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grateful to Maria for helping her out of a jam. Maria was the best friend she could ever have.
    She watched Maria pin up Becky’s letter. Then the two of them linked arms and headed back to their seats, whispering about the plan they’d made for Rocky’s future.
    It was so obvious. The day before, Lizzie had realized that Rocky would be perfect for Judge Thayer and his wife, Charlotte. They’d had to give up Cocoa, the chocolate Lab, because she just had too much energy for them to deal with. But, as Lizzie had told Maria, that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a dog at all. And what better dog than Rocky, who hardly needed any exercise? Plus, he was such a clown. He would keep them laughing every day. It was a perfect match.
    Except for one thing — the thing Lizzie had remembered that morning, as she was brushing her teeth.
    “All we have to do is prove to Mrs. Thayer that she could love a bulldog,” Lizzie told Maria now. “Judge Thayer said his wife wouldn’t even consider a dog that wasn’t a Lab.”
    “But who wouldn’t fall in love with Rocky right away?” Maria asked.
    “Exactly,” said Lizzie. “That’s why we’re going to make sure that Rocky and Charlotte Thayer meet each other — today.”
     
    Later that afternoon, when Maria and Lizzie finished walking all their other clients’ dogs, they stopped at Lizzie’s house to pick up Rocky. Mom handed Lizzie a big brown envelope. “Judge Thayer is expecting you,” she said.
    Lizzie couldn’t wait to get to the judge’s house. She tried to hurry Rocky along, but it was no use. He trundled along in his usual poky way, sniffing at everything and stopping once in a while for a happy, squirming roll in the grass.
    It got even worse when they picked up Ginger. Now they had two slowpoke dogs on their hands. Lizzie was so impatient that she began hopping from foot to foot as she waited for the dogs to sniff. “Take it easy,” Maria told Lizzie. “We’ll get there.”
    Finally, they did. Lizzie double-checked the house number. “This is it,” she announced. The judge lived in a small light-blue house, nothing fancy. Lizzie had expected a judge to live in something a little more … important. But it was a cute house, and there was a fenced-in yard, which was always a good thing for dog owners, and a pretty little garden all blooming with yellow and purple flowers.
    Lizzie opened the front gate, and she and Maria — and Rocky and Ginger — walked up to the porch. “Sit, Rocky,” said Lizzie, as she rang the bell. She wanted him on his best behavior.
    Judge Thayer smiled when he opened the door. “Well, well, well,” he said. “Hello, Lizzie.”
    “Hi,” said Lizzie. “This is my best friend, Maria.”
    Judge Thayer reached down to shake Maria’s hand. He was so formal! Even in the middle of the afternoon, he wore a suit and tie and a crisp white shirt. Then he bent over to pet Rocky. “And I believe this charming young man and I have already met,” he said. “Hello there, Rocky.”
    Rocky squirmed and snorted happily.
    “And this is Ginger,” Maria said.
    “A pleasure to meet you, young lady,” said the judge, shaking Ginger’s paw. Ginger looked a little confused, but she wagged her tail.
    When he straightened up, Lizzie handed Judge Thayer the envelope. “Here’s the interview,” she said. “Mom says you have two days to look it over. Then she has to turn it in.”
    “I’m sure it will be just fine,” said the judge. “Your mother is a talented journalist.” He smiled at Lizzie. “Thank you for bringing it over.”
    He looked as if he were ready to say good-bye.
    “Um, is your wife home?” Lizzie blurted out. She wasn’t sure how else to ask.
    Judge Thayer shook his head. “Charlotte is off at the grocery store,” he said. “I know she’ll be sorry to have missed you.”
    Not as sorry as Lizzie was. Lizzie looked down at Rocky. If only Charlotte Thayer could meet him! “I was kind of hoping …” she began.