As Ben headed with Sid toward the stage, he spotted Winnie.
She was sitting in a quiet corner, practicing tricks with Inky.
The kitten hissed at Ben, but she mewed softly at Sid.
"That's weird," Ben murmured.
Sid looked surprised too as he started petting the black cat.
"Be careful, Sid," Ben said.
"She likes me now," Sid said.
"And I'm not allergic to cats, remember?"
Winnie went off to join the parade, while Ben and Sid sat down.
A line of pets began walking across the stage and around the gym.
There were dogs and cats, along with Cleo's jackal, Deb's piranha-keet, and Waldo's owl.
Sid was grinning at a small dragon sitting on a skeleton's shoulder. "What a cool pet!"
The dragon suddenly leaped into the air.
Everyone oohed and aahed as it shot small puffs of flame.
"It's awesome!" Ben agreed as the creature dipped closer, brushing their heads.
"Maybe we can get a pet dragon, Sid."
But a second later, Sid groaned.
He held up his hands, where more green spots had sprouted.
Ben sighed.
He and Sid were never going to find the right animal.
"It's okay," he said, trying to sound hopeful.
"We can keep trying. Maybe—"
"Watch out!" A mummy pointed to Sid and shouted, "That ghost has monster pox!"
"Monster pox!" Other monsters started screaming and pointing. "Monster pox!"
"It's just an allergy!" Ben tried to explain.
But there was so much screaming that nobody heard him.
Suddenly—schwoop! The skeleton's dragon shot up into the air.
"Look out!" Ben shouted.
The dragon was flying to the wall, breathing angry flames.
A few banners caught fire, and pets were barking and screeching.
Mayor Hubbletree looked upset.
"I knew this was a bad idea!" he said.
Miss Bungle rushed to the microphone on the stage.
"Everyone, please remain calm," she said.
"Mr. Freaky, I'd like to see you immediately."
"I'm right here!" Mr. Freaky called, hurrying toward the stage.
Zoom! Ben ducked as something streaked through the air above his head again.
"Hey! That's Winnie!" Sid shouted.
Ben looked up. Sure enough, Winnie was on her broom, flying after the dragon.
"Great idea, Winnie!" Ben thought.
If she could catch the dragon, everything would calm down.
"Ahh!" Winnie dodged a blast of flame.
A second later she landed, holding the dragon by its neck.
"Whew! Got him!"
By now Mr. Freaky had joined Miss Bungle onstage.
He banged his noses as he bent toward the microphone.
"Everything is totally under control, students!
The dragon has been caught."
"Wrawck!" Deb's piranha-keet squawked loudly.
"Everything is totally under control!"
Ben zipped up to the microphone to make another announcement.
"There is no monster pox!
My brother's green spots are just a harmless allergy!
Please do not panic!"
Mr. Freaky took out his handkerchief and blew his noses.
Mr. Gwarg ran around, using a fire extinguisher to put out the banner fires.
"Whew." Ben floated back to Sid, who was standing with Mrs. Hubbletree.
The mayor's wife nervously clutched her rainbow gecko.
"Ben, are you sure we're safe?" she asked.
Ben nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Hubbletree.
Everything is fine. The dragon is back with its owner."
"Oh, thank goodness!" Mrs. Hubbletree said.
"I was worried about Bowie.
He's very valuable, you know.
He can change to any color.
He can even match patterns!"
Her jaw suddenly dropped open. "Oh my goodness!"
She pointed at Sid's hand, which was covered with spots again.
And now the gecko had them too.
Bowie was mimicking Sid's spots!
Ben groaned.
"It looks like my little brother is allergic to geckos—along with every other pet at this show."
Mrs. Hubbletree stared at her pet in dismay.
"I hope these spots aren't permanent," she murmured.
"I'd better show this to the mayor!"
Ben gulped as Mrs. Hubbletree dashed over to her husband.
"Mayor Hubbletree is going to make a huge deal of this commotion," Ben moaned.
He grabbed Sid's arm. "Come on. Let's sit down and watch the rest of the parade.
Mom is going to pick us up when it's over."
"Can we look at more pets tomorrow?" Sid asked.
"We still didn't find out if I'm allergic to rats."
"Sure," Ben answered.
But inside he was still feeling doubtful.
"Sid had better not get his hopes up," Ben thought.
Finding the right pet for their family felt like an impossible task.