Christina's Escapades at the Pet Shop

By Julie Navarrette

With her parents still urging her to decide what she wants to major in when she goes to college, her annoying brother giving her advice, and her parents telling her she must help them pay a hefty vet bill when her dog injures his leg, Christina Redstone is on a mission to show everyone around her that she can solve her problems on her own, although sometimes she needs a little help from her best friend, Jenae. She sees a chance to prove herself when money turns up missing at her job at the pet store and she’s determined to find the culprit. As she investigates, she finds the store needs help financially. Along the way, she’s also in the middle of an emotional battle between her feelings for a regular customer at the store who’s in a band she likes and a co-worker who flirts with her at the shop. Will she find the thief and choose the right relationship to prove that she can make good decisions by herself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398429956

Julie Navarrette

Originally from Hartselle, Alabama, USA, Julie Navarrette graduated from the University of North Alabama with a B.A. in journalism and music. In 1999, she partnered with Ed Hansen Productions, Inc., on a fantasy film, The Valiant Lady. In addition to teaching private piano and voice for over twenty years, she has written the prequel to this book, A Job for Christina, and Dirk and His Musical Friends. She is married to a native of Tunisia and currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. She enjoys contemporary dance, baking, reading, writing, and playing tennis with her son from a previous marriage.

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About the Author

Originally from Hartselle, Alabama, USA, Julie Navarrette graduated from the University of North Alabama with a B.A. in journalism and music. In 1999, she partnered with Ed Hansen Productions, Inc., on a fantasy film, The Valiant Lady. In addition to teaching private piano and voice for over twenty years, she has written the prequel to this book, A Job for Christina, and Dirk and His Musical Friends. She is married to a native of Tunisia and currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. She enjoys contemporary dance, baking, reading, writing, and playing tennis with her son from a previous marriage.

Dedication

To my mother, who inspired me to love music and writing, and to my students, who keep me smiling and feeling young.

Copyright Information ©

Julie Navarrette 2023

The right of Julie Navarrette to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398429932 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398429949 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781398429956 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

Thank you to Max Timm at the International Screenwriters Association, for the best coaching a writer could ever have. Thank you to Austin Macauley Publishers, for giving me the chance to share this book with the world.

Chapter One

Woof, Woof. Christina Redstone opened her eyes and turned to look at her dog. Weary from her day at the pet store and walking her dog when she had returned home, she flopped on the sofa to rest before her mother called her to dinner.

Woof, Woof. She had adopted the stray dog outside her aunt’s coffee shop that she had played with many times the week she had helped her aunt after her barista quit. She still had no idea what breed he was, but was surprised to find that his coat was actually quite white instead of yellow once she had given him a good scrub.

Woof, Woof. Snowball, we’ve already walked around the neighbourhood twice and I can’t go outside because my mother will call me for dinner soon, she said to her dog, who had his favourite frog toy in his mouth. You know we’re not supposed to play in the house.

Her dog continued to stare at her with his big, brown eyes that melted Christina’s heart. Christina knew she had no choice but to give in. Oh, okay, she heard herself say, but only for a few minutes. Mom’s in the kitchen so maybe she won’t notice us.

She pushed herself up from the sofa and picked up the stuffed green frog toy Snowball had placed on the floor for her. Walking over to the stairs, she threw the toy and her little canine friend bounded up after the toy. He loved climbing the stairs quickly, although it made Christina a little uneasy. She pushed the thought of an accident out of her mind as Snowball bounded back down the stairs. They wouldn’t have time to play for a long time, anyway. He won’t get hurt if it’s only a few times up and down the stairs—or only once. She froze as she heard footsteps behind her.

CHRISTINA! she heard her mother’s angry voice behind her. You know I don’t like it when you play with him inside the house.

I’m sorry, Mom, Christina squeaked.

Well, dinner will be ready in ten minutes, her mother continued. Go upstairs and wash up.

Yes, Mom, Christina said, relieved that her mother hadn’t delivered a punishment, and hurried upstairs before she had time to change her mind.

Ten minutes later, the blond sixteen-year-old was seated at the table in the dining room next to an empty chair where her tall and good-looking, but know-it-all brother would sit once he had brought all the dishes to the table. Keith was going to cooking school so he frequently cooked for his parents and his sister for the practice. Most of the time, the meals were delicious, though Christina didn’t dare tell her brother because she knew he’d make a meal of it—pun intended.

Sitting across from her parents, who were eagerly staring at the dishes already on the table, she sniffed the cheese bread and the rice with peas and carrots and some kind of soup she didn’t recognise as Keith entered with the main course. Placing it on the table, he took his seat and their parents began dishing out soup and rice.

What is it? asked Christina.

Chicken Française, her brother answered.

What? she asked.

It’s French chicken, Keith replied.

Oh, Keith, Mrs Redstone crooned through a bite of rice. This is delicious!

Dear, have you tried the cheese bread? Mr Redstone asked his wife.

Not yet, Christina’s mother replied. I’m too busy enjoying the rice.

Christina rolled her eyes. She didn’t have the pleasure of watching her brother fail with his cooking tonight, which didn’t happen very often and when it did, somehow the food was still edible.

How was your day at the pet shop? her brother asked as he helped himself to the soup.

Fine, answered Christina.

Have you thought any more about what you might like to study at college after you graduate? her mother chimed in.

That won’t be for another two years, said Christina evenly, though she was irritated. If she could have a dime for every time her mother asked her that question since she began high school, she could pay for college herself.

High school will fly by, her mother said.

Well, I still don’t know what my major will be, Christina said.

You could be a teacher, Mr Redstone offered.

What would I teach? asked Christina.

Elementary grades, her mother answered.

No, thanks, said Christina, making a face.

Since you’re working at the pet store, have you thought about becoming a vet? her brother asked.

I don’t know, Christina said with uncertainty and turned to her brother, desperate to turn the conversation away from her. What did you learn at school today?

After listening to her brother answer with a dissertation on French cuisine during the remainder of her dinner, she regretted her decision. Finally, she excused herself, offering to clear away the dishes.

When the kitchen was clean, Christina called her best friend, Jenae. Intelligent and confident, Jenae had a way of making her see things from a different perspective that made her feel better about her life.

My mother and my brother are driving me crazy asking me what I want to study when I go to college, Christina blurted when she heard her friend’s voice on the phone.

Do you know yet? Jenae asked.

"Don’t