Lily sat in her chair, glancing around the room at the four other Annual Dog Competition judges. They were deciding which dog should be crowned Best Dog.
Jolie held two photos in her hands. One of Gary and one of Peppi.
“It’s obvious which dog is better.” Jolie laughed. “Peppi has such shiny fur.”
Ashley scrunched up her nose when she glanced at the photo of Gary. “And Gary looks scrawny. That fur needs some work, too.”
Lily twiddled her thumbs as the others, Eric and Duncan, agreed. The others didn’t seem to notice Lily’s silence.
Jolie smiled victoriously. “This is almost too easy. Still, let’s take a vote.” She passed everyone a small sheet of paper. “Write down the name of the winning dog.”
When they were done, Jolie collected the paper back. She grinned as she announced the names. “Peppi. Peppi. Peppi. Peppi. Pepp—Gary?” Her grin dropped to the floor.
Fuming, she made eye contact with all of the judges. Her eyes settled on Lily’s.
“Don’t make this difficult, Lily. You know Peppi is the better dog. We want to declare a unanimous jury decision for Peppi!” Jolie grabbed the photo of Peppi and threw it at Lily’s face. “She wins even by looks!”
Lily chewed her lip. “Is nobody going to consider Peppi’s performance in the competition?” She pulled out her phone, and showed everybody a video of Peppi. “Did you forget? She performed amateur tricks, and she was stubborn towards her owner. In previous contests, we deducted points away for behavioral problems.”
Jolie gasped when Ashley reluctantly nodded. Ashley rolled her eyes. “Jolie, just look at the video. Peppi missed several obstacles.”
Lily smiled as she played another video. This time it was of Gary.
Eric looked down at his hands when he saw that Gary flawlessly passed every test. He easily flew through the obstacle course, and he obediently performed impressive tricks with his owner. Gary effortlessly won more points than Peppi.
Lily took the video away. “Don’t you see? Peppi only wins by looks. But that only makes up for 1 point. Gary won, fair and square.”
Duncan sighed. “We’re judges, Jolie. We should be fair, despite the looks.”
Jolie rolled her eyes. “Gary looks like a shelter dog. So whatever if Peppi can’t do tricks like Gary? She looks more impressive, and she’ll make us look good.”
Silence.
“Really?” Jolie threw up her hands. “Really?!”
Lily stood up. “Let’s do another vote.”
The room was filled with the sounds of scribbling.
Jolie scoffed as she read the names. “Gary, Gary, Gary, Gary.”
Ashley glared. “You know Gary won more points. He won fairly. Let’s be the fair judges we’re supposed to be.”
“So old fashioned.” Jolie muttered as she snatched a piece of paper and hastily scribbled “Gary” on it. With a huff, she tossed her hair and stormed out of the judge’s table.
Lily clapped her hands. “Let’s go and announce the winner.”
Jolie held two photos in her hands. One of Gary and one of Peppi.
“It’s obvious which dog is better.” Jolie laughed. “Peppi has such shiny fur.”
Ashley scrunched up her nose when she glanced at the photo of Gary. “And Gary looks scrawny. That fur needs some work, too.”
Lily twiddled her thumbs as the others, Eric and Duncan, agreed. The others didn’t seem to notice Lily’s silence.
Jolie smiled victoriously. “This is almost too easy. Still, let’s take a vote.” She passed everyone a small sheet of paper. “Write down the name of the winning dog.”
When they were done, Jolie collected the paper back. She grinned as she announced the names. “Peppi. Peppi. Peppi. Peppi. Pepp—Gary?” Her grin dropped to the floor.
Fuming, she made eye contact with all of the judges. Her eyes settled on Lily’s.
“Don’t make this difficult, Lily. You know Peppi is the better dog. We want to declare a unanimous jury decision for Peppi!” Jolie grabbed the photo of Peppi and threw it at Lily’s face. “She wins even by looks!”
Lily chewed her lip. “Is nobody going to consider Peppi’s performance in the competition?” She pulled out her phone, and showed everybody a video of Peppi. “Did you forget? She performed amateur tricks, and she was stubborn towards her owner. In previous contests, we deducted points away for behavioral problems.”
Jolie gasped when Ashley reluctantly nodded. Ashley rolled her eyes. “Jolie, just look at the video. Peppi missed several obstacles.”
Lily smiled as she played another video. This time it was of Gary.
Eric looked down at his hands when he saw that Gary flawlessly passed every test. He easily flew through the obstacle course, and he obediently performed impressive tricks with his owner. Gary effortlessly won more points than Peppi.
Lily took the video away. “Don’t you see? Peppi only wins by looks. But that only makes up for 1 point. Gary won, fair and square.”
Duncan sighed. “We’re judges, Jolie. We should be fair, despite the looks.”
Jolie rolled her eyes. “Gary looks like a shelter dog. So whatever if Peppi can’t do tricks like Gary? She looks more impressive, and she’ll make us look good.”
Silence.
“Really?” Jolie threw up her hands. “Really?!”
Lily stood up. “Let’s do another vote.”
The room was filled with the sounds of scribbling.
Jolie scoffed as she read the names. “Gary, Gary, Gary, Gary.”
Ashley glared. “You know Gary won more points. He won fairly. Let’s be the fair judges we’re supposed to be.”
“So old fashioned.” Jolie muttered as she snatched a piece of paper and hastily scribbled “Gary” on it. With a huff, she tossed her hair and stormed out of the judge’s table.
Lily clapped her hands. “Let’s go and announce the winner.”
