Susie worked on a jigsaw puzzle in her kitchen.
"Meow!" Her cat pawed at the back door.
"You can't go outside right now, Snowball," said Susie.
"Meow!" Snowball pawed some more.
"Not right now, Snowball," said Susie.
"You just had a haircut and—"
"MEOW!" Suddenly Snowball grew sharp fangs and spiky hair.
Phwoof! She spit out a flaming hairball.
Smoke filled the kitchen.
When the smoke cleared, the door was gone.
And so was Snowball.
"Sit, Max!" said Mara. "Sit!"
Roxy and her friends were at Metro City Park.
They were trying to train Mara's new dog, Max.
But Max wasn't listening.
"Max, you need to sit," said Mara.
"Woof!" Max barked. Then he lay down and yawned.
"Maybe sitting is too boring for Max," said Jack.
"We should teach him some exciting tricks."
Jack ran to a tree. "Max!" he called. "Come!"
Max rolled onto his side.
Terrell held out his hand. "Give me your paw, Max."
Max sat up.
"He likes this trick!" said Terrell.
But Max just scratched behind his ear and then lay back down.
Mara sighed. "This is hopeless.
Max can't learn any tricks."
Jack sat down next to Max and patted his head.
"I'm sure Max can learn tricks.
He just needs more time."
Roxy scratched Max behind the ear.
"Max is a good pet, Mara," she said. "He's just a bit—"
"Boring," said Mara.
"There's nothing wrong with being boring," said Jack.
Mara frowned. "I want Max to be super."
"Yeah! A super dog would be cool!" said Terrell.
"Maybe we could get Rocket Girl to train Max.
She could make him really super!"
Roxy laughed. "I don't think Rocket Girl knows how to train pets, Terrell."
"You're probably right," said Terrell. He patted Max.
Roxy jumped to her feet.
"I just thought of something, Mara!
Max definitely knows one trick."
"What?" said Mara. Her eyes lit up.
Roxy looked at Max sternly. "Max, stay!"
By now Max was snoring quietly.
He didn't move at all.
"See?" Roxy grinned.
Terrell and Jack laughed. Mara frowned.
Just then Roxy heard her watch beep.
She moved away from her friends.
"Mayor Bloom," Roxy whispered. "Is there a problem?"
"There is a terrible problem, Rocket Girl!" cried the mayor.
"Monster pets are running all over West Street!"