Purple Nails and Puppy Tails by Jill Santopolo Read Free Book Online Page A

you.”

    The girls polished the old-timers’ nails, and the pups were yappy and didn’t know if they wanted to sit, stand, or—in the case of Laces—roll over. But for the most part, they liked the attention and the treats,which Joan had made just for today and Aly had brought with her to the shelter.
    As Aly was putting the finishing touches of Red Rover on Marjorie’s back paw, she heard “Ew!” from the other side of the room, and “Ack!” She turned her head to see Lily holding her left hand with her right one. “I think Melvin tried to bite me!” she said. “I got my hand away in time, but that’s so not cool.”
    Charlotte went racing to Lily. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, taking Lily’s left hand in her own.
    â€œLet me see,” Miss Nina said, running at Charlotte’s heels. She bent down and took Lily’s hand from Charlotte. “No broken skin. Not even a mark,” she said. “I think he was just trying to give you a kiss. He’s a licker, not a biter.”
    â€œWell, I don’t want to take him out of his cage,” Lily said. “Either way, he’s kind of gross.”
    Charlotte looked at the drool hanging down from his lips. “I don’t think I want to either.”
    Brooke was tugging on her braid, clearly worried. She asked, “Can we polish Melvin’s nails last? When all the other dogs are done?”
    â€œGood idea, Brooke,” said Miss Nina. “Let’s finish up the others and then tackle Melvin.”
    Just then Jenica brought Sparky in from the back. “Hey, guys,” she said. “One of the groomers asked if I could deliver this furball to you. He’s such a sweetheart. I hope he goes to a great home.”
    Aly felt her heart tug. She hoped whoever got Sparky would love him as much as she would if he were her dog.
    They had picked Purple Paws for Sparky, which went nicely with his rainbow collar and leash. But as cute and cuddly as Sparky looked . . .
    He absolutely hated getting his pet-icure.
    â€œPlease don’t take any pictures, Isaac,” Aly pleaded. “I think the camera is making Sparky more nervous.” Even though Aly was holding him steady, he shivered, whimpered, cried . . . and then peed on the floor.
    â€œYuck! It that what I think it is?” Lily squealed. The girls moved to the opposite side of the room, away from Aly and Sparky.
    Luckily, Irena had come back into the room and took charge. “No worries. I’ll take Sparky to the back and clean him up. But I don’t think he’s a candidate for nail polish,” she said, and whisked him away.
    Aly felt terrible. Without a pet-icure and with all his shivering, would anyone want Sparky?
    She didn’t have more than a second to worry, because it was finally time to do Melvin’s paws. Miss Nina went to get him, since no one else would.
    â€œHe’s so slobbery,” Sophie said quietly. “I hope he doesn’t bite anyone.”
    Aly knew Melvin was slobbery, but she was pretty sure he wasn’t dangerous. If Miss Nina said he was nice, then Aly trusted her. But she understood if the other girls didn’t.
    â€œBrooke?” she asked, sending her a Secret Sister Eye Message by raising one eyebrow twice: Can we do this—just us?
    Brooke smiled at Aly. “Teamwork,” she answered.
    Aly looked up at the rest of the girls from where she was sitting on the floor. “If you guys don’t want to do Melvin, Brooke and I can do him, with Miss Nina’s help.” She knew Melvin was important to Brooke. And the Melvin versus Sparky fight didn’t seem to matter as much as making sure he got a great pet-icure.
    â€œYou really wouldn’t mind?” Charlotte asked.
    â€œNope,” Aly said. “It’s totally okay.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” Brooke said. “Aly and I can do it.”