Teacup rolled. Teacup spun. Teacup pranced on two paws. Her show was almost done. Time for the big finish!

Teacup moved to the center of the terrace. She carefully balanced a cup on her head. It wobbled a little to the left. It wavered a little to the right. But it didn’t fall.

Phew!

Teacup remembered a show when she hadn’t done so well. The cup had fallen and broken into pieces. That was the day Teacup met Belle. The princess had fixed the cup and given the puppy a home…here at the castle!

Teacup tossed her head. The cup flipped through the air. Once. Twice. She caught the handle in her mouth and set the cup on the ground. She could see the old cracks in it. It wasn’t perfect anymore, but it was still her favorite.

“Bravo, Teacup!” Belle called.

All around her, Teacup’s friends cheered. Petit the pony stamped her hooves. Princess Belle clapped. Chip, Mrs. Potts’s little boy, yelled, “Hoorah!” Lumiere whooped. Mrs. Potts whistled.

Teacup wagged her tail. She loved putting on shows. She loved making others happy.

While Teacup bowed her head, Cogsworth hurried across the terrace. He stopped near Belle.

“Excuse me,” he said. “A letter just came for you.” He held out an envelope.

Puzzled, Belle opened it. As she read the note, her cheeks flushed.

“Oh!” she said. “Simone Dumont wants to come visit the prince and me!”

Teacup’s ears pricked up. Simone Dumont?

“Dear, we don’t know who that is,” Mrs. Potts said.

Belle laughed. “Simone Dumont is an inventor!” she said. “My father told me all about her. She invented a machine to pick fruit from trees. But that’s not the best part. Simone is my age!”

“An inventor!” Mrs. Potts repeated. “How clever!”

Belle’s face grew serious. “Everything has to be perfect for her visit,” she said. “I’m going to need your help, everyone.”

The princess looked at Cogsworth. “Cogsworth, will you please get the castle into tip-top shape?” she asked.

Cogsworth bowed. “Certainly,” he said.

Belle turned to Mrs. Potts. “Mrs. Potts, would you please cook up a feast?”

“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Potts agreed.

Belle spun on her toes toward Lumiere. “Lumiere, could you please make sure Simone is comfortable?”

Lumiere kissed the back of Belle’s hand. “With pleasure.”

Then Belle crouched down until she was nose to nose with Teacup.

“Teacup, I have a special job for you,” she said. “Will you perform for Simone? Your show? I don’t want her to be bored while she’s here. She’s used to the excitement of a big city! She’ll love you!”

Teacup woofed and spun in a happy circle. Perform for an inventor? What an honor!

Belle kissed Teacup on the nose.

“Thank you all,” she said. “I can’t wait. Just think—Simone will be here in two days!”