The Doggy Divas: Roxy’s Rules (6 page)

“Okay, girls, what are we waiting for?” Roxy sat down breathlessly on her bed. “Let's send an email to announce we're officially open for business. Tomorrow at lunch, we can start taking appointments for our services. Agreed?”

“Agreed!” Georgia and Kim shrieked as they crowded around Roxy's laptop. Izzy and Jazzy kept licking Roxy's face, making it really hard to type. The girls just burst out laughing. Finally, they got the dogs to calm down and put together the perfect email.

To: The World

From: [email protected]

Re: The Doggy Divas Is Now Open for Business!

Has the dog-walkers' strike landed you in the doghouse? Does your pooch need a crash course in manners? Is your four-legged friend's style so last year?

The Doggy Divas are here to save the day! We can help your favorite friends regain their pre-strike bounce.

Dog walking, dog bathing, dog training, dog fashion, and makeovers—we do it
all!

Customized and monogrammed sweaters and homemade organic treats are just a few of our specialties.

Roxy Davis, Georgia Sweeney, and Kim Pierce will treat your dog like royalty. No ego too big or small—we're here to pamper your pooch!

Email, call, text, or find us on Facebook to book your appointment now. Or meet us in person during lunch hour at Monroe Middle School.

For the love of dogs,

Roxy, Kim, and Georgia (the Doggy Divas)

The girls huddled nervously around Roxy. She looked at Georgia and Kim before hitting “Send.”

“Divas!” Roxy boomed. “Are we ready?”

The girls all grabbed hands and could feel the nervous energy pulsating through each of them. They vigorously nodded their heads, and with a dramatic pause, Roxy hit “Send.”

“Guys, I think we're in business!” Roxy squealed, and Izzy and Jazzy barked in delight. “Let's do this!”

Roxy forgot all about Liz, Jessica, the Fashion Bible—and even Matt Billings—for a second. For the first time that week, Roxy was having fun. She had forgotten how good it felt to laugh. She turned the radio back up and grabbed hands with the other girls. They started dancing and singing again at the top of their lungs. It got so loud that they almost didn't hear the phone ring.

Roxy ran to shut the radio off.

“Oh, my God, you guys!” she screeched. “Oh, my God. Oh, my God. That's my bedroom line! I put my phone number in the email. What if it's our first client?”

The girls all sat down and stared at the phone like it was a futuristic gadget they'd never used before.

“Someone needs to answer!” Georgia cried. “We can't just ignore our very first customer! Roxy, you do it!”

“Okay…why am I shaking?” Roxy cried as she placed the ringing phone in her lap.

Kim threw a dog toy at her.

“Come on, this was your idea—just go for it.”

Roxy shut her eyes tight and slowly lifted the phone to her ear. “Good afternoon, Doggy Divas. How can I help you?”

Georgia and Kim put their arms around Roxy as she talked. They were gripping her so tightly that Roxy had to pry their hands away so she could breathe—and concentrate on the call!

“Yes, we are open for business.” Roxy's eyes were wide with excitement. “Yes, we can take an order for a sweater. How big is your dog?”

Georgia raised Jazzy high into the air and swung her around in circles. Kim kissed Izzy on the head.

“Okay, Mrs. Cramden. Your little Princess will look adorable—we guarantee it.” Roxy was trying to stay calm, but she really wanted to reach through the phone and give Mrs. Cramden a big hug. “We can have it ready by Friday. Can I interest you in any of our homemade dog treats while I have you on the line?”

Roxy hung up the phone, and Georgia and Kim pounced on her.

“Tell us everything!” they squealed.

“That was a nice touch, offering the dog treats!” Georgia said. “I'm impressed!”

“Do they want them?” Kim asked expectantly. “I can try a new recipe tonight!”

But before Roxy could get a word out, the phone rang again.

“I'm so getting it this time!” Georgia declared and grabbed the phone before anyone could argue with her. “Doggy Divas, can I help you?”

Roxy and Kim both strained their ears to see if they could make out what the person on the other end of the phone was saying.

“Oh, so you're not calling on Doggy Diva business?” Georgia asked slyly. “Can I tell her what this is regarding?”

