Icing on the Cake (3 page)

Jenna's little brother Ricky had a talent for throwing tantrums just when she was running late to school. Her mom always had to be at her dry-cleaning store by 7 a.m., and Marisol and Gabby drove to high school together. Which left Jenna in charge of her loco little brothers and getting them all out the door for the elementary school bus pickup.

“You need to put your sneakers on!” she said, chasing Ricky around the living room.

“I don't wanna wear shoes,” he cried, as Jenna tried to wrestle his purple high-tops onto his feet. “Ricky,
venga
ya
!” she shouted. “Give me a break!”

Jenna did her best to double-knot the laces so they stayed put. “Can we please go to school now?” She sighed. “The bus will leave without us!” Ms. Heller had mentioned she was handing out assignments for their community friends project this morning, and Jenna wanted to get a good one.

“I don't wanna go to school,” Ricky said, kicking his feet. “It's not fun.”

“Kindergarten is tons of fun.” Jenna tried her best to convince him. “There are ABCs and 123s…and Legos to play with.”

Manny nodded. “I like Legos.” She noticed he was eating Cheerios out of the box and leaving a trail of them on the living room rug. He was messy—but at least he was on time.

She turned her attention back to Ricky who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, refusing to budge. “I heard your kindergarten teacher say she was going to read you a really cool story today about the Easter Bunny,” Jenna said, trying to bait him. “Hippity, hoppity!”

Ricky looked up. “Yeah? What's his name?”

Jenna knew it was Peter Cottontail, but thought that would never entice Ricky enough to walk to the end of the block and get on the Blakely school bus.

“Um, his name is José Starfighter—and he brings water balloons and video games to good little boys who go to school on time!” she improvised.

“Cool!” Ricky laughed. “I wanna meet him!”

Jenna handed him his lunch box and smiled. “Then
vámonos
!”

•••

Once she had deposited the Disaster Duo in their kindergarten classrooms, Jenna raced to her social studies class on the third floor. She slid into her chair and quickly unpacked, just as her teacher unveiled a large poster on the wall.

“This is the Wheel of Caring,” Ms. Heller explained. “Everyone will get a chance to spin. Whatever you land on will be the organization you will learn about.”

Meredith Mitchell's hand shot up. “Me, me, me!” She waved at Ms. Heller.

“Fine, Meredith, you're up.” She flicked the spinner and watched as it landed on Shop for a Cause.

“Woo-hoo!” she cheered. “I get to shop! I am
so
good at that!”

Great, Jenna groaned. It was just like Meredith to land the easiest assignment!

“Not exactly,” Ms. Heller explained. “Shop for a Cause is an Internet agency that arranges items to be donated. Then people go online and purchase them, and the money goes to various charities.”

“So I don't get to buy
anything
?” Meredith whined. “That is so not fair!” She stomped back to her seat.

“Jenna, you're next.” Her teacher spied her smirking at her desk in the back of the room. “Let's have a good one!”

Jenna looked over the wheel—there were lots of great options. Baking for Good sounded right up her alley, and so did the Hispanic Heritage Society. She could even get into researching the Believe Charity Drive, since she knew it was Justin Bieber's cause. She closed her eyes, crossed her fingers, and spun the wheel as hard as she could. It landed on Rescue Rover.

“Great!” Ms. Heller clapped her hands. “You got the new dog rescue shelter opening in Danbury.”

“Um, I don't really know much about dogs,” Jenna said. “Maybe you wanna give this one to someone who does?”

Again, Meredith's hand shot up. “Ooh, ooh! Ms. Heller, I'll trade. I have a teacup poodle named Fifi Le Cute at home!”

“Of course you do,” Jenna muttered under her breath. Was there anything Meredith didn't have?

“Sorry, you get what you get…and for Jenna, that's pets!” Ms. Heller sang. She handed Jenna a brochure with a fluffy white puppy on the cover. “Try and set up a time to visit after school,” she told Jenna. “And take lots of notes.”

•••

Jenna wasn't sure what she could do for a bunch of dogs that needed homes. Her house was crowded enough—and her sisters barked at each other already. She phoned the Canine Help Line and asked to speak to the person in charge.

“That would be me!” said a perky voice on the other end. “I'm Lucky.”

Jenna chuckled. Was that a person's name…or a cocker spaniel's?

“Oh, hi…I'm Jenna Medina. I'm in the fifth grade at Blakely Elementary School, and I'd like to interview you for my community studies project.” Jenna opened her notebook. “Can I ask you a few questions?”

“Nope,” Lucky replied. “You need to come to our shelter and see for yourself!” She dictated the address and dismissed Jenna with “See ya soon!”

Her mom and her sisters were both at work, which left one person at home with a car—the last person she wanted to ask for help.

“
Qué pasa
, Jenna?” Leo smiled. He was working on his laptop on the couch, going through projected sales figures for the new Ralph Warren resort collection. Great, Jenna thought, he's already made himself at home!

“I need to do some research in Danbury,” she said. “I don't suppose you have time to take me?”

“I'd love to!” Leo leaped to his feet. “Let me get my keys, and we'll be on our way in a jiffy!”

Jenna didn't know what a “jiffy” was, nor did she care. She just needed to get her homework done. She barely said a word on the ride over—not even when Leo pressed her for more details on her assignment.

“So where do the dogs come from? How many of them are placed in homes? Do you like dogs? What kind are your favorites?” He fired questions at her.

“I dunno,” was all she replied. “Are we there yet?”

Rescue Rover was located in a small, white storefront with large glass windows out front. In them were adorable dogs playing and pouncing on each other.

“Aww, look at that little guy!” Leo said, pointing to a dachshund chasing his tail.

