eb93c43e214c621f9157c05b4b6a6878

Tessa nodded.“I’m talking Netflix deals, Spotify deals, exclusive podcasts, documentaries, speeches… Think billionaire, John, not millionaire.”

“Yes, think big, bigger, biggest, John,” said Janine.

“Big John,” muttered John. “Bigger John. Biggest John.”

“BJ,” said Prince Dante. “That could be your brand, John. Team BJ.”

“I don’t think so, honey,” said Tessa curtly. “Let’s keep it strictly PG.”

The Prince looked confused.“PG? I don’t…”

“Let’s hold a strategy meeting right here, right now,” said Opal. She turned to Odelia. “Can we all stay the night? I don’t want anyone to know about this meeting. This is all strictly hush-hush.”

“Oh, Odelia would love to host us,” said Tessa. “Isn’t that right, Odelia?”

“I—“ Odelia began to say, but the conversation had already moved on.

“You and Dante can take the main bedroom,” Janine suggested. “And Opal can stay next door with Odelia’s lovely folks. They’ve got plenty of space. Now let’s get down to business. How soon can you get the ball rolling on that interview, Opal?”

And as the‘strategy meeting’ progressed, without any input from Odelia or Chase, they both sort of melted into the background, presumably to announce to Marge and Tex that they were hosting the world’s most famous talk-show host for the next couple of days, while the bright future of Big John was beingdiscussed.

“I wonder where the dogs are,” said Dooley, glancing around.

“Outside, probably,” I said. “People like the Boggles or even Opal mostly keep dogs for show—as an accouterment or fashion statement.”

“Dogs are fashionable?” asked Dooley, surprised.

“Oh, absolutely. And just like your regular fashion, what type of dog you should get changes every season. It might be Pekes this year and Chihuahuas the next. Though the type of dog you can carry in your handbag is the most convenient, of course. You can take them to New York Fashion Week or show them off on the red carpet at a movie premiere and be the talk of the town.”

“Odd,” said Dooley. “I’ve never looked at dogs as fashion objects before.”

We decided to venture outside, to try and locate Harriet and Brutus, and tell them that the big move to Charlene was off. Now more than ever Odelia needed us, that much was obvious. Especially now that our home was under siege by all these millionaires—or was it billionaires—and was turning into a new Davos.

But when we arrived outside, of our friends there was no trace. We did come upon the first meeting between the Boggle dogs and Opal’s precious little Prunella. One of those fateful meetings Netflix documentaries are made of.

“It’s so great to finally meet you!” Little Janine was saying. “I’m your biggest fan!”

“That’s nice,” said Prunella coolly. “Who are you, exactly?”

“Little Janine,” said Janine. “I told you. And this is Little John.”

“Have we met before?” asked Prunella.

“Well… we met just now,” said Little Janine uncertainly.

“We did? How strange. You’d think I’d remember.” She then turned to us. “Oh, hey, Max and Dooley. So nice to see you again. Max and Dooley are some of my best friends,” she told Little Janine. “They’re the absolute best.”

“Uh-huh,” said Little Janine, ignoring me and Dooley. “There’s so many things I want to ask you, Prunella. Like, is it true that you have your own chauffeur?”

Prunella stared at the little doggie.“I’m sorry, but who are you again?”

Dooley and I shared a grin. Prunella had played this game with us before.

She gave us a knowing wink, and we returned the wink with interest, even as Little Janine and Little John stood looking at each other with confusion written all over their faces. I could tell they hadn’t expected their idol to also be a fruitcake.

“Let’s get out of here, you guys,” said Prunella, and headed in the direction of the opening in the hedge. “And where are Harriet and Brutus? Or don’t they live here anymore?”

“Oh, they definitely still live here,” I said.

“Though maybe not for much longer,” Dooley added.

“Oh? And why is that? Tell me all, you guys. I’ve missed our conversations. And our adventures, of course!”

And so we told her all, even as we went in search of our friends.

CHAPTER 24

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

“Did you fly here on your private jet, Prunella?” asked Dooley as we traversed Marge and Tex’s backyard.

“Of course. It’s the only way to travel.”

“If I had a private jet,” I mused, “I wouldn’t mind traveling the world and having lots and lots of new adventures.”

“If I had a private jet,” said Dooley, “I’d stock if full of kibble so Odelia would never run out again.”

“You don’t need a private jet to stock kibble, Dooley,” I said. “You could stock it anywhere. In the basement, for instance, where it’s kept nice and fresh.”

This gave my friend pause.“If I had a private jet,” Prunella began, then laughed. “How silly. I have a private jet, and I do travel the world all the time.”

“I’ve always liked to stay home and stick close to my couch,” I said, “but ever since our home turned into some kind of hotel, I’m starting to think that going places has its advantages as well.”