Roxy's eyes were as big and round as vinyl records.

“No worries. I'll absolutely be sure to tell her you called,” Georgia said sweetly. “And I'm sure she can tell you more about the Doggy Divas then too!”

Georgia looked absolutely superior as she hung up the phone.

“How much is it worth for me to tell you who was on the phone?” Georgia asked Roxy with a wink. “Because I'm thinking you at least have to give me your iPod or a pair of those fancy designer boots in your closet if you really want to know!”

“Was it Liz?” Roxy asked with a tinge of fear in her voice. “She wasn't on the email, even though I knew she'd find out all about this immediately. Gossip clings to her like to a magnet.”

“No, but wow, look how scared you are of her! I knew it!” Georgia pointed out. “Right, Kim?”

Kim was busy giving Izzy and Jazzy tummy rubs and hadn't paid an ounce of attention to the exchange.

“I'm not scared! I just want to know,” Roxy said curtly. “It's my phone line—I have rights here.”

“Fine! It was Matt,” Georgia said smugly. “What's that all about? Isn't he the reason why you and Liz aren't talking? Besides the fact that she's a wretched, tiara-wearing witch…”

“You're lying!” Roxy shrieked. “Tell me who was really on the phone!”

“I'm not lying. I swear on the sweaters I'm going to knit for the Doggy Divas that it was Matt Billings on the phone. He said he wanted to talk about the note he gave you today and congratulate you on Doggy Divas,” Georgia said. “I guess he
was
on our mass email, huh? And what note?”

Roxy felt like she was going to faint. Matt was calling her to talk? Was he going to turn Liz in for blackmailing him into being her boyfriend? Now all she needed was for Liz to leave school to start competing in pageants in…oh say, Africa, and life would be great. If Liz was gone, maybe Roxy would take her kiss with Matt in the bakery more seriously. Maybe she did have feelings for him after all that could make them more than friends.

“Earth to Roxy,” Georgia interrupted. “Are you going to tell us the deal with Matt? I think that as your new business partners, we do have some right to know.”

“Nope, there's nothing to tell,” Roxy said. “I'll see you guys in the morning so we can start handing out flyers, and then we'll kick things into high gear at lunch!” Roxy stood up and opened her bedroom door. “Just text me tonight if you think of anything else we need to do.”

Georgia raised her eyebrows at Roxy but packed up her stuff anyway. Kim put leashes on Izzy and Jazzy, and gave Roxy an awkward hug.

“What was that for?” Roxy asked as she gently hugged her back.

“Just sorry again about making a mess before,” Kim said. “Georgia, I hope you can fix that sweater I got dirty.”

Roxy couldn't believe it, but Georgia actually hugged Kim too. It was just one arm and a quick pat on the back, but it was something.

“Don't get used to that,” Georgia said with a laugh as she walked out of the room with Kim and the dogs behind her. “Good night, Roxy. Don't stay up too late whispering sweet nothings to your boyfriend, Matt Billings!”

“Shut up!” Roxy squealed and slammed her bedroom door shut. She couldn't help but smile as she heard the girls run down the stairs and out the front door.

I think I'll let Matt sweat it out tonight and catch up with him tomorrow at school
, Roxy thought to herself as she put new sheets on her bed and sprayed every inch of her room with perfume. The stench from Kim, her dogs, and the treats were going to be hard to get used to—and to get rid of!

Kim's treats are gross. I don't want to be mean, but they taste like dirt. So, I did what any dog looking to score good treats would do. I stole some from Matt's backpack after school.

He didn't notice. He was arguing with Liz. She wanted Matt to defriend Roxy on Facebook. When Matt said he wouldn't do it, Liz went wild. I guess no one ever taught her “no” in obedience school.

I just wanted treats
-
not drama!

The next morning, Roxy woke up feeling like she had forgotten to do something. She'd finished all her homework, so she needed a minute to figure out what was nagging her.

Oh, right. I didn't call Matt back
, she realized as she peeled her sleeping mask off her eyes and plucked the earplugs from her ears. The mask was labeled “Beauty Queen” and was a hand-me-down from Liz. She had gotten it in a gift bag at a pageant, but she applied special moisturizer every night to keep her skin smooth and thought the mask would irritate her complexion.

