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Stranger things have happened, of course, and I just wanted to point out that Harriet’s singing was still a darn sight better than ninety percent of the current crop of pop stars, when suddenly a cab drew up in front of the house and a fat man practically rolled out. He had a shaggy mop of blond hair that reminded me of a poodle and was dressed in a loud Hawaiian T-shirt and pinkBermudas. He also had a tiny sort of dog in his arms and glanced in our direction with a look of confusion. Behind him, a second person alighted. She was a female of indefinite age with a face like a horse and a lot of teeth. She, too, was clutching a smallish species of canine and looked up at thehouse with a puzzled expression.

“Are you sure this is the place?” she asked the cab driver, who was busy excavating a large number of suitcases from the back of his vehicle.

“Yup, this is where Odelia Poole lives,” said the cab driver. “I personally know the Pooles and I can verify that this is the right place.” He pointed to Marge and Tex’s house. “Tex Poole is my doctor and he lives right there. Once, a couple of years ago, I was suffering from itchy feetand even though it was the middle of the night, Doc Poole greeted me with all the cordiality of an old friend.” He smiled at the recollection. “I’ll never forget what he told me when I pulled off my socks. ‘Smells like a ripe French cheese, Norbert. The stinky kind.’ Ah, those were the days.” He slammed the trunk of the cab shut and stood in wait for his fee.

The fat man with the blond bob dutifully took out his wallet and did the honors, while the horsy lady stood gaping at the four of us with distinct dismay.“Cats,” she said disapprovingly. “Tessa didn’t say anything about cats.”

“Well, looks like this is us,” said the large man in a jolly voice. “Now let’s hope this Odelia Poole person is home.”

“Odelia Kingsley,” I pointed out. “Odelia took Chase’s name.”

The tiniest of the two tiny dogs studied me closely, then said,“Are you the lord of the manor, cat?”

“The name is Max,” I said. “And yes, this is my home.”

“Our home,” Harriet corrected me. “Who are you?”

The doggie licked its lips, then blinked and said,“Little John.”

“So who is Big John?” asked Brutus.

The doggie gestured to the large man who was carrying his compatriot.“That guy over there.”

“And my name is Little Janine,” the other little doggie squeaked. “I was named after my human, whose name is Janine.”

“I hate to be rude,” I said, “but what exactly are you doing here?”

Both doggies smiled down at me from their respective perches in their humans’ arms. “We’re going to live here from now on!” Little John cried happily.

“We’re all going to be brothers and sisters!” Little Janine added for good measure.

CHAPTER 8

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Big John dutifully rang the front doorbell and we all waited with bated breath for what was to follow. Dooley and Harriet and Brutus and myself because the news that four would suddenly become six had struck us hard. It wasn’t the first time that visitors had arrived unexpectedly in our midst and stuck around for a while, but if Little John and Little Janine were to be believed, they were here to stay!

“I don’t understand, Max,” said Dooley. “Who are these people?”

“I have absolutely no idea, Dooley,” I said.

The door swung open and Odelia appeared. Her face was flushed and she had that excited look in her eyes she always gets when she’s nervous. “Welcome, welcome!” she cried, a little too loud, I thought. “Welcome to my humble home!”

“Why, thank you,” said Big John. “So we have arrived at the home of Odelia Poole then? You are, in fact, her? I mean to say, you are she? In other words, you are the Odelia Poole?”

“Yes, I’m the Odelia,” said Odelia. “Though it’s Odelia Kingsley now.”

“Kingsley?” asked Big John. “Who’s Kingsley?”

“My husband, Chase Kingsley.”

“Oh, righto. Well, I’m John Boggles, and this is my wife Janine. Though you can call me Big John—everybody else does,” he added magnanimously.

“Just call me Janine,” said Janine, giving her husband the look of a much-put-upon wife. “Thanks for taking us in, Odelia. Tessa said you once saved her life, and since we felt we had nowhere else to go…”

“Oh, of course,” said Odelia, darting a quick glance to the two dogs, then directing a look down to the four of us, who were still drinking in the scene with interest. She stepped back and Big John and his better half disappeared inside.

And since there was nothing to be gained by remaining on the sidelines, we followed suit. This was one conversation we did not want to miss.

“I have to admit Tessa took me somewhat by surprise,” said Odelia. “And so as far as sleeping arrangements go, I haven’t fully worked out the, um, the details.”

“Just put us anywhere,” said Big John. “We’re not fussy, are we, sweetums?”

“As long as we have a bed to sleep in, we’re perfectly happy,” Janine confirmed.

“I guess you’d like to freshen up a little first?” Odelia suggested.