Quinn leaned close to the mirror as she applied a thin coat of sparkly lip gloss. She didn’t usually wear makeup—but this wasn’t a usual night. The Twelve Pets of Christmas gala fund-raiser was in just an hour!
Quinn smoothed her hands over her tulle skirt. Tiny specks of glitter were embedded in the purple material so that Quinn’s dress sparkled whenever she moved—almost like one of the ornaments she’d painted! Mrs. Alvarez had been delighted by Quinn’s ornaments when she’d delivered them the day before. Quinn could only hope that everyone else attending the auction would feel the same way.
“Ready, Q?” Dad called from the hallway.
“Almost!” Quinn replied. Then she rummaged around in her jewelry box, looking for the perfect accessory: her gold locket with the shape of a paw print on the front. When Quinn found the necklace, she clutched it in her palm as she hurried over to Dad.
“You look beautiful, kiddo!” he announced with a big smile. “When did you get so grown-up?”
“Dad. Come on,” Quinn said—but she smiled all the same. “Can you help me with this?”
“I’ll do my best,” he replied as he fumbled with the tiny clasp.
“Thanks, Dad,” Quinn said after the necklace was on. “Now I’m ready!”
“Want to walk?” Dad asked. “I don’t think it’s too cold tonight.”
“Sure,” Quinn replied. Their condo was only a couple of blocks from downtown, so just about everything was within walking distance.
The night air was crisp and cool as Quinn and her dad walked toward the Palladium Center, where the gala would be held. To Quinn, everything was sparkling—from the tiny lights that twinkled in the trees to the stars that shone high overhead. She was so excited about the gala that she almost skipped a little as they walked.
Quinn and her dad were among the first guests to arrive. Quinn could hardly believe the transformation that had happened at the Palladium Center in just twenty-four hours. When she’d dropped off the ornaments the day before, the ballroom had been bare and, under the bright fluorescent lights, almost kind of ugly.
But now?
It was one of the most festive and fancy places Quinn had ever been! Each wall was lined with a long table. The table closest to the door had large portraits of each of the Twelve Pets of Christmas—Lobo and Nana; Rufus and Snowdrop; Tops and Tippy; Paisley, Polka, and Dot; Pixie and Applesauce; and of course, Buddy, one of Quinn’s favorite pets.
On the right side of the ballroom, the table was laden with desserts: tiny chocolate-iced eclairs; peppermint-striped candy-cane cookies; cupcakes topped with frosting wreaths and sparkly sugared cranberries. Quinn’s favorite, though, were the gingerbread doghouses decorated with every candy imaginable. She gasped in delight when she realized something.
“Dad! Look!” Quinn cried. “There are six doghouses—and each one has a gingerbread dog in front and a gingerbread cat perched on the roof! And—and they’re the Twelve Pets up for adoption!”
Dad grinned. “That’s some impressive attention to detail,” he said approvingly.
Quinn leaned close to each doghouse to get a better look. “Look!” she said. “There’s Applesauce and Snowdrop… and this one looks just like Rufus.…”
“Quinn!” a voice said.
Quinn spun around to see Ms. Morimoto from the art store. “You came!” she said excitedly. “Thank you!”
Ms. Morimoto smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she replied. Then she turned to Quinn’s dad. “Hi, Alan. You must be so proud of your daughter.”
“Well, of course,” Dad replied as he wrapped his arm around Quinn.
“Front and center on the display. You couldn’t pay for better placement,” Ms. Morimoto continued.
A puzzled look crossed Quinn’s face. “What display?” she asked.
“Oh, you haven’t seen the display yet?” asked Ms. Morimoto.
Quinn shook her head.
Ms. Morimoto clapped her hands together. “Then there’s something you really need to see,” she replied. “Follow me!”
The crowd was definitely picking up, but Ms. Morimoto deftly wove her way through all the men and women wearing dressy clothes, leading Quinn to the table on the opposite side of the room. It was clear right away that this table held all the items for the silent auction; Quinn saw enormous gift baskets filled with everything from fancy skin-care products to gourmet chocolates. There were vacations for auction, dinner at the mayor’s house, and even a motorcycle! Quinn’s smile grew bigger and bigger as she gazed at the generosity of her community. Her ornaments were a small contribution compared to everything else that had been donated, but Quinn was glad she could help, even a little.
