details of the team’s appearances that week. The day passed peacefully for all and all were grateful for the rest.

    The on the second day of their visit everyone was up bright and early, as they would be appearing at in a parade that would line the route to the city hall. Walking out of the hotel the team were met by photographers keen to grab a picture. The humans waved and Rosie gripped onto Jenna’s bandanna as the men towered over her. “Back boys let them through!” yelled a couple of policemen.

    Swiftly the reports backed away allowing the team to board an open top bus. The bus was decked out in blue, white and silver ribbons. Walking upstairs the group saw for the first time the crowds that had gathered on the pavements and the banners with the names of the dogs and humans strung between lampposts. With a rumble of the engine the bus set off through along the route. People cheered, throwing flowers as the bus passed by, calling out the names of the dogs and Gunner.

“Wow all this for us,” Balto muttered looking at the vast crowds.

“All this for you Balto,” Nikki replied grinning. “You are the hero here.”

“I led you home, you are heroes too.”

“We got the medicine home but we were in trouble until you arrived, you are the true hero,” Nikki said while the other dogs nodded.

 “You deserve this all of you for what you did,” Jenna said looking at her friends.

“It’s overwhelming though,” Balto replied as the team looked around them.

          Arriving at the city hall the team was met by a crowd of hundreds who had gathered to hear the speeches. Disembarking from the bus they walked up the steps on a rich red carpet up. Reaching the top their paws and hands were shock by city officials and prominent citizens, while the watching crowd cheered.

 “Welcome one and all, today we are gathered to celebrate an extraordinary act of bravery and courage against all the odds. Balto, a dog who had never led the team, managed to guide them home and save the lives of Nome’s children,” Mayor Hyland said facing the crowd.

“For this extraordinary act of courage we honour him and present him with the freedom of New York City.”

     Balto walked over to Mayor Hyland who placed a gold medal around his neck, a yellow ribbon highlighting his amber eyes. As Mayor Hyland spoke of his deeds Balto felt himself fill with happiness and pride at all he had achieved. One by one his teammates and musher Gunner Kassen received a silver medal from the mayoress as Mayor Hyland spoke.

“So that is their tale, I know invite musher Gunner Kaseen to speak, for he alone saw what happened on the trail.”

     Blushing from ear to ear Gunner Kassen stepped forward awkwardly, stumbling at first with nerves he told the assembled crowed of his experience. Explaining about being knocked unconscious he spoke of the few memories he had after Balto found the team; being pushed onto the sled by the dogs, watching the forest go by, hearing a wolf howl and finally waking up in a warm hospital bed.

“Well that is about all I can tell you. How Balto found the team or why he even looked I cannot explain,” Gunner said looking at Balto. “I will say this, it was a good job he did. Guess you could call it a miracle.”

“A miracle indeed,” Mayor Hyland said clapping. “I know invite Arthur North to tell of the events from the parents view, his daughter Rosanna survived the epidemic.”

     Smiling Arthur calmly walked over to the podium, as a lawyer he often faced crowds so was used to public speaking.

  “I can honestly say that time Rosie was ill was the worst period of mine and my wife’s life. Not knowing for certain that the medicine would make it.”

    Steadily Arthur spoke of how it was for the children’s parents, the constant fear, sleepless night, the argument that erupted out of tension and the constant prayers of a miracle.

“It was a miracle when Balto and the team appeared, for saving Rosie’s life we will be forever grateful,” Arthur said stroking Balto’s head.

  The crowd erupted in a tremendous cheer for the team; cameras flashed capturing the moment for prosperity. Mayor Hyland and city officials posed with the team and humans, all giving their best smiles. Standing next to Jenna, Rosie smiled widely as the reports came forward to speak to her, a quote from an actual victim of the epidemic was sure to make the editor happy was the thinking, especially when the victim was so adorable.

      After the photos had been taken the team went inside the town hall for lunch with the mayor, mayoress, city officials and prominent citizens. Also present were dogs belonging to the above groups of humans. Sitting together Balto and Jenna chatted to a few of the dogs. A poodle called Georgette, a handsome Scottie called Jock, a dignified Dalmatian called Penny and a stunning cocker spaniel called Lady. The dogs told the pair of life in New York, explaining the different districts and how society worked.

“While you are here you simply must stop by Tiffany’s,” Georgette said. “All humans with any breeding shop there, to be seen there is to simply live, my owner owns it.”

“It is one of the nicest places in town,” Penny said smiling. “I go there often with my humans, the assistants are wonderful, the place to see and be seen.”

“I think we have set places to be this week so I am not sure if we will be able to,” Jenna replied sweetly. “It does sound a nice place.”

“It certainly is, but it is not a must see place, it is only shopping after all,” Jock replied rolling his eyes. “I would try to visit The Statue of Liberty, therein lays the heart of America.”

“I hope we do,” Balto replied with a grin. “I know Rosie wants to visit the statue.”

“She has heard so many stories about the city from her uncle Alfred over the years,” Jenna replied.

“Such a sweet child,” Penny replied kindly. “You will have a fabulous time this week.”

“Most certainly you are dogs of class, the city is at your paws Balto for your heroic actions,” Jock said proudly.

  Tour of the town

   On the fourth day of their arrival, dogs and humans awoke early as they had a busy day ahead of them. The previous day they had paid a visit to Tiffany’s where they had been treated like film stars. Georgette had personally shown them around, including the famous Tiffany Diamond.      

    Sitting down for breakfast, dogs chatted over their food, discussing the places they would visit that day. At the table Rosie was busy putting peanut butter on a beagle, while Arthur read the morning paper as he ate a plate of pancakes

“What is so interesting in the paper Art?” Violet asked placing a knife handle between the pages.

“Oh Dowager Empress Maria is visiting President Coolidge as part of a visit to the United States. According to the paper she will attend a ball at the White House and speak at a couple of Ivy League colleges,” Arthur replied smiling.

“Oh I hope the visit goes well,” Violet replied, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

“According to the paper she will give a lecture on the Russian Royal family and the impact of conflict. In her interview she has spoken about her eagerness to use her experience for something positive but as usual the press has dragged up her granddaughter.”[6]

“Those people!” Violet snapped shaking her head. “Why cannot they leave the subject alone, the poor woman has suffered enough without them asking questions?”

 “They like a story, missing princess presumed dead always sells papers,” Arthur replied rolling his eyes and putting the paper away.

             Leaving the breakfast room a short time later dogs and human climbed into a pair of cars and set off through the busy streets. Horns beeped, engines growled and driver yelled at each other in the morning traffic. On the pavements pedestrians hurried along, smart business men in suits, labours in hard boots. Spanish, English, Italian, Dutch and a dozen other languages could be heard as people went about their morning. As they approached the Brooklyn Bridge the traffic increased. Near the bridge a crowd had gathered to meet the dogs as it was well known they would be walking across the bridge.

   The cars stopped, dogs and humans got out, greeted by a cheer from the waiting crowds and a wide smile from Mayor Hyland.

“Impressive isn’t it?” Mayor Hyland said seeing the look of awe on Rosie’s face.

“I have never seen a bridge so big,” Rosie replied grinning.

“Then you will enjoy walking over it,” Mayor Hyland replied.

    With the sun shining brightly above them, dogs and humans walked steadily onto the Brooklyn Bridge, mingling easily with the crowds. Men and woman passed on their way to work, with many children and their parents stopping to stroke the dogs and have their picture taken. A crowd gathered around Gunner for an autograph, asking questions about life in Alaska. Arthur and Violet received their share of attention as adults were interested to hear how the epidemic affected