Roxy had taken the mask happily because rays of sun poked through her shades and woke her up every morning. The earplugs were a new part of her sleep regimen. Those annoying dog walkers had the nerve to start protesting and marching through the neighborhood at 5 a.m. The previous night, Roxy's dad had brought home a pair of earplugs for everyone in the family.

Should I call Matt back now?
Roxy wondered as she sneaked into her parents' room to see if her mom had anything her daughter could borrow.
This is where I need Liz. She always knows the right thing to do when it comes to boys.

Roxy found a cute, navy-blue tank dress in her mom's closet that looked nothing like anything in the Fashion Bible. What she wore didn't matter, now that the dogs had destroyed the notebook, but Roxy didn't want to take any chances. She went back to her room, put on a thin, black belt, and dressed up the look with a pair of ankle boots.

Turning her bedroom into an imaginary runway, Roxy sashayed across the floor a few times. She couldn't have a repeat of the other day and end up in her gym shoes again. When Roxy was confident she could spend the day in the boots comfortably, she tied her hair up in a high ponytail and met her dad in the car.

Roxy gulped as her dad dropped her off in the front of the school. Dogs were still running all over the lawn. Principal West was handing out detentions left and right to anyone who had a dog with them. She didn't see Liz or Matt anywhere, but Kim and Georgia anxiously greeted Roxy as she stepped out of the car.

Georgia had a stack of bright flyers printed with all of the Doggy Divas' information that she had made using her dad's copy machine the night before. Kim hugged a box to her chest, while Dixie, Izzy, and Jazzy, who was still ownerless, sat by her feet.

“'Morning, divas!” Roxy laughed as she exited the car and blew her dad a kiss. “What's in the box?”

“I have tons of treats lying around, so I thought it would be a nice touch to give a baggie full of them to anyone that makes an appointment today,” Kim said hesitantly. “I forgot to text you. Is that okay?”

“Okay? It's
great!
I love that idea,” Roxy exclaimed. “Let's start handing out these flyers. Just, uh, try to stay away from Liz and those girls if you can…”

Georgia scoffed as she dropped a stack of flyers in the middle of a group of seventh graders sitting on the ground.

“You look pretty today…” Georgia said. “Trying to impress anyone? Maybe his name rhymes with ‘cat'?”

“There's a cat?” Kim asked fearfully as she stapled a few flyers onto a tree. “Izzy hates cats, and I'm more of a dog person, as you know…”

Roxy and Georgia burst out laughing. The bell rang just as they handed out their last flyer.

“Okay, girls—I'll see you at lunch,” Roxy said as she ran off to homeroom. “Text me if anyone asks about the Doggy Divas before then!”

The rest of the morning was a blur. Roxy felt like a celebrity in every class because everyone was bombarding her with questions about the Doggy Divas. It was like she was at a press conference. So many kids were desperate to pass their responsibility on to a new dog walker.

Plus, their usual dog walkers didn't knit sweaters nor bake homemade treats nor give their pups spa treatments, so the Doggy Divas was an instant hit. Even teachers stopped Roxy in the hall to ask for a flyer or more information. Roxy had only printed up a few business cards on her computer, and they were gone by the time she got to lunch.

More dogs than students were roaming the school grounds, and the dog walkers were still striking outside the school yard. Roxy didn't see an end in sight for this battle.

Maybe the Doggy Divas will make us lots of money!
Roxy smiled to herself as she scanned the crowd for Kim and Georgia.
I can buy a whole new wardrobe.

Roxy plopped down on the grassy lawn by the fence that was now the Doggy Divas' designated lunch spot. She hugged her knees to her chest, put on her sunglasses, and tried to soak up some sun before the other girls arrived. Roxy was trying to think of tactful ways to propose giving Kim a makeover when she was startled by the commotion going on around her.

“Me first! My mom is going to kill me if the dog poops in the house one more time!”

“Hey—quit elbowing me. I was ahead of you!”

“Get out of my way. If you take my appointment, I'll never talk to you again!”

