family height. What your puppy is called?”
“Jenna.”

“That is a lovely name” Hilda replied ticking Jenna behind the ear. “That is your Auntie’s middle name.”

 “I did notice that Mother” Arthur said kissing her on the cheek. “Well we had better be going if we want to find a good position for the parade.”

 “Oh Arthur you have remembered to lock the log shed haven’t you?” Violet asked as they left the house. “We do not need another wolverine in there.”

 “Of course I have, it has been locked then bolted and I checked it twice.”

      Making their way to the town centre main the family passed other residence both humans and dogs, with Jenna sticking very close to Rosie and Arthur. As they reached the main street Rosie waved to a blonde girl with an afghan puppy standing next to her.

  “Hello Annabelle.”

“Hi Rosanna, oh is this your new puppy?”

“Yes her name is Jenna, maybe she could be friends with Sylvia” Rosie replied stroking Sylvia.

  “That would be fun they could play together when we do.”

       Standing next to their owners Jenna and Sylvia looked at each other, both a little unsure what to think of the other.

 “Er hello my name is Jenna.”

“Hi my name is Sylvia.”

“Our owners are good friends.”

“Yes Rosie comes to play at my house a lot.”

“I do not have any friends besides Rosie.”

“I only know Annabelle and her family because some of the sled dogs do not like me and are mean to me. Mummy had me while she was performing here and Annabelle chose me.”

“I like you, would you like to be friends?”

“I would like that a lot” Sylvia replied with a smile.

      Walking down the street the families chatted, Rosie and Annabelle’s mothers had grown up next door to teach day and were best friends. Their still lived on the same street as Annabelle’s house was four doors down from Rosie’s. Their mothers both participated in the local amateur dramatics society, Rosie and Annabelle had known each other since they were born, both girls were glad their dogs were friends. Gathering along the main street the families joined with others to watch the parade. On the lead float was the town mayor and local officials, next the mining company, the fire service. On the next flout was Miss Nome with the famous sled dog Togo stood next to her, with her maids throwing bags of candy to the children in the crowd. Brass bands marched in the parade with the cast of the local theatre performing on one of the larger floats. Rosie and Annabelle cheered and their fathers lifted them onto their shoulders, even managing to catch some sweets. On the floor Jenna and Sylvia jumped up in attempt to catch sweets with both being successful. As the parade reached the town hall the mayor made a speech to the townsfolk and received a tremendous applause in return.

   Walking through the town Annabelle and Rosie’s families chatted and watched the outside performers, with the town theatre having a stage set up outside while inside normal townsfolk were given chance to perform a song or a scene. Both humans and dogs laughed as they watched the musical comedy, epically at the scene where a shopkeeper took a frying pan to his head from a shelf. Many of the shops had set up stalls and the local Inuit’s sold their crafts to the delight of their friends and workmates.

 “Arthur” came a voice and everyone turned around to see Arthur and Wilfred’s colleague Walter walking towards them with his fiancée Eleanor.

 “Good afternoon Walter” Arthur replied shaking the young man’s hand.

   “Good morning Arthur, Violet you look beautiful as do you Rosanna.”

“You are to kind Walter” Violet replied shaking his hand. “Eleanor you look wonderful.”

“Oh thank you Violet” Eleanor replied, her blonde hair shining in the sunlight. “Rosanna you have grown so much, your puppy is very sweet.”

 “Her name is Jenna” Rosie replied as Eleanor’s eleven year old Evelyn sister walked over with a lavender and white puppy.

  “Good afternoon” Evelyn said.

  “Hi”

“Good afternoon.”

    Next to their owner’s the puppies looked at each other with curiosity with Jenna and Sylvia’s eyes landing on the other puppies white collar and star shaped tag.

  “Good afternoon I am called Dixie.”

“I am called Sylvia.”

“My name is Jenna.”

“Our owners appear to be acquainted” Dixie replied.

“Well your owner’s father is the mayor after all” Jenna replied.

