Ben worked as fast as he could in the bunny rabbits' area.
Just as he finished sweeping, the gym went quiet.
Miss Bungle was making an announcement.
"Our pet tricks competition will start in five minutes," she said.
"Pets and trainers, please line up now.
Everyone else, please take a seat in the viewing area."
Ben hurried toward the stage.
He had to find Waldo and Sid, but he didn't want to miss Winnie and Inky's performance.
Luckily, Winnie was first in line.
Clutching Inky, she flashed Ben a nervous smile.
Then she headed for the stage, where three judges sat at a long table.
"Tell us about your pet," the first judge said.
"Well . . . " Winnie smiled, petting Inky.
"I've been training her ever since I got her for my birthday.
She's still young, but she's learned a lot of cool tricks."
She put the kitten down.
"Okay, Inky. Let's show everyone what you can do."
Winnie started with a few simple tricks, like having Inky sit and stay.
Then, to Ben's surprise, Winnie showed the judges how Inky could stand and walk on her hind legs.
"Wow!" Ben clapped hard, along with the rest of the crowd.
Winnie blushed and took a bow.
"I've saved her best trick for last," she said.
"Here, Inky." Winnie patted her left shoulder, and Inky instantly leaped up to sit there.
Then Winnie got on her broom and flew all around the gym.
Everyone clapped again.
"Winnie is super talented!" Francis said.
"I've never seen a cat do tricks before."
"Me neither!" a ghoul agreed.
"My cat always does the opposite of what I say."
Winnie landed, took another bow, and then hurried off the stage.
Miss Bungle returned to the microphone.
"Thank you, Winnie," she said.
"That was wonderful!
Our next contestant, Pixel, has a pet pig."
Ben enjoyed watching Priscilla the pig perform.
The pink pig could sit, wave—even fetch objects.
As the audience clapped, Priscilla and Pixel took a bow.
Next it was Mog's turn.
"Everyone, please give a warm welcome to Mog and his dog, Rex-Rex!"
Mog dashed onstage as Winnie sat next to Ben.
"That was awesome!" Ben said.
"I know." Winnie smiled. "Inky was so great!"
"Mog and Rex-Rex are going to do well too," Ben said.
"Mog has been working hard with him."
Onstage, Mog was working with Rex-Rex.
"Now play dead!"
Rex-Rex stood on his hind legs, clutched at his chest, and then fell over backward.
Everyone laughed.
Sid suddenly dropped down beside Ben.
"How's the hunt going?" Ben asked.
"Any luck?"
"Hunt for what?" Winnie asked.
Ben quickly explained about the missing owl.
"Wow, Oswald can make himself invisible?" Winnie said.
"That's an awesome trick!"
"It's more like a bad habit," Ben muttered.
"Waldo's still looking for Oswald," Sid said,
"but I got tired. Plus, I wanted to watch the show."
Inky had been squirming in Winnie's arms.
Spotting Sid, she jumped into his lap.
Sid laughed. "She didn't like me when she was living with us!
Now I'm her best friend."
Winnie smiled. "Cats are mysterious. That's why I like them."
Sid patted Inky's head. "We could get a cat, Ben."
"No, we can't," Ben said as Inky hissed at him.
"Cats usually hate ghosts."
"Oh!" Winnie pointed at Sid's arm.
"It looks like you are allergic to Inky, Sid."
"What?" Sid sat up to look.
And as he did, Inky sprang into the air—and hovered there!
Winnie stared up at the cat and blinked. "Inky?"
"Come down, Inky!" Sid said.
Other audience members noticed the kitten.
"Look!" Mayor Hubbletree cried. "That kitten can fly!"
"Amazing trick!" a fish monster said.
"It's not a trick!" Winnie cried. "Inky can't fly!"
Ben shot upward, trying to grab the kitten.
But Inky zoomed away.
"Inky!" Winnie cried, hopping onto her broom again.
Everyone in the audience oohed and aahed.
"They think this is part of the pet tricks show!" Ben realized.
He noticed Sid staring at his green spots.
"Are you okay, Sid?"
"Yes." Sid nodded.
"The spots are fading, but I can't understand why I got them."
Ben nodded. It did seem weird since Sid had never been allergic to Inky before.
Maybe—"Yikes!" Ben whistled loudly twice.
Poof! Oswald appeared in midair, clutching Winnie's kitten in his talons.
"Ooh!" The audience stared in amazement.
Winnie zoomed after the owl, but she couldn't keep up with his swoops and dives.
She shot back to Ben.
"Ben! Do something! That owl is going to eat Inky!"