"Wow!" Ben's eyes went wide as he floated into the gym.
Tomorrow was the first day of the Monster Academy pet show, and several monsters were already setting up exhibits.
He went over to look at a fish tank.
"Is that a flying shark?" he asked a fish monster.
A tiny shark leaped out of the tank and snapped at him.
"Yikes!" Ben jumped back.
"Stay away from that display!" the fish monster snapped.
"The show doesn't officially start until tomorrow.
Can't you see that I'm still setting up?"
"Sorry," Ben said.
"I'm looking for Miss Bungle so I can sign up to volunteer.
Do you know where she is?"
"I think she's at the welcome booth over there."
The fish monster pointed at a spot across the gym.
"Thank you." Ben headed off.
As he floated along, he saw a two-headed monster peering nervously at a piranha-keet.
Maybe she'd never seen one before.
Ben grinned. "She'll see lots more pets when the show officially opens," he thought.
"So will Mayor Hubbletree when he comes to the show.
That should be interesting!"
Ben had always liked piranha-keets, but his family didn't have any pets.
His mother was allergic to dogs, and cats didn't like ghosts.
So she said it was best for their family to have no pets at all.
But Ben was hoping that would change this weekend.
Maybe at the Monster Academy pet show, he could finally find a pet that his mother would like.
As he hurried past a training ring, he finally spotted Miss Bungle.
She stood at the welcome booth, talking with Mayor Hubbletree and his wife.
Ben greeted them.
"I wanted to sign up to volunteer at the pet show, Miss Bungle.
Do you still need volunteers?"
"Yes, thank you, Ben!" Miss Bungle started gathering up some things for him.
"That will be great. Here's a volunteer badge and a schedule of your duties."
Ben took the bag from her. "Thanks. I think the pet show is going to be a lot of fun."
"Me too," Miss Bungle said.
But Mayor Hubbletree was rubbing his chin, looking worried as a monster went by with a vampire cat.
"I hope these monster pets are well trained, Miss Bungle.
Are you sure a monster pet show is a good idea?"
"It's a wonderful idea, honey!" Mrs. Hubbletree patted his arm.
"Monsters love animals just as much as people do.
Besides, what could go wrong?"
"Everything!" the mayor said.
Ben could tell that he had more to say, but Mrs. Hubbletree shushed him with a finger on her lips.
"Stop worrying," she said in a soothing voice.
"It will be fine." She turned to Ben and changed the subject.
"I love the pet shop in Monsterville that Mr. Freaky recommended to me.
I got my rainbow gecko there." She held up a terrarium with a colorful gecko inside.
"If I hadn't gotten Bowie, I wouldn't have gotten invited to this wonderful monster pet show.
It's going to be such a fabulous weekend!"
Ben peered into the terrarium.
He could see the gecko hiding under a little bridge.
"That's a cool-looking lizard, Mrs. Hubbletree."
The mayor's wife beamed. "Rainbow geckos are very valuable.
And they're smart," she added.
"I registered Bowie for all three competitions at the show—tricks, obedience, and best pet."
"Good luck," Ben said with a smile.
He couldn't imagine how a gecko could compete in a trick or obedience contest, but he'd never been to a pet show before.
"Maybe Bowie will win some prizes."
She beamed again. "I hope so!"
Just then Winnie spotted him and waved him over.
"Hey, Ben!" She was holding her black kitten, Inky.
"Hi, Winnie!" Ben smiled.
"What are you doing here? The real show doesn't start until tomorrow."
"Inky and I are checking out the gym so she's not scared tomorrow," Winnie said.
"I've been training her—I think I'm going to enter her in the tricks competition."
"Awesome!" Ben said. He tried to pet the kitten, but as usual, Inky hissed at him.
Winnie giggled. "Inky still doesn't like you."
Ben sighed. "Cats don't like ghosts, remember?"
Winnie hugged Inky.
"There will be lots of different kinds of pets at the show.
Maybe you can find one for your family while you're here."
"I was thinking the same thing," Ben said.
"There's just one huge problem—my mom."
"You mean because she's allergic to dogs?" Winnie asked.
"Yeah, there's that problem," Ben replied.
"But the fact is, she doesn't really like any pets."