After classes ended, some students gathered on the field with their pets.
"You may practice for the pet show now," Mr. Freaky announced.
"What if we didn't bring a pet to school?" somebody asked.
"You can help your friends," Mr. Freaky said.
Winnie looked busy with a group of witches, so Ben searched for Mog.
He found his friend working with his two-headed dog.
"Watch this, Ben," Mog called. "Rex-Rex, sit!
Roll over!
Fetch!"
Ben was impressed. "He's smart."
Mog nodded. "I entered Rex-Rex in all three competitions at the show—tricks, obedience, and best pet."
"I think he'll win a prize," Ben said.
Mog obviously didn't need help with his pet.
But maybe Waldo did. "Have you seen Waldo around?"
"He took his owl to the science lab."
"Thanks. See you later."
As Ben opened the door, he heard a nervous shout. "Close the door!"
"Okay!" Ben quickly pushed the door closed. "What's going on?"
Waldo wiped sweat from his forehead. "I don't want Oswald to escape."
Ben saw a birdcage, but there was no sign of a bird.
"Uh . . . I hate to tell you this. But it looks like Oswald already escaped."
"No, he didn't," Waldo said. "Oswald is an invisible owl."
"Oh," Ben said. "How do you know he's still here?"
Waldo reached into his pocket and pulled out a cracker.
He whistled sharply. "Oswald, come!" Waldo tossed the cracker into the air.
Ben felt a rush of air and then—chomp! The cracker disappeared.
Waldo grinned. "He loves those crackers.
But he's not very good at obeying my commands."
He held up another cracker, whistling twice this time.
Nothing happened for a few seconds.
Then Ben heard a flutter of wings.
"Gotcha!" Waldo cried.
He snatched the invisible bird and whistled again.
With a puff of smoke, Oswald appeared.
"Awesome!" Ben said.
But Waldo was frowning.
"When I whistle, he's supposed to turn visible immediately.
If I can't get him to follow my commands, we're not going to do well at the show."
"Do you want help training him?" Ben asked.
"Sure," Waldo said. "I want Oswald to come whenever I whistle once—no exceptions.
And he should turn visible when I whistle twice."
"Got it," Ben said.
"Oswald is pretty stubborn," Waldo added.
"Plus, he likes to chase small animals and carry them off."
Ben gulped, thinking about all the pets he'd seen yesterday at the pet show.
Most of them, like Winnie's kitten and Mrs. Hubbletree's gecko, were pretty small animals.
"Let's get started," he said.
Ben and Waldo spent the next hour training the owl.
After that, it was time to go to the gym for the pet show.
"I'll meet you in the gym in a few minutes," Ben said to Waldo near the school's main entrance.
"My mom is dropping off Sid soon. Good luck with Oswald."
"Thanks." Waldo looked nervous. "I'll need it."
Ben reached into his backpack for his volunteer badge.
He slipped it over his head and then checked his schedule to see what he had to do first.
A second later his mother and Sid approached.
Sid was wearing a volunteer badge too.
"Mom just signed me up as a junior volunteer!" Sid said.
"The office ogre said I can help you."
"Great," Ben muttered.
His mom gave them each a quick hug.
"Remember, Ben, if Sid gets itchy or starts sneezing, call me."
Ben nodded. He and Sid waved as their mom hurried outside.
Then Ben spun to look at Sid. "Do you already have green spots on your hand?"
Sid looked sheepish. "Yes. I petted a cute dog in the hallway."
"I guess we're not getting a dog," Ben said.
Sid shrugged. "Mom hates dogs anyway."
"Come on," Ben said.
"We have to feed some reptiles first."
He led Sid to an area where some reptile tanks were set up.
There were lizards and snakes of different sizes and colors.
Ben spotted Mrs. Hubbletree's terrarium.
Her rainbow gecko, Bowie, sat on a small branch inside it.
Sid was staring at some snakes. "Ugh! I hate snakes."
He backed away as a snake hissed.
"I'll feed the snakes," Ben said.
"You can feed the lizards.
If you have any problems with spots or sneezing, let me know."
By the time they were finished with the job, green spots dotted Sid's arms and legs.
"Rats!" Sid said.
"Yeah," Ben said. "You're covered with spots."
"No." Sid shook his head.
"I said 'rats' because I wanted to check out the rodents next.
Maybe I'm not allergic to them."
"Okay." Ben nodded and checked the time.
"We might see some rodents at the pet parade.
It starts on the stage in a few minutes."