At that moment, everyone looked up.
A nicely dressed woman in her mid to late 60's entered the office, with two policemen accompanying her.
"Excuse the inturuption, but my name is Beatrice Donavan, and this woman has stolen my darling Bridget," said the woman, as she pointed to Mrs. Appleby, who was flabbergasted.
"Pardon me ma'am but are you the Beatrice Donavan of the Donavan Oil company ?" asked Phillip.
"Yes, my late husband Fredrick was the CEO," Beatrice answered.
"I thought you looked familiar.
My company does finances for you offices."
"Oh yes, Phillip Drummond, it's nice to see you again.
My husband spoke highly of you and your company."
"Don't listen to what this ding bat has to say!
She's a liar!" screamed Mrs. Appleby.
"Who are you calling a ding bat thief!" Beatrice Donavan yelled to Mrs. Appleby.
"Excuse me, but I think we should hear Mrs. Donavan's side of the story," Maggie suggested.
"Thank you dear, said Beatrice Donavan, "After my husband Fredrick died three years ago, my children got me Bridget as a Christmas present, and she's been with me ever since.
"However, my son-in-law just had knee surgery a few weeks ago, so I went to CT, to help out my daughter with the children, while she took care of her husband.
I would have taken Bridget with me, but since both my grandson and son-in-law are allergic to dogs, I had to leave her with Mrs. Rhoda Appleby, who is my dog's groomer.
When I returned Sunday evening to pick up Bridget, the shop was closed."
"Pardon me ma'am but why would somebody want to steal a dog?" asked Sam.
"Bridget is a show dog, and a top prize winner.
Rhoda Appleby had planned on entering Bridget in an up-coming show and claiming all the money to herself, rather than donating it to charity, which I usually do, said Beatrice as she then turned to the police and said, Officers, take her away."
"Right away Mrs. Donavan," said one of the officers, who, along with his partner approached Mrs. Appleby.
As one officer took a hold of Bridget in his hands, the other placed handcuffs onto Mrs. Appleby's wrists, and escorted her out of the room, but not before returning the dog to Mrs. Donavan.
Of course, Mrs. Appleby let out a tyrant of screams.
"You'll hear from my lawyer!" she shouted.
The gentleman that was with Mrs. Appleby followed her out of the room.
Beatrice Donavan couldn't be more happy to see her dog.
"Oh Bridget sweetheart, Mommy missed you so much," she said, cuddling the dog.
"Mrs. Donavan, we're very sorry about what we did to you dog," said Arnold.
"It was a honest mistake ma'am and we'll take care of it," added Sam.
"Boys, there's nothing to be sorry for.
I love this look on Bridget," said Beatrice Donavan.
"You do?" Arnold and Sam asked at once.
"Yes, this is the best haircut she's had in ages.
So much better than the last one Mrs. Appleby gave her.
And the color is perfect in time for the doggie Easter parade and spring show.
How did you get her this shade?
"A few squirts of Mr. Bubbles," Sam added.
"How cleaver."
Mrs. Donavan then opened her purse, took out her wallet and handed a green slip of paper to both Arnold and Sam.
"Here's 50 dollars for each of you for doing such a great job," she said.
"Thank you Mrs. Donavan," spoke Arnold.
"Thank you very much ma'am," Sam added.
"My pleasure boys.
Come Bridget, let's get you home," said Beatrice Donavan.
"Well, how about that?
a happy ending," said Arnold.
"Bridget goes home to her real owner and we got paid for taking care of her," said Sam.
"Actually boys, there is the fee for the lawyers," Phillip pointed out.
Arnold and Sam had to give Phillip their dog wash money to pay for the lawyer's services.
A few days later, on Saturday was Phillip and Maggie's anniversary dinner.
According to everyone, the dinner was fantastic.
"That was a wonderful meal Pearl," said Maggie.
"I'm glad you all enjoyed it.
Would anyone like some more beef bourguignon or another piece of cake?" asked Pearl.
"I'm good Pearl thank you."
"Same here," Kimberly said.
"Me to," added Willis.
"I couldn't eat another bite," said Phillip.
"For the first time ever in my life, I'm actually full," said Arnold.
"Me to," Sam added.
"And now, for the big finale," said Kimberly.
Willis then handed Phillip and Maggie and box wrapped in silver wrapping paper with a white bow on top.
The two carefully unwrapped the box, took the lid off and gently removed what was inside.
It was the silver platter that Kimberly spotted in the magazine.
"Oh my goodness, what a beautiful gift," said Maggie.
"And it's engraved to," Phillip pointed it out, as the platter read, Happy Anniversary Mom And Dad, Love Kimberly, Willis, Arnold, and Sam."
"Kids this was very sweet of you to do this," said Maggie.
"Do you like the present mama?" asked Sam.
"I love it.
Thank you kids," said Maggie, as she gave Sam a hug.
"Thank you kids, it really is a lovely gift," said Phillip, as he wrapper an arm around Kimberly, and another around Arnold and Willis.
"Well, much of the credit goes to Kimberly and I, we paid for the gift," Willis pointed out.
"Kimberly, Willis, that was very thoughtful of you to pay for Arnold and Sam's share of the gift.
And by all rights Arnold and Sam should pay Kimberly and Willis the money back," Phillip said.
"We gave most of the money to the lawyers," said Arnold.
"Including the one hundred dollars Mrs. Donavan gave us," Sam added.
"Well, in that case, Sam and Arnold, for the next two weeks, your allowance will be going to Kimberly and Wills, plus, you will also have to do their share of the chores, while Pearl takes her vacation this week," said Phillip.
"I think that's fair Daddy," said Kimberly.
"I couldn't agree more Dad," Willis added.
"Aw man," said Arnold.
"Oh peanuts," Sam added.
The next day, Arnold was vacuuming the living room, while Sam wiped down the coffee table and the silverware.
At that moment, Kimberly entered the room.
"Looking good you two.
Don't forget, you still have to re-organize my closet," she said, as she headed out the door, to meet her friends at the local shopping center.
Seconds later, Willis walked in.
"Great job guys.
Don't forget, you promised to clean my bathroom," he said, as he left to take his current girlfriend Vanessa to the movies.
"I can't believe it.
All that hard work we did washing dogs, and we ended up back where we started with no money.
We got jipt into polishing spoons and cleaning bathrooms," said Sam.
Arnold turned off the vacuum clean, approached Sam, and said, We didn't loss all of it."
He took his wallet out of his pocket, and pulled out a ten dollar bill.
"Ten dollars won't buy us a car, a boat, or a mansion," Sam pointed out.
"No it won't, but it's enough to buy a couple of hot fudge delights.
What do you say after we finish all this cleaning, we treat ourselves to a couple of sundaes?
You up for that partner?" asked Arnold.
"You've got it partner."
The two step-brothers shook hands on the deal.
The End