“He is, Nome is such a nice town, I have only been here a couple of weeks, I was a present to Evelyn from the Governor of Alaska when he came to visit.”

“Nome is a nice to place to live you will be happy here” Jenna replied wagging her tail.

“You are a nice dog Dixie would you like to me friends with Jenna and I?” Sylvia asked as Jenna nodded in agreement.

 “Yes please” Dixie replied smiling at her new friends.

    Leaving Eleanor, Evelyn, Dixie and Walter, Rosie and Annabelle’s families walked to the edge of town and the funfair that had been set up. Both girls grinned at each other and Jenna and Sylvia looked on with confusion and curiosity.

  “Pick your first ride girls” said Wilfred drawing his wallet out. “I will pay for this.”

        Rosie and Annabelle exchanged a look and ran over to the carrousel jumping onto two horses.

  “I used to love the carrousel as a child” Violet whispered.

“Then you and Ruby should jump into the carriage behind Rosie and Anna, you could even have the pups on your knees” Wilfred looking at his daughter in law.

“Wilfred I think we are a little old.”

“Nonsense.”

“Come on Violet for old time’s sake, besides you went on with Art the year you married.”

“Alright, thank you Wilfred” Violet replied.

    Picking up Jenna and Sylvia Violet and Ruby walked over to the carrousel and climbed into the carriage behind their daughter’s horses. Sitting on their horses Rosie and Anna smiled widely as the ride started and Jenna and Sylvia wagged their tails with delight. From the sidelines Rosie’s and Anna’s fathers took pictures. When the ride ended Jenna and Sylvia ran to their owners, their tails wagging.

  “That was fun” Jenna whispered as they walked on.

“It was we should do it again” Sylvia replied.

     Walking through the fair the families continued to enjoy themselves. The men took a ride on the largest rollercoaster at the fair and the girls a ride on a smaller one for children. The Ferris Wheel was fun for all, as everyone sat in a carriage and watched the world go by, with Jenna and Sylvia sat in their owner’s knees. As she looked over Nome with awe Jenna’s eyes landed in another carriage, inside sat next to a young boy was a black and white husky a year older than Jenna. Then for some reason the husky looked her way and waved at her, his eyes dancing with mischief and fun. A few rides later, Arthur stood in front of a stall trying to knock down fourteen cans to win Rosie a princess doll, despite his bets efforts he only managed ten and won a large cuddly wolf.

“Thank you Daddy” Rosie said hugging her wolf.

“A wolf how fitting” Violet said glancing at her husband.

“Er yes it is, remember the wolf we had in town in January?”

“How could I forget? It gave me a terrible right when I heard it howl, of all days to be ill in bed.”

 “Well imagine how I felt when I saw Rosie staring at it through the window?”

      Walking through the fair the families ate caribou burgers they passed clowns on stilts; a magician pulled an arctic hare out of a musher’s hat and then made performed a series of card tricks. As the evening arrived they made their way back into town with many other residents, everyone laughing and telling jokes. Sitting on an outside table the families watched a musical version of Cinderella as they ate dinner. As the light began to fade lanterns were lit and fireworks rocket up into the sky. Both Sylvia and Jenna jumped at first but were soon entranced at the sight, their eyes fixed on the beautiful fireworks. As the fireworks erupted a band began to play and everyone took to their feet and began to dance. By the time the festivities ended that night Jenna and Rosie had to be carried home. The fourth had been a success and Jenna knew she had made lifelong friends. 

     Summer Days

     Summer was in full flow, there was little darkness and everything was in bloom with the August sunshine providing welcome warmth. The schools were closed for another month and Nome was full of children and dogs enjoying themselves. In the adventure playground Jenna and Rosie played under Violet’s watchful eyes. Standing at the top of the smaller of the two jungle gyms Jenna and Rosie were sat on tip of the slide. Wagging her tail Jenna let out a bark and pushed herself with her paws,