Or had she helped? She thought her ornaments would’ve been scattered around the table, but Quinn hadn’t spotted a single one yet. Maybe they had too much stuff, she thought suddenly. Maybe all the other donations were so awesome that my ornaments didn’t fit in anymore.
But if that was the case, why was Ms. Morimoto smiling so much?
Then Quinn saw it: In the center of the table, on a beautiful gold pedestal, stood a miniature Christmas tree, decked out with gleaming twinkle lights and—
Quinn gasped—
Her ornaments!
All twelve of them glittered from the tree, catching the light. There was even a sign by the base of the pedestal:
“Fifty dollars?” Quinn said in astonishment. “Each?”
“And worth every penny,” Ms. Morimoto said.
“I just can’t believe it,” Quinn said, shaking her head. “I thought they’d sell for maybe twenty dollars. But… at least fifty dollars each…” Quinn paused to do the math in her head. “That would be six hundred dollars!”
“It’s going to be more than that. Look—you’ve already got some bids,” Dad told her, showing Quinn the sign-up sheet. Sure enough, the blue ornament with a white cat already had three bids… and would be auctioned for at least eighty dollars!
“Quinn! There you are!” Mrs. Alvarez said as she hurried up to the group, beaming. “Not bad, eh?”
“Not bad?” Quinn echoed. “It’s incredible—such an honor! Thank you!”
“The minute the decorating team saw your ornaments, they scrapped their original centerpiece plans,” Mrs. Alvarez told her. “Who could blame them? Your ornaments perfectly capture the spirit of the Twelve Pets of Christmas. They’ve got pets, they’ve got Christmas.…”
“They’ve got glitter,” Ms. Morimoto added, winking at Quinn. Everyone laughed.
“I just can’t believe people would pay so much for my ornaments,” Quinn marveled.
“They’re beautiful, Quinn,” Mrs. Alvarez told her. “You have a real talent for painting.”
“I agree,” added Ms. Morimoto. “There’s such a lighthearted playfulness in your animals. You’ve truly captured their unique spirit in each one.”
Quinn laughed. “Well, I had a lot of inspiration from the shelter pets,” she said.
Mrs. Alvarez glanced at her gold watch. “Speaking of the shelter pets…” she began.
Quinn’s eyes lit up. “Is it time?” she asked.
“Just about,” Mrs. Alvarez replied, nodding. “You should go ahead and get backstage.”
“Backstage?” Ms. Morimoto asked Quinn’s dad. But he looked just as confused as she did.
“I have a surprise for you,” Quinn said mysteriously. “I’ll see you in a little while. Until then… enjoy the show!”
Quinn followed Mrs. Alvarez out of the ballroom and down a long corridor to an empty conference room. Quinn smiled as they approached the door. She didn’t need Mrs. Alvarez to lead the way anymore; she could’ve found it just by listening for the barks and meows that echoed down the hallway!
“This is the holding room,” Mrs. Alvarez explained. “I think you and Buddy will be fifth in the lineup.”
“Yay!” Quinn cheered. “I get to walk Buddy in the Pet Parade!”
The Pet Parade was the big surprise that Quinn had been keeping for weeks. Because the Twelve Pets of Christmas gala wasn’t just for people… it was for pets, too! All twelve pets would be making a special guest appearance in a few moments—and as a shelter volunteer, Quinn had been asked to walk one.
“Ready for the parade?” Mrs. Alvarez asked with a laugh. She held open the door for Quinn, who was delighted to see so many of her animal friends. They’d been dressed up for the occasion, too; each one was wearing a festive velvet bow around his or her neck.
Just then, Buddy came bounding over. Quinn immediately dropped to her knees so she could give him a big hug. “Hi, Buddy!” she cried. “You look so fancy! And you smell so nice, too!”
