Chasing Dreams: A Tale of Dreaming Big

Chapter five

In the days leading up to Chloe and me preparing for Pup Star, our house was filled with a constant stream of visitors, all buzzing with excitement and energy. Among these visitors was an overly assertive woman who seemed to believe I had been dishonest about significant portions of my application. Her interruptions and pointed questions made me uneasy. Shortly after her departure, another individual arrived, though his name escapes me now. He was assigned to discuss various security measures that would be in place during the competition. Following him was a man who took my measurements for a new wardrobe, which left me feeling uncertain. I had mixed feelings about wearing dresses, but I was also eager for a change in my appearance, especially with the looming presence of photographers everywhere.

We received two phone calls from a woman whose cheerful and businesslike tone stood out. She wanted to ensure that we had everything we needed as we prepared for the competition. Her upbeat attitude was a stark contrast to some of the other encounters we had experienced.

The final visitor arrived on a Wednesday afternoon, just two days before Chloe and I were set to leave. This man was responsible for explaining all of the official rules that we would need to follow during the contest. He had a very slender build and greasy brown hair that seemed to stick out in different directions.

"Let's go to the family room," Chloe suggested, her voice calm and inviting.

"That sounds good," he replied, nodding in agreement.

We settled into the family room together, with me plopping down onto the couch while Chloe took a seat right beside me.

"I have your physical examination results from your doctor," he said, his voice steady. "There isn't much to worry about; you both appear to be in excellent health. Everything checks out, including you, Chloe." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Now, we need to go over the rules with you both. They are very straightforward, and I don't think you'll have a hard time following them. If you have any questions as we go along, don't hesitate to ask."

He looked up from the stack of paperwork he had brought and made direct eye contact with me.

"I will," I replied with a hint of determination.

"You both cannot leave the venue unless you have explicit permission," he stated firmly.

"Are they strict about getting permission to leave?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"No, they aren't too strict. It's mainly for safety reasons. Usually, they will allow you to go where you want," he explained.

"While it's not expected for you to get along with the other 50 contestants, you are not allowed to fight with them or sabotage their chances. If you are found putting hands on another contestant, causing them distress, stealing from them, or doing anything that could change the judges' opinions or affect the media positively or negatively, it won't be taken lightly. You also cannot steal from or contact other competitors, including those in your same category. If you are caught doing any of these things, there will be serious consequences. Do you understand?"

"I understand," I assured him, feeling the weight of the rules.

"Every month, there will be a competition that will test different skills that you must show. You may need to work with the other contestants. At any point during the rounds, you could risk disqualification," he continued.

The man then opened his folder and pulled out a couple of tickets along with my photo.

"Here are your tickets from Long Beach to Los Angeles, California," he said, handing them over to me.

Chloe took the tickets with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.

"And if you make it all the way to the end, you could become a significant social media star. One more thing, please sign this form indicating that you have heard and understood all the official rules," he added, pushing the papers toward me.

After I signed the form, the man collected his paperwork and stood up to leave, thanking us for our time as he exited the house.