Charo got to the place where he was supposed to meet Candy.
Aunt Charlotte's big limousine was parked there.
She loved to travel in her limo with her pet dogs.
"Charo! You really came!"
"Of course!"
Aunt Charlotte was giving order this and that to the driver.
Perfect timing.
"Now, Charo. Get into the car."
Charo jumped in.
There was a gigantic Saint Bernard named Ike, lounging in the back seat.
Charo crawled behind him so that nobody would notice.
Aunt Charlotte got in, too, with Candy in her arms.
"Well, then. Off we go!"
The limo quietly slid off.
At the corner of the nearby building, Dread and Margherita were wagging their tails wishing Charo all the luck.
"Do you really think he can make it to Japan?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Oh, how can you be so detached? And ... did he know about your ... condition?"
Margherita was worried about Dread.
He didn't seem very well lately.
But Dread pretended not to hear her.
(You can do it, Charo. I know you can. Do it for me.)
After an hour or so, Candy went up to Charo who was still hiding.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. We ran a lot, right?"
At that moment, Aunt Charlotte noticed the small pup that she had never seen before.
"Ooh, la la! Where did this little one come from?"
"Oh, no."
"Anything wrong, ma'am?"
"There's a strange dog in the back seat."
"Shall I just throw it out, ma'am?"
"Candy!"
Candy quickly moved toward Charo and started to lick him.
"Stop. That tickles, Candy."
"Shh, be quiet and stay still."
"Oh, look! Candy seems to like him. You like him that much, huh?"
"Arf, arf!"
"All right, Candy. You win. We'll take him."
"Arf!"
Candy got the best of Aunt Charlotte.
Candy seemed pleased.
"You see, Charo? Because of me, you are now officially one of us.
Stay close to me. And you'll be safe, okay?"
It was already getting dark.
So they decided to call it a day.
Aunt Charlotte checked the dogs in at a gorgeous pet hotel, right next to the hotel that she was staying at.
Charo was surprised to see all the things that the hotel had for pets.
Sofas, a garden, pool, shower and for whatever reason, there was even a personal computer.
"Is this place really for us?"
"Seems so."
One of the staff members took them for a bath.
The dogs were nicely shampooed, blow-dried and given a relaxing massage.
"You look good now that you're clean and groomed."
"Really?"
"In your own way, that is. So, good night, Charo. Sleep tight."
But that night, Charo was not able to sleep.
He was so excited about getting closer to Japan.
Then suddenly...
"I'm slipping here."
Candy hopped in beside Charo.
"Candy!"
"Shh. I want Aunt Charlotte to see us together when she comes in tomorrow morning. Then she'll think that we are really good friends and won't throw you out."
Candy saw the red star on Charo's collar twinkle in the dark room.
"We'd better get some sleep now. We're going to have an early start tomorrow morning."
Candy curled up and went to sleep.
Comforted by her warmth, Charo yawned ... and fell asleep, too.
The sky had cleared up.
The stars were shining brightly on that early summer night.
