Putting on the Dog Read Online Free PDF Page B

fascinating. Did you know they’re originally from the Mediterranean? Spanish traders used to bring them to Cuban women as gifts. I just love that.” He sighed. “But Zsa Zsa is special. She has the sweetest expression. Really, she doesn’t look like any other dog you’ve ever seen. Of course, we don’t use that word around her. ‘Dog,’ I mean. We always refer to her as a princess, because that’s exactly what she is.”
    “Why didn’t you enter her in the dog show? She might have won.”
    Pouting, he replied, “My significant other wouldn’t let me. Nettie insists he doesn’t want me getting mixed up in the celebrity scene. He seems to think it would taint me or something.”
    “That sounds kind of extreme.”
    “That’s what I’m always telling him! But he’s one of those macho types who thinks I should wait at home, playing June to his Ward Cleaver. At least June was on Ward’s pension plan!” Chess sighed. “He even acted like he was doing me the favor of a lifetime by getting me a ticket for this dinner tonight. But so far, the only celebrities I’ve seen have been a bunch of washed-up has-beens who haven’t made a movie practically since the talkies were invented.”
    As he spoke, my attention was diverted by a small commotion behind him.
    “Oh, my God!” I gasped. “Isn’t that Hugo Fontana?”
    “Muscles, ten. Acting talent, one.” Chess rolled his eyes. “Did you see him in Pulverizer 3: The Annihilation ? I swear, they should have annihilated his Screen Actors Guild card after that one!”
    As I glanced around at the increasingly crowded tent, I realized that Hugo Fontana’s face wasn’t the only one I recognized. I’ve never thought of myself as starstruck, but it was fun to spot one celebrity after another. Then there were the people I couldn’t place, but who certainly looked famous. The tiny woman dressed entirely in orange leather, for example, a jolting contrast to her cherry-red hair and glittery eye shadow.
    I actually gasped when I noticed a slender blond at the edge of the tent, surrounded by a sea of admirers. Every one of them was male. Her delicate coloring was set off by the simple black dress she wore, cut low enough to intrigue without giving too much away. She threw back her head and laughed, a fluttering sound that reminded me of a bird.
    “That’s Kara Liebling!” I exclaimed.
    “She’s absolutely gorgeous, isn’t she?” Chess gushed.
    I was astonished to see the famous actress survey the room, zero in on our table, and head in our direction. I was even more surprised when she came right over to our table and threw her arms around Chess.
    “ There you are!” she cried. “I heard you were coming tonight!”
    No air kisses for these two. The affection between Chess and Kara Liebling seemed completely sincere.
    “Kara, love, you must meet my newest friend, Jessie Popper. She’s a living, breathing veterinarian. Can you imagine—a person with a real job? Jessie, this is Kara, the brightest star in the Hollywood sky.”
    “Hello, Jessie.” Kara held out her hands and smiled warmly. “I’m so pleased to meet you. Are you involved with the dog show?”
    “I’m running the ‘Ask The Vet’ booth. Do you have a dog who’s competing?”
    “I’ve got a borzoi that I’m sure will win a prize.” She beamed proudly. “Are you familiar with the breed?”
    “Sure. They’re also called Russian wolfhounds. That’s because the Russian aristocracy first started breeding them in the 1400s.” I also knew they were generally considered the last word in glamour breeds, but I kept that fact to myself.
    “I’m very impressed,” Kara said. “You’ll have to meet Anastasia while you’re here.”
    “I’ll look for her tomorrow at the show.”
    “All this dog talk is making me furious that I can’t enter Zsa Zsa,” Chess said sullenly.
    “Why not?” Kara asked.
    “Nettie, what else? He simply refused to let me participate. As usual, he wants to keep