about her wedding” Sylvia said watching the group.

“Oh yes the entire family are helping her with the preparation” Dixie replied. “Wait until you see the dress it is so beautiful.”

 “I can imagine. Come on school will be finishing soon we can meet our girls” Jenna said stretching.

 “Good idea” Dixie replied getting up.

    Walking over to the town school the trio joined the crowd of mothers and grandparents who were waiting to collect their children. As the school bell rang the children raced out of the school, with Jenna, Dixie and Sylvia’s girls running over to them. Kneeling down Rosie and Anna stroked their pets as Hilda and Ruby walked up to them. Setting off together the small group walked home. Splitting up when Ruby and Anna turned into their street Jenna, Rosie and Hilda walked to Hilda’s house as Violet was at work. Reaching the house the three entered to find to the newspaper on the mat.

  “Would you like a drink Rosie?” Hilda asked putting a bowl of water down for Jenna.

“Yes please Grandma” Rosie replied as she put her school bag on a chair.

      Putting the kettle on Hilda opened a packed of ginger biscuits placing them on a china plate. The kettle boiled with a whistle, Hilda made the tea and set it down on the table. Taking a biscuit from the plate Rosie held it out to Jenna.

“Jen paw.”

    At the command Jenna held out her paw to Rosie, receiving the biscuit in return while Hilda watched.

 “You have her well trained.”

“Jenna likes to do it.”

“She appears to like biscuits.”

“She likes to play with a ball more she will play for hours” Rosie replied taking a drink.

“So I have been hearing, breaking windows in the process.”

“Mommy was so mad with Daddy broke the kitchen window” Rosie giggled. “She shouted so loudly that all the neighbours could hear.”

    Sitting on the sofa Rosie drew in her sketch book, a picture of Balto, Jenna and Steel playing on the beach. Rosie was a talented artist for her age with the drawings having a life like quality normally found in the work of older children. Sitting on the sofa next to her Jenna watched as the picture emerged.

 “I hope Balto and Steel come to play tomorrow I cannot wait to show them Rosie’s picture” Jenna through.

   As evening arrived the town’s folk wrapped up their business for the day. Not long after the lawyer’s office shut Arthur arrived at the house.

“Evening Arthur” Hilda said hugging him. “Is your father not with you?”

“Er no he has stayed in town” Arthur replied nervously twiddling his watch.

“Where is he and why might he be there?” Hilda asked raising an eyebrow.

“Well he had a tricky case today. He’s been dealing with a dispute over a will……let’s just say it was heated. He was in a terrible temper afterwards, the air was a very dark shade of blue, and the world dragon springs to mind. Warner took him for a drink to calm him down.”

“Wonderful that is all I need” Hilda replied shaking her head and putting her hands on her hips. “What might I ask were you thinking?  You know what your father is like when he drinks while he is angry. I hope you told that young man not to keep your father out to late or to allow him to drink too much.”

“I did Mother and I warned him about you. Warner said he was going to treat Dad to a huge dinner and then a game of darts. Rosie are you ready to go home?”

“Yes Daddy, bye Grandma.”

“Goodbye Rosie.”

     Walking home Rosie chatted about her day, telling him about her history lesson, the art class and all the gossip. As they reached home they saw a shadow slip down a side ally the end of Balto’s tail vanishing under a cart. Climbing onto Rosie’s bed that night Jenna curled up soon falling fast asleep. In the small hours of the following morning there was a knock and door, up her bedroom both Rosie and Jenna heard the noise. Looking at each other tiptoed to the landing. There standing in the doorway was her Grandpa Wilfred half conscious supported by Warner both facing a very annoyed Arthur and Violet.

  “Sorry for this Art but I didn’t know where else to take him” Warner whispered. “Yours was the closest, your parents live at the other end of town, and God only knows what would have happened.”

 “Alright Warner how did this happen? I warned you, I am glad Rosie is still asleep” Arthur replied gazing at his father’s two black eyes and cut lip, the smell of alcohol wafting from his clothes.