“M-o-v-e it!”

A mob of classmates had surrounded Roxy and were fighting for her attention. Roxy had only seen this sort of commotion on
Entertainment Tonight
when crazy fans and paparazzi tried to get a celebrity to notice them at the Academy Awards.

What in the world is going on here?
Roxy stood up and looked around for Kim and Georgia.

“Excuse me. I need an appointment with the Doggy Divas more than you do!”

“Uh, no. I think I need one a little bit more than you.”

Roxy couldn't believe it. Everyone was crowding her because of the Doggy Divas? She was pulling out her appointment book when help arrived in the nick of time.

“Everyone get out of the way! Make three straight lines, or you won't get an appointment!” Georgia commanded as she pushed to the front of the crowd. She was dragging Kim by the hand through the sea of kids and dogs to get to Roxy. “Either you wait in line, or we don't help you. It's as easy as that, people!”

Georgia and Kim dragged over an old picnic table from a few feet away so the girls could sit side by side on the bench and each have her own potential clients line up in front of her.

“How did this happen?” Roxy asked as she sat down next to Georgia. “I don't know if we're prepared for this kind of demand!”

Georgia flashed a big smile as she removed Dixie from her carrier and sat the dog on her lap. “We hit on a million-dollar idea here! Everyone wants the best for their dogs,” she explained. “It'll be fine. I promise.”

Kim got up and placed Jazzy on Roxy's lap. “I think it'll be a nice touch if we each hold a dog,” Kim said as she gave each dog a treat and sat back down with Izzy. “People won't trust us unless they see how much we love dogs.”

The line wrapped all the way around to the front of the lunch area by where Liz and her crew sat. A knot formed in Roxy's stomach because she knew there was no way Liz would ignore a crowd around Roxy's table—especially since she wasn't invited. But Roxy just kept scheduling dog-walking appointments while Georgia took orders for sweaters. Kim answered questions about care and training while using Izzy as a model. Roxy had absolutely no idea how they were going to manage walking all these dogs, but there was no turning back now.

“Um, excuse me. I'd like to buy two sweaters, please,” a deep voice whispered in Roxy's ear.

“Oh, you need to talk to Georgia…” Roxy choked on her words as she turned to see Matt standing over her. Roxy gulped. She hoped he wasn't mad that she hadn't called him back the night before. She noticed her hands were so sweaty that she could barely hold her pen and wondered why she was so nervous.

“Hey,” she said shyly. “I'm sorta busy—can you believe this line? And you shouldn't be here. What if Liz sees and gets you kicked off the team?”

Matt sat on the bench next to her. Georgia shot her a “What's going on here?” look while an oblivious Kim happily taught a group of girls the proper way to bathe a dog. She had Izzy flat on her back and was poking and prodding the poor dog's most sensitive areas.

“I'll handle Liz. I'm really proud of you. This is amazing,” he said. “But I really do want to buy two sweaters—one for my aunt's dog and one for Banjo. That one will have to be macho, of course!”

Roxy was too distracted to hear what he was saying. Their appointment calendar was almost filled for the entire month! She couldn't believe it.

“What? Your aunt is a dog?” Roxy said absentmindedly.

Matt laughed. “No, my aunt
has
a dog,” he said. “A cute little terrier! She gets cold in the winter.”

“You need to talk to Georgia, but I'll make sure that she gives you VIP treatment,” Roxy said. “I, um…I'm sorry I didn't get to call you last night. Things were busy. You should go now. Liz
will
ruin your athletic future. She doesn't joke about her threats.”

Roxy's heart was doing flip-flops. She was about to flash him a sincere smile when Liz sneaked up behind them and linked her arm through Matt's. Little Roxie's head popped out of the sparkly pink carrier that was slung over Liz's shoulder. Matt looked helpless and confused. Roxy wanted to wipe that smug smile right off Liz's face.

“I'm sorry, Matt, but did you mistake this Roxy for my dog?” Liz asked slyly as she gripped Matt's arm tighter. “Weren't you just telling me how much cuter my little Roxie was than any other Roxy we know?”