“All the Twelve Pets were bathed today,” Mrs. Alvarez joked. “You should’ve seen it, Quinn. Bubbles everywhere!”
“Well, I’m sure they all want to put their best paw forward.” Quinn giggled.
Buddy tossed back his head and let out a loud, happy bark. He was clearly aware of all the excitement in the air. Quinn understood why. Buddy had already lived at the animal shelter for more than a year. The volunteers tried to give him as many walks—and as much love—as they could, but it was hard to give him the attention he deserved when there were so many other animals in need. Being out of the shelter and surrounded by so many people made this an extra-exciting night for Buddy.
Quinn couldn’t figure out why Buddy hadn’t been adopted yet. She knew he was a mutt—Mrs. Alvarez thought he had a mix of border collie and golden retriever—and that a lot of people wanted “purebred” dogs. But Buddy had so much to offer! He was friendly to everyone, even the cats, and playful, with a long tail that was constantly going thump-thump-thump when he wagged it. And Buddy was smart, too. Quinn could tell from the spark of intelligence that lit up his dark brown eyes and from the way his ears twitched on high alert at the slightest sound.
“Maybe tonight’s the night, Buddy,” Quinn whispered close to his ear. “Maybe your new family’s waiting right out there… and we don’t even know it yet!”
Mrs. Alvarez approached Quinn and Buddy, carrying a long red leash. “Ready?” she asked. “It’s just about time to line up. The Pet Parade starts in five minutes!”
Quinn stood up abruptly, smoothed out her skirt, and fluffed her hair. Then she clipped the leash to Buddy’s collar under the velvet bow. “You look adorable, Buddy,” she said.
“And adoptable!” Mrs. Alvarez added with a big smile.
One of the shelter volunteers, Kelli, was lining up the pets and their handlers in the hallway. “Buddy and Quinn,” he called out, “you’re next!”
Quinn’s heart made a funny, fluttery jump in her chest. She didn’t have stage fright, exactly—Buddy was the star of this show—but she was filled with so much anticipation that it was no wonder her hands were suddenly trembling.
And Quinn wasn’t alone. Buddy was acting more excitable than she’d ever seen him before. His ears were on high alert, and he was sniffing the air like it was chow time.
The first pet, a cocker spaniel named Applesauce, went through the doors.
“You can tell it’s a big night, can’t you, Buddy?” Quinn said in a low voice as she stroked his silky-soft ears to calm him. Buddy was trembling with excitement. He looked up at Quinn and replied by licking her palm with his slobbery tongue.
Quinn giggled. “Yes, Buddy, I know. I love you, too,” she replied.
It was Pixie’s turn next. The young cat was wrapped up in a baby blanket in Janelle’s arms, purring so loudly that Quinn could hear her.
Now there was just one more pair ahead of Quinn and Buddy—a feisty pup named Lobo and his handler, Lara.
“We’re next,” Quinn whispered to Buddy. Did he straighten his shoulders, too—or did she just imagine it?
“Quinn and Buddy—go!” Kelli said in a loud whisper.
Quinn’s hold on Buddy’s leash tightened. A big, beaming smile crossed her face. She shook her hair over her shoulders and, with Buddy by her side, stepped through the doors.
The lights were brighter than Quinn remembered—of course, that made sense since they were pointed right at the stage.
“And now we have faithful Buddy, being walked by one of our volunteers, Quinn!” Mrs. Alvarez’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Buddy is a mix of a bunch of great breeds—border collie, golden retriever, and Labrador, we think, which explains why Buddy is so friendly, loyal, and fun.”
Buddy stopped short on the catwalk. He cocked his head. He could hear Mrs. Alvarez’s voice—but he couldn’t see her.
“Keep walking, Buddy,” Quinn said, her teeth clenched behind her big smile. “Everybody’s watching us!”
“But what we can’t explain is why Buddy has been waiting for his forever family for over a year,” Mrs. Alvarez continued. “At the shelter, we try not to pick favorites…”
“Woof!” Buddy barked—a loud, resonating bark that interrupted Mrs. Alvarez mid-sentence.
