Chapter Four:
Tuesday, May 19, 1925
Today was the day. The Pet Talent Show.
We arrived early in the morning, but since we were the last ones to sign up, our slot was the very last in the program. That meant a long wait—and even longer nerves.
The town hall was packed. Everyone from school was there, plus neighbors, church folk, and even old Miss Clara, who never left her rocking chair unless the town was on fire or giving away free pie. There were rows of folding chairs filled with families and judges seated up front behind a long wooden table, pens and clipboards in hand.
One by one, the other contestants went up.
A fluffy white poodle danced in circles. A cat leapt through a hoop. Someone’s parakeet whistled “Yankee Doodle.” The crowd clapped politely, but nobody seemed amazed.
Finally, the announcer tapped the mic. “Last, but perhaps not least, we have Penelope Baxter and her pig... Dolly.”
Gasps and whispers fluttered through the room.
“A pig?”
“Did he say pig?”
I stepped onto the stage, holding Dolly’s leash with one hand and my math notebook in the other. Dolly trotted beside me with her usual proud little snort, her hooves clacking on the wood.
I took a deep breath and spoke into the microphone. “My pig, Dolly, can do algebra.”
Laughter rippled across the crowd.
Until she did it.
I wrote a problem on the chalkboard we’d brought:
3x = 15
Dolly said,”X equals five.”
A few people sat up straighter.
Then:
4x - 2 = 14
Dolly says,”X equals four.”
“That’s correct,” one of the judges murmured.
I looked over at my parents, who were watching with pride and disbelief. Ceil was bouncing in his seat.
The judges whispered among themselves.
For her finale, I called out one more:
(2x + 4) = 14
Dolly said,”X equals five.”
The audience erupted. People jumped to their feet. One of the judges actually stood and clapped above his head.
I hugged Dolly so tightly, she let out a delighted oink.
The announcer came back to the mic, his voice cracking from excitement.