Roxy actually felt bad for Matt. He looked defeated. She knew how hard it was to stand up to Liz, so she didn't expect him to defend her until he was really sure Liz wasn't going to do something bad—like tell his coach lies about how he'd cheated on last year's math placement exam.

“Um, I need a sweater,” Matt said sheepishly. “That's why I'm here.”

“You need a sweater from these losers?” Liz said loudly. The crowd went silent. Georgia and Kim looked up at Roxy, their eyes wide with fear. “It's the Three Musketeers—Miss Boyfriend Stealer, Miss Loud Mouth, and my favorite, Miss Doggie Doo. Great team. Especially since Roxy didn't even know their names until she became desperado for new friends!”

“Look, Liz—you're not welcome on this side of the lunch tables.” Georgia stood up on her chair. “Just go back to taping your Fashion Bible back together and leave us alone.”

“Nobody tells me where I am and am not welcome at this school,” Liz responded furiously.

She turned her attention back to Roxy. “How do you like sitting here? Was it worth double-crossing me?”

Matt let go of Liz's grip and took a step back. In a blink, he somehow managed to disappear into the crowd.

“Well, you know what?” Liz asked sweetly. “I think little Roxie could use a new dog walker. And a sweater. Maybe even some dog treats. Sign me up!”

Roxy looked over at Kim and Georgia in a panic. There was no way they could accept business from Liz. She would make their lives even more unbearable—if that was possible. The second Liz handed them money, she became a Doggy Divas client, and they would have to obey every single one of her awful demands. That would be Liz's sneaky way of blackmailing them—just like she was blackmailing Matt.

“Sorry,” Georgia interjected. “We're booked solid.”

Liz looked over her shoulder at the long line of desperate students and their dogs waiting to make an appointment.

“Oh, really?” she sneered. “You're going to tell everyone else who's waiting the same thing? That doesn't seem very business savvy to me.”

“We have the right to refuse service to anyone we want. It's in the local business guidelines,” Roxy said officially. She didn't even know if “local business guidelines” existed, but it sounded like something she heard her dad say on the phone to his clients. “We're very sorry about that.”

Roxy realized that everyone—including Kim and Georgia—was staring at her and Liz. She and Liz were practically Monroe Middle School's own reality show.
How many more days in a row can I star in the Roxy and Liz Showdown?
she wondered. Little Roxie started whimpering from her carrier, desperate for Roxy to give her some affection.
Poor little Roxie—I wonder if she understands how mean her mom is.

“I'd like to see you try to explain those guidelines to Principal West,” Liz said arrogantly. “I don't think those rules apply at school. You are an officially sanctioned school club, right? I mean, you wouldn't be able to conduct business on school grounds otherwise, as I'm sure you know.”

“Of course we know,” Georgia interrupted. “We followed all the rules. If you want to wait in line for an appointment, fine, but we're pretty booked.”

Roxy watched Liz's face carefully. Roxy knew there was no way Liz actually believed them. Of course they weren't an official school club. But, if taking care of little Roxie would shut Liz up for now, they really had no choice. It was going to be awful, because Roxy knew without a doubt that Liz would treat the Doggy Divas like they were her own personal servants.

“What types of services do you want?” Roxy asked in her most professional-sounding voice. She opened the pink notebook she was using to keep track of appointments and looked at Liz expectantly. “There's a long line behind you, so what will it be? Walking? Grooming? A training session? Do you want to place a sweater order?”

“Everything. I want my Roxie walked, groomed, and trained, and I'll take three sweaters—a rush job on those,” Liz chirped. “I assume you take credit cards?”

“Um, no. If that's a problem, you can take your business elsewhere,” Georgia chimed in.

Liz gave her a nasty look and finished making her appointment. “I'll just have my mom write you a check,” she quipped. “I'll see you Doggy DoDos at my house tomorrow.”

Liz spun on her sparkly kitten heels, flipped her blond hair over her shoulder, and waltzed away like she was leaving the stage at a pageant. A few students were still waiting around to make an appointment, but lunch time was almost over and everyone was heading back into the main building. Georgia and Kim stared at Roxy, waiting for her to say something about what had just happened.