annouced. "Let's get this party started! Man, that's quite a crowd". The group just had a hard time getting into the crowd, let alone get to their seats. "Hello, everybody. I hope I'm not late", Anabelle told them, arriving in a style of her own. "No, Anabelle, you're just in time. Please, take a seat. Now if you will excuse me, Sasha and I have to go up on stage", Charlie said. "Wait, where are you guys going?", David inquired. "We're the hosts, remember? We'll be greeting the guests from up there. Now sit tight". "Oh, this'll be quick", Bess retorted.

Just then, the announcer dog showed up on stage, grabbing the mic and fixing his bowtie. "Hello, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you're happy to be here, because we're about to throw the biggest party in the history of caninekind! Now put your paws together for your host and hostess for this evening: everyone, I give you Ms. Sasha LaFluer and Mr. Charlie B. Barkin!" A round of applause came from the guests as Sasha and Charlie came up on stage. "Good evening, guys. I just wanna say that I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate our anniversary. This lovely dog has made me the happiest mutt on Earth!", exclaimed Charlie. They kissed a moment later. Another round of applause and a lot of "aws" followed soon after. "Aw, that's beautiful. Thank you, Charlie. And you heard my husband, ladies and gentlemen, go on ahead and enjoy yourselves. In about an hour, me and Charlie will provide some special entertainment for you. I hope you like it, because it is one of the best acts in the city! So dig in, and have a great time!" "Well, there we have it, people. These dogs are not only hostsg of this party, but they're also doing everything they can just to make their fellow canines happy. Let's give them a big paw", the announcer dog said, another round of applause right behind him, " And you heard them. Let's make like shovels and dig in".

Soon, every table in the cafe was filled, the guests eating, talking, and playing to their heart's desire. In one of the special tables, the 12-person group has just finished filling up their plates and soon followed the crowd. "I have to admit, Charles, you guys know how to please a crowd", Anabelle told Charlie and Sasha. "This is just the tip of the iceberg, Anabelle. What happens next is the bulk of the fun! And what about you guys? You enjoying the party?" Charlie asked the others. " You know it!" was their answer. "And how about that surprise you promised me and the girls, darling?", Sasha asked Charlie, "What is it?". "Okay, my love, you asked for it. We fellows have, with the help of a special, shall we say, 'heavenly' contact, came up with even more entertainment that will accompany the fun you and I have originally planned!" "Oh, yeah?", she asked, much delighted, "What is it?" "You'll see... soon enough. You girls will love it!", Zak added. "Aw, come on, boys, it's not nice to keep secrets from us", Molly countered, putting a paw on Zak face and getting ready to kiss him. "Nice try, ladies, but we won't tell, no matter how hard you try". The girls just sighed. "Oh, very well. You win", Courtney said, ruefully, "We'll wait until later on. Anyway, we have something special for you guys, too", Bess explained, smiling at them, especially at Itchy, who wagged his tail even more at her gaze. " Oooh, what is it?", Itchy asked her, holding her paw up and kissing it. "Uh uh uh, Can't tell", Bess said, blushing 'til her fur turned almost scarlet, " Just like we're waiting for you boys to show us your surprise, you have to wait for us girls to show you ours". The gentlemen whimpered at her words, logical as they were.

30 minutes later, the hour was up. "It looks like that's your cue to get on stage, David", Charlie told him. "Right. Wish me luck,you guys", David talked back. "Well, don't just stand there! Take your seats". Soon, the gang sat in their original seats. The announcer dog once more appeared on stage. " Okay, ladies and gentleman, here stands the moment you've all been waiting for. The promised entertainment is about to begin". a series of yells and howls have ensued the mutt. "Let's begin, shall we? Our first show will be a magical one. Now let's give a big round of applause for the human who has powers meant only for heaven: the one, the only, David!". The crowd, stunned and excited, roared with excitement as David appeared in a cloud of smoke.