But Jenna's gaze zoned in on a tiny, black-and-white fluff ball hanging out in a corner. The dog was busily chomping on a chew toy, but when Jenna tapped her fingers on the window, the puppy sprang forward to try and greet her.

“That's our little eight-week-old Havanese,” said a woman's voice. Jenna suspected it was Lucky. “You wanna see her?”

“Actually, I'm Jenna. I'm here to interview you. We talked on the phone?” Jenna noticed that the puppy was still leaping against the window, trying to get her attention.

“Of course! Come on in!” The woman pushed the door open. “But I think the best way to understand our organization is to talk to some of our rescues.”

Jenna looked around. Clearly, Lucky was loco. There was no one else in the shelter except a dozen or so dogs.

“You want me to interview the dogs?” she asked. “Um, I speak English and Spanish…not puppy.”

Lucky lifted the Havanese out of the window and placed it on Jenna's lap. “That's okay. Just listen…”

The little dog snuggled against Jenna and licked her fingers. Then she gazed up and gave a tiny
yap
!

“Aww, she wants you to pick her up,” Leo cooed.

Jenna wanted to ask, “Really? You speak dog
and
Spanish?” but held her tongue. Instead, she lifted the little bundle in her arms and cradled her. She would never admit it to Leo or Lucky, but this dog was pretty darn adorable!

“What is she telling you?” Lucky asked.

“Um, ‘Bowwow, how are ya?'” Jenna guessed.

“She's telling you she wants to be loved and she needs a good home,” Lucky replied.

Jenna looked into the puppy's dark blue eyes and her heart melted. “Me? She wants me?”

“Can't you tell?” Lucky smiled. “She's saying it loud and clear!”

“Where did she come from?” asked Leo.

“Where most of the dogs here at Rescue Rover come from.” Lucky sighed. “She was abandoned on the side of a road by her owners. Someone found the litter of puppies and called us, and we brought them here.”

“That's so sad,” Jenna said, scratching the puppy under her chin. “She's so tiny and helpless.”

“Our job is to rescue, rehabilitate, and place homeless dogs with loving new families,” Lucky explained. “We're just getting off the ground. This weekend is our grand opening party.”

A lightbulb went off over Jenna's head. “I want to help,” she said. “I have a cupcake club, and we could bake cupcakes for your party.”

“That would be wonderful!” Lucky exclaimed. The little puppy barked her approval as well.

“Does she have a name?” Jenna asked. “What do you call her?”

“Well, she was found on the highway right by the Brewster exit—so we call her Brewster,” Lucky explained.

Jenna made a face. “Oh, no! This is not a Brewster!” She lifted the puppy up to her face until they were nose to nose. “You're too sweet to be a Brewster. That's it! I'll call you Dulce—that means sweet in Spanish!”

The puppy gave Jenna a lick as if to say, “I like it!”

“So Dulce and I will expect you on Saturday at ten a.m.,” Lucky said. “Tell everyone to come!”

As they left the animal shelter, Jenna couldn't help but notice a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't the hunger pains that usually rumbled her tummy. It was more a sensation of sad emptiness.

“I hate to leave Dulce there,” she said, watching out of the car window as Leo slowly pulled out of the Rescue Rover parking lot. “I miss her already.”

“Sounds like that pup made a pretty strong impression on you,” he commented.

“She did. I just can't bear to think of her all alone in the world!”

Leo nodded. “I understand how you feel, Jenna, but someone will adopt her soon. You'll see.”

•••

That night at dinner, Jenna barely touched her
arroz
con
pollo
. All she could think about was the tiny puppy that had snuggled in her arms.

“Couldn't we adopt her, Mami?” she blurted out. “I'd take care of her and walk her. I'm really responsible. If I can handle Ricky and Manny, I can handle a dog!”

“
Sí
, I know you are,” Jenna's mother replied. “But the house is so crowded already. Where would we put a dog?”

“In my room,” Jenna volunteered.

“You mean our room,” Marisol corrected her. “And no way. I trip over all your junk on the floor already.”

“Then I suppose I have some good news,” Leo said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Your mother and I saw a ‘For Sale' sign on a bigger house just a few blocks away. It needs a little fixing up, but we thought it would be perfect for our new
familia
. I made the owners an offer…and they accepted.”

Jenna's mom threw her arms around Leo's neck and hugged him. “
Qué sorpresa maravillosa!
What a wonderful surprise!”

“A new house?” Gabby exclaimed. “Awesome! Do I get my own room?”

“Marisol is the oldest, so we thought she should get her own room, which will be yours when she goes to college in a few years,” Leo said.

“Yes!” Marisol pumped her fist in the air. “No more sisters snoring!”

“You and Jenna will share, and Ricky and Manny will have their own room,” he added. “And there will be an extra room for Maggie when she stays over.”

“Maggie?” Jenna gasped. “She's coming to live with us, but we can't get a little puppy?”

“Um, she's Leo's daughter,” Gabby whispered. “Not a pet. And FYI, I am painting our room neon green—like it or not.”

•••

“Neon green? She really said neon green?” Kylie asked Jenna as they packed up the weekly cupcake order for Mr. Ludwig at the Golden Spoon. The club was hard at work in Kylie's kitchen, whipping up six dozen strawberry champagne cupcakes and six dozen salted caramel cupcakes for the gourmet shop.

Jenna stirred the sugar in a small pot with butter and cream until it melted and browned. “Gooey-licious,” she said, taking a whiff. “Caramel's ready.”

“It could be worse,” Delaney pointed out. “She could have said she wanted to paint your room neon yellow. Or black with red polka dots.”

“That's not the worst part,” Jenna explained, taking the pot off the stove so it could cool. “Leo's kid is moving in too. He gets her every other week, and she's my age and gets her own room!” She swiped her finger along the edge of one of the cupcakes and tasted the frosting.