“I only nipped to the gents for moment” Warner began as Rosie and Jenna looked on in wonder.

“Oh Grandpa has been naughty Jenna” Rosie yawned as Wilfred was hauled into the house. “Let’s go back to bed Daddy will not be happy if he finds us.”

   As Wilfred was carried inside and dumped unceremoniously into the sofa Rosie and Jenna tiptoed back to bed, both grinning at each other about what they had seen. Downstairs, Arthur was one the telephone to Hilda, receiving a thorough roasting in the process utterly unaware his supposed sleeping daughter had witnessed the embarrassing episode.      

        Jenna’s journey

   Jenna was sitting on her front porch waiting for Balto and Steel. It was now mid July and summer was in full swing. Looking up Jenna heard a bark and saw Balto and Steel walking down the street both laughing at a joke. Seeing her, the pair wagged their tails, sitting down next to her on the porch.

 “Jenna is everything alright? You look a little down” Balto asked looking at her with concern.

 “Yeh Jenna, why have you called us here?” Steel asked.

 “I have to leave town for a couple of months.”

“WHAT” Balto and Steel gasped looking at one another.

“Arthur has been called to Juneau for work, a case he is involved in is too large to be judged in Nome’s court.”

“That must be serious” Steel said.

“It is. From what I’ve overheard it is fraud.”

“That is serious.”

 “Why do you have to go with him?” Balto asked.

“Arthur will be away for a couple of months, he does not want to be separated from Violet and Rosie for so long. His older brother lives in Juneau and has invited Arthur, Rosie and Violet to stay with him. I have been invited as well, Rosie will be so upset if I was left behind, I have to go.”

“When do you leave?” asked Steel.

“In four days time on a ship called Star of the Arctic, we will be back before winter sets in, October at the latest.”

    The next four days passed in a blink of an eye the news that Jenna was visiting Juneau spread through the town like wildfire. Many of the younger dogs had never been so far and were concerned for Jenna if not a little jealous that she would be having an adventure. On the morning her departure Jenna sat in front of Rosie’s mirror while Rosie fastened a pink leather collar around her neck, shaking her fur with annoyance.

  “Sorry girl but you have to wear this” Rosie said attaching a pink lead to the collar. “It is heavy but you do look very pretty in it.”

   Leaving the house a short time later the family arrived at the port with their bags in the back of a carriage. Jumping out Rosie and Jenna ran over to the boat they would be boarding their eyes shining with the excitement. Hearing a bark behind them they turned around to see Balto walking towards them. Wagging his tail Balto licked Rosie’s cheek and nuzzled Jenna as Arthur walked up to them. Seeing the pup Arthur stopped, gazing at Balto with uncertainty at the sight of the wolf dog with his daughter. Seeing Arthur Balto let out a welcoming bark, his tail wagging slightly.

“Come on girls it is time to board, I was not expecting to see Balto here.”

“He has come to see us off. Bye bye Balto, see you soon” Rosie said patting his head.

     Taking her father’s hand Rosie walked up the gangplank onto the boat, running over to the side of the boat with Jenna. Being joined by Violet and Arthur moments later Rosie and Jenna grinned at each other. As the ship set sail a crowd gathered on the dock, waving at the passengers with relatives and friends calling out their goodbyes. Through the nose came a sudden howl, Rosie and Jenna’s eyes instantly locked on Balto who was running alongside the ship as it sailed out of the port. Seeing him many of the passengers smiled and called out to him, many cheering him on, amused at the sight of a dog racing a boat.

  “I am so excited this is fun” Rosie said as they left Nome behind.

“I am glad that you are enjoying” Arthur replied hugging his daughter. “Young Balto certainly caused a stir.”

“He was saying goodbye to us and he loves to run, it was fun for him.”

“I believe that he did look happy” Violet said as she appeared next to him. “Jenna appears happy.”

 “It is an adventure for her” Rosie replied hugging her friend.

“The start of a wonderful adventure” Violet replied as they walked to their