Pet School: The Biggest and The Boldest

Chapter 7: States vs States

Week 3 Tuesday
Bailey's POV
"Rise and shine!" Arthur said joyfully. He opened up the curtains to let as much light in as he could. Last night, Arthur, Honey, Paisley and I went on a flight to Sydney. There were other selected dogs and cats from other schools in our state on the plane as well. I even saw Chief, apparently he's captain of the swim team at St.Creeks? Honestly, couldn't really imagine that. I sat with Arthur on the plane and it was good fun. Us four are sharing a room because we're in the same school. All the states and territories have pet schools apparently so there's interstate cats and dogs as well. We had Mr Gareth with us as well, he's not in our room though. Miss Abby's is being a substitute for swimming class just for today. "Is it breakfast yet?" I asked. Today we even get to go downstairs to have a yummy breakfast at the hotel's restaurant. I hope it's a buffet breakfast. "Should be, soon." Honey said. Paisley got up and read the sheet we were giving before entering. "Breakfast will be severed at 7:30. It's currently 7:25. In 5 minutes." Paisley said. "Should we start making our way down?" Arthur asked. We said yes and started to head down. The restaurant is on ground floor. We took the elevator and went down. We weren't the only ones there, there were others but it's now 7:27. I was looking around and nothing looked like a buffet, sad. 7:29. Almost there. "Ding!" 7:30!! The line started to move. Lucky we got here early, there was way more animals here than I thought there'd be. Little Red had been waiting since 7:15 apparently! We got our breakfast and sat down at a table together that had couches! The breakfast was yummy French toast with whipped cream and juicy strawberries and tangy blueberries. A gourmet meal! Yum! We started eating immediately. It was so good. "This is the best French toast I've ever had and I've never had French toast!" Honey said. "Drinks are open!" Someone called out. "I can go get the drinks. What does everyone want?" Paisley volunteered. "Apple juice please!" "I'll have orange juice." "And you, Honey?" "Just some milk, thanks paisley!" Paisley went and got the drinks for us. She got herself a water. I got orange juice, it was fresh and had a lot of flavor. Once most of us had finished, some teacher got up and told everyone something. "Alright everyone. How this is all going to work, we'll be working in halves. Cats are up first. Meanwhile the dogs can focus in the gym, run around outside, play ball games whatever. After lunch it'll be the dogs turn and cats will get the opportunity to go to the gym, run around and everything else I just mentioned. Cats are to be ready, changed into swim gear and at the pool by 8:30." A table of cats and dogs could only leave once everyone had finished and given their dishes to the workers. So that's exactly what we did. We went via the elevator to our room. Arthur and I got our swim bags out. "Paisley what are you doing? I'm going to the gym." Honey asked her. "I might do some laps outside." Paisley said. At the hotel we don't have to wear uniforms so I don't have get out of or changed into anything other than my swim stuff. Arthur and I were pretty much ready to go, Honey and Paisley had already gone down. My phone beeped.

Atlas: wishing you the best of luck!
Elton: have fun!
Stewart: do your best!
Zane: YOU CAN DO IT BAILEY. THE WHOLE DSP IS DEPENDING ON YOU. SHOW THEM YOUR INNER STRENGTHS.

Haha my group chat.

Bailey: thanks guys! About to go down to the pool!
Atlas: cool! Tell us your results when you get them!
Bailey: sure will! See ya guys!

My phone buzzed again.

Gypsy: Good luck Bailey! We're all rooting for you!
Bailey: thanks Gypsy, I'll tell you all about it.

I finally put my phone down and went downstairs with Arthur. "You forgot to get you towel." He pointed out to me. Oh shoot I almost forgot! I got my towel and went down with him. "Can't believe there's no change rooms down there!" Arthur said unimpressed. There's no change rooms? "Where do we get changed then?" I ask. "Where we just got changed! Our rooms! We have to walk through the hotel at the end, wet to get to our room." Seriously? Dang, you'd think a nice hotel like this would have change rooms in their pool. Arthur and I went down to the pool. The time was 8:25, we had got there at a decent time. Everyone had pretty much arrived at 8:30. "Alright everyone, how this all is going to work is, there will be 2 cats and 2 dogs selected out of everyone here today. All of you here are meant to be the best cat swimmers in your school. Unlike other sports in your program, the swim team is not a choice, it is based on skill. We will get out 4 schools at a time to do swimming. At the end of the day, we will have calculated everyone's average time and will reveal which two cats will be going forward in the internationals that are next week." It felt like so much pressure. Everyone at DSP is counting on Arthur and I. I don't know everyone's skills here. Little Red has a powerful swim team as well that's for sure. But any other school here could be even better. "First up. DSP, Little Red, St.Creeks and KPS. Please make your way into the lanes." "That's us." I said. We both looked nervous. We went into lane 1 and 2. Hopefully we can show everyone how good we really are.