Rocky (5 page)

There were all sorts of animals in the competition. Children brought cats, dogs, lizards, frogs, stick insects, snakes and even a caterpillar.

Jane and Ruby wandered around looking at all the pets.

“Well? Where are you going to put your stone?” asked Jane. “It's a bit hard to find the right place for such a
fascinating
and
exciting
animal, isn't it?”

Ruby smiled in a superior way. “Don't worry,” she said, carrying her box further along past the fluffiest bunnies and the prettiest puppies.

“How about entering it in this category?” asked Jane, pointing at the label:
BEST BEHAVED PET.
“I mean, it is well behaved, isn't it?”

“No, I'm putting it here,” said Ruby.

And she put the box on a table with the label:
MOST UNUSUAL PET.

Lots of people came and stared at the mysterious Monster from Planet Droppablock. The rock sat very still and looked very unusual. When the judge looked in through the tiny window, she gasped in surprise. She put on her glasses and peered at it again and grinned. The rock smiled back.

It won first prize.

“It's a rare and fabulous beast,” laughed the judge. “I've never seen such an unusual and well-behaved monster from such a faraway planet. Well done!”
When the judge had passed on to consider the next group of pets, Jane said, “That's not fair! You always get your way, Ruby. It's not fair!”

“Why?” asked Ruby.

“Well, it's not even a real pet. You shouldn't even have a pet until you're eight!”

“It is a pet if I cuddle it and keep it clean. I look after it and take it to bed with me.

It keeps me company and it is my best friend so then it
is
my pet.”

“Ooooh!”Jane was so furious, she grabbed the Mysterious Monster from Planet Droppablock's box and pulled it open. She yanked out the rock and held it up.

“Look, it's just a stone, it's not a monster at all – it isn't even alive––”

She stopped and stared into the nest. There were five pebbles nestling in the moss – three smooth and two knobbly.

“What are those?”

“Didn't I tell you it had babies?” asked Ruby quietly. “I must have forgotten.”

Jane dropped the rock. “Babies?”

“Oh, mind Rocky! Yes . . . babies.” Ruby popped her prizewinning rock back in the box and closed the lid.

“Oh, it's just not fair!” Jane would have burst into angry tears, but she didn't because the judge was just about to look at the kittens. “Oh, Ruby!” was all she said.

Jane and Ruby crept up behind the judge as she strolled up and down beside the table, peering at the kittens in the cages.

“Kitty looks perfect!” whispered Jane.

“I'm sure she'll win,” Ruby whispered back. “She is the most cuddly kitten in the world,” she added kindly.