" Good evening, everybody. Thanks for your attention. For my first trick, I will need a volunteer. How about you, sir?", David asked a 8-year-old German Shepherd. "Sure", he replied with excitement as he joined the boy at the stage. "Oh boy, this oughtta be good", Courtney said with enthusiasm.  "Do you see this bone?", David said. "You bet", the dog answered. "Okay. Now watch it carefully, for I will now make it vanish right before your eyes. Abracadabra, one, two, three!" Just then, the bone faded away, the audience amazed. David then flipped/shaked his hand. "No bone, see? Observe, nothing up my sleeve". David meant it seriously, for as he rolled up his sleeve, nothing, not even his own arm, was there. Only his hand was visible. The audience let out a gasp. His volunteer felt all around the area where David's arm should've been, but found nothing. "Well, I'll be! You're not kidding!", his volunteer exclaimed, "Where'd the bone go?" "Right here, my canine friend", David said as he blew in the dog's paw. The bone then suddenly materialized into it, unchanged. And fortunately, so did David's arm. The audience yelled with joy at this stupendous act. "Well, I see that you all liked that trick. You want more?" the boy asked. "Yeah!" was the obvious answer. "Okay then. Let's have some fun! For my next trick..." Only 30 minutes elapsed, and the magic show was over. Although the audience was disappointed that it was so short, David assured them that on weekends, he will be at the cafe to show more of his tricks. "Just come on over and you'll find me. Thanks again for your attention. You've been a great audience. Now goodbye and have a lovely evening. ha ha ha ha ha!". David disappeared in a cloud of smoke when he laughed, only to be cheered by the crowd of dogs.

        "Whooee, David is one smooth human, eh people?", the announcer dog told them. All nodded. "And now we will-" He was cut short by the sound of yelps and grunts made by the watchdogs guarding the front of the cafe. One of them flew from the front and landed on the pavement, unconscious and crippled in one front leg. The other was thrown next to him, bleeding from the nose. He just lied there like a 'possum, unable to move. "Pathetic", said a masked female dog fitting Zak's description as she approached the now intimidated crowd. "That's her, Charlie. The one who attacked me". Just looking at her come closer made him cringe. "You might want to sit this one out, old buddy", Charlie told him, "I'll take care of this". "Let me join you, Charlie", Sasha told her husband. " Okay. Stay close". "I see that you have not heeded my warning, Mr. Barkin. Why?", the intruder asked him. "I don't take orders from some mutt, fleabag. Nobody hurts my friends and gets away with it!", Charlie told her boldly. "Empty words from a dead dog", the intruder retorted, bringing out a double-bladed sword. "You're the dead dog, you creep!", Sasha yelled as she grabbed two sabres from the bag of a nearby war dog and tossed one to Charlie. "We'll see about that!" the intruder lunged at Charlie but barely missed his tux. "Hey, I paid big for this suit! You're sooo gonna pay for that!" And so the dogs began a swordfight. The dogs clashed metal with metal, with neither side gaining an edge. It seemed as if this was an endless battle. Then, Sasha and the masked 'phantom' had parried each others' attack and held it there for a long time. "I see that you're fearful of me, Lafluer. You have hate, and you have anger, and yet you're hardly using them. Perhaps this'll help", the masked lady said as she kicked Sasha, sending her into a telephone booth and then locking the door. The audience watched in horror as the battle raged on between Charlie and the 'phantom' lady. Charlie, enraged that this villian pushed his wife like that,  fought harder and extremely well, taking more ground and forcing his opponent closer to a wall. But then a tragic thing happened. Before Charlie could deal the punishing blow, the masked intruder parried his final attack, kicked his paws upwards, and stabbed him in the chest, barely missing his heart and making Charlie yelp with pain. "Charliiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeee!", Sasha cried as she saw her husband fall backwards, panting and clutching his chest. "One mutt down, one more to go", the intruder exclaimed, pulling out her blade from Charlie.

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