Superstar Watch by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

the wall.
    At last Henry and Josh came back. Josh looked crushed.
    “It’s going to cost about a hundred dollars to fix my bike,” he said. He put his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t have that much!”
    “I wish we could help,” Henry said.
    “Maybe we could raise money with a car wash,” Violet suggested.
    “A bake sale would be better,” Benny said. He and Violet came over to Jim’s front desk. “I love bake sales!” Benny went on. “So many yummy things to eat.”
    “Benny might eat everything at a bake sale before any customers arrived.” Violet laughed, gently teasing her brother.
    “Hold on. I have an even better idea!” Jessie announced. She pointed at a bright green flyer on Jim’s bulletin board. “I know how we can help Josh pay for his bike repairs.”
    Violet read the sign out loud: “Wundermutt Dog Food is looking for a new Wundermutt TV star.”
    Jessie pointed to some small writing at the bottom of the flyer. It read: PRIZE MONEY WILL BE AWARDED.
    “Fame and fortune!” Benny said. “Our dog, Watch, will take the fame,” he told Josh. “And you can have the fortune!”
    Henry leaned in to look at the poster.

    “The auditions are being held today at the Greenfield Mall.” Benny looked confused so Henry explained, “An audition is a try-out. The dogs will do all kinds of tests and the best dog will win.”
    “The flyer says that the auditions begin at two o’clock.” Jessie said. “It’s already one now. We’d better hurry.”
    “Let’s go!” Benny exclaimed. “Watch is so awesome! He’s sure to win! He’ll be a star, just like my favorite TV dog, Ninja! Let’s do it!”
    “Do you think the Wundermutt company would give you a hundred dollars?” Josh asked.
    “We won’t know unless we try,” Henry said. “While Watch auditions, you can borrow my bike for a of couple days to do your paper route.”
    “Thank you so much, Henry.” Josh’s eyes were now much brighter and happier. “I sure hope Watch gets the commercial.”
    “Cross your fingers,” Henry told Josh. “And keep them crossed.”
    “It’ll be hard to deliver papers with my fingers crossed,” Josh said with a laugh. “But I’ll do my best.”
    “Watch will do his best, too,” Benny said.
    “Grandfather, we’re home!” Jessie announced. Then she said to the others, “Violet, please get Watch’s brush. Benny, you are in charge of his leash.”
    Watch came bounding into the room at the sound of Jessie’s voice.
    “Where’s the fire?” Grandfather asked, coming out of his study.
    “Watch is going to be on TV,” Violet said.
    “A big star!” Benny held out his hands to show just how big.
    Then, Benny told Grandfather the whole story. He was so excited he said it all without taking a single breath.
    “Whoa,” Grandfather said, putting out a hand towards Benny. “Slow down. What’s this about Josh Greene crashing in the park?”
    “He’s fine. He wasn’t hurt,” Henry said.
    “We’re going to give him the prize money,” Violet added.
    “Prize money?” Grandfather asked. “What prize money? I thought this was about Watch.”
    Jessie hooked Watch’s leash to his collar. “We can explain on the way to the mall.”
    Grandfather looked puzzled. “The mall?” he asked.
    “Can you please take us there?” Henry asked.
    “You promise you’ll explain on the way?” Grandfather replied.
    Henry nodded. “Every single detail,” he agreed.
    “All right then,” Grandfather said, pulling out his car keys.
    “Are you ready to be a superstar, Watch?” Benny asked.

CHAPTER 2
A Long Line
    “Hold hands, Benny.” Jessie reached out to take his hand in hers. “We have to stick together. This place is really crowded.”
    “It looks like every dog owner in town is at the mall today,” Henry said. In the center courtyard of the mall, there was a long and winding line of people and pets that had shown up for the dog audition.
    “This is like waiting for a