“But it’s no secret how much the staff and volunteers love Buddy,” Mrs. Alvarez continued without missing a beat. “And if you adopt Buddy—”
“This way, Buddy!” Quinn said, pulling gently on his leash. All they had to do was make it to the end of the catwalk and back. It wasn’t even that far—fifteen steps at the most—
But Buddy wouldn’t budge. He could hear one of his people-friends, and now he wanted to find her. Buddy dropped his head to the floor and began sniffing, trying to catch Mrs. Alvarez’s scent. His tail wagged back and forth, back and forth, thunking into Quinn’s sparkly shoes. She laughed nervously as she tried to guide him back onto the path, but suddenly Buddy felt like he weighed about a thousand pounds. The festive bow around his neck began to unravel, leaving a long strand of ribbon that tangled around one of his hind legs.
The people in the audience giggled as they watched Buddy’s antics. Nobody was paying much attention to Mrs. Alvarez anymore.
“We promise you won’t be disappointed!” Mrs. Alvarez finished. “Let’s hear it for Buddy and Quinn!”
As the crowd started to clap, it happened: Buddy spotted Mrs. Alvarez at last. He charged toward her. Quinn’s shoes were slippery and she lost her balance, but Buddy didn’t notice. He was so excited to run toward Mrs. Alvarez that he just pulled Quinn behind him.
“Buddy! Stop!” Quinn cried. She held on to the leash even tighter—even though it meant getting dragged across the catwalk in her best party dress. Buddy was her responsibility, and nothing would make her let go of him now!
Mrs. Alvarez’s dark brown eyes widened in alarm. “Buddy!” she said in her warning voice. “Sit! STAY!”
It worked—almost too well. Buddy skidded to a halt, his oversized paws splaying out in four different directions. He slid across the catwalk, still dragging Quinn behind him, until—
Wham! Buddy flew off the edge of the platform and landed in a heap at Mrs. Alvarez’s feet. Quinn, still clutching the leash, tumbled after him!
The crowd gasped as several people rushed forward to help Quinn up.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” she assured everyone. Quinn held up her hands, with Buddy’s cherry-red leash still wrapped around her palm. “No harm done!”
“Friendly, loyal, and fun—did I tell you?” Mrs. Alvarez announced into the microphone, making everyone laugh as Buddy started licking Quinn’s hand. “Quinn, I might add, is the young artist behind the incredible ornaments for auction tonight.”
A woman in a pretty silver party dress turned to Quinn in surprise. “You painted all those animal ornaments?” she asked.
Quinn nodded, grinning. Mrs. Alvarez waved to Kelli, who hurried forward to take Buddy out.
“I just love them!” the woman gushed. She beckoned to her friends across the room. “Caryn! Jackie! This is the girl who painted the ornaments!”
A few other people turned to look as other women joined the group. Quinn was blushing again. She’d already had enough of being the center of attention for one night.
“Do you take custom orders?” someone asked. “I’d love to have my Siamese cat, Cindy Lou, painted on a blue one to match her eyes.”
“I—” Quinn began.
“Oh, yes! What a great idea!” another woman exclaimed. “I have two dogs, so I’d want an ornament for each of them, of course.”
“This would make a great Christmas present,” a man said. “My mother is devoted to her teacup poodle. She never leaves the house without him. And she dresses him in the silliest little sweaters.…”
“Put me down for two ornaments, too,” another woman chimed in. “How much?”
Quinn’s mind went blank. How much? She didn’t know where to begin! “I—uh—” she stammered.
Luckily, Ms. Morimoto was nearby. “If you’re interested in a custom ornament, please write your email address on this sheet,” she said. “The artist will get back to you in a few days with a price quote.”
“Thank you,” Quinn told Ms. Morimoto as people crowded around to sign up. The Pet Parade was back on; she glanced up at the stage to see one of the volunteers wheeling mama cat Paisley and her kittens, Polka and Dot, in a baby carriage. From the way everyone in the crowd cooed, Quinn could tell that the Twelve Pets gala was a big success.
Now Quinn could only hope that the adoption applications would stack up as fast as the requests for her ornaments!