Badger the Mystical Mutt and the Barking Boogie by Lyn McNicol Page B

put the wah-wah in Chihuahua.”
    â€œWhatever! I’ve got a bigger problem than the smell right now,” exclaimed Cheryl. “They’ve closed the lane!”
    â€œThe Pong Police need to get to the bottom of the mystery smell. Except I think we both know why the lane smells,” said Badger, raising his other eyebrow in the direction of Cheryl’s tiny bottom.
    â€œBut now I’ve got nowhere to practise,” sighed Cheryl.
    â€œPractise what?” asked Badger, still dusting off the dirt from his coat.
    â€œMy dancing, of course! I want to enter the Hotpaws Barking Boogie . But now I’ve got nowhere to practise, and no dancing partner.”
    â€œYou dance? Are you any good?” asked Badger, somewhat amused.
    â€œGood? Am I any good? I am the very best. My cha-cha is world famous,” she replied, sashaying across the garden. “But the rules for the Barking Boogie say I cannot enter without a partner,” she added sadly.
    â€œYou’re certainly full of beans, Cheryl. But maybe that’s exactly the problem!” Badger smiled.
    â€œThey talk of you everywhere, Badger. You are the Mystical Mutt, and you can fix things with your magic. Can you open the lane again so I can practise my groove? Maybe you can help me find a dancing partner?”
    â€œOkay, I will do what I can to help, Cheryl. But why are you after the gang? It did make me chuckle, to see them being chased for a change.”
    â€œIt’s Dodgy Dave. I’ve seen him …” she sighed.
    â€œSeen him what?”

    â€œAt night, under the street spotlight, I’ve seen him dance a slow paw-shuffle. He’s my Sugar Paws; my hero. He has put the jam in my jamalamadingdog.” Cheryl clasped her paws to her tiny chest.
    â€œGoodness! Dodgy Dave? A dancer? Isn’t he a tearaway? Who knew he had some rhythm in his bones instead of four left paws?”
    â€œHe knows about the Barking Boogie too. Anton Du Bark will be the judge. But if the lane is closed, the Barking Boogie can’t go ahead anyway and Dodgy Dave won’t dance.”
    â€œHow do you know he won’t dance?” asked Badger
    â€œEvery time I try to speak to him, he runs away.”
    Cheryl looked up at him with her big, innocent eyes. Badger thought for a moment, careful not to hurt Cheryl’s feelings anymore by telling her just how badly she stank.
    â€œMaybe we need to get you smelling better, and then Dodgy Dave will dance with you!”
    â€œDo I really smell so bad, Badger? The gang keep telling me I stink.” Cheryl’s bottom vibrated with another long, loud prffffft . The smell clung to her.
    Badger had to make Cheryl believe the truth about her smelliness, otherwise there was no hope for her dancing dreams with Dodgy Dave.
    â€œCheryl, I do believe that you’re the reason for the lane’s closure. So that’s good news in a way, because if we can make you fragrant, the lane will open again and Dodgy Dave might dance with you.”
    Cheryl lowered her head and looked up at Badger sadly, her eyes brimming with tears.
    â€œI don’t know why I smell so bad, Badger. Can you do a spell to make the smell disappear?”
    â€œOh, Cheryl. I can do amazing magic. I can levitate toast. I can fly. I can even time travel. But I don’t know about making your smell go away. I’ve been trying my smell-removing spell, but you saw for yourself … it doesn’t seem to be working.”
    Cheryl dropped her shoulders and sighed. “Never mind, Badger. Thank you for trying. I’ll see you another time,”
    Cheryl clicked her heels, turned and tip-toed softly back to the bottom of the lane, her head hung low. Over her shoulder, she said:
    â€œOne day, you will see me dance, Badger, and you will be enchanted!”
    â€œI know, wee one, I know,” said Badger gently.
    As Cheryl stepped through the crack in the fence, she found the lane deserted.