried to jump on the wagon, but his owner snagged him.
The beagle leaped toward Red, nearly knocking him down.
Everywhere there was noise and chaos while Benny’s entire trick teetered on the edge of disaster.
“Come on, Ben,” Gracie muttered, not realizing she’d taken Nicole’s hand. “Get it together, buddy. Get this under control.”
