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Mango, the tiny Border terrier, was only seven weeks old when Sophie Rose’s big brother, Ben, announced that he was going to get married to his girlfriend, the beautiful model, Victoria.
“We plan to get married in June,” said Ben, as the whole family were having tea one Sunday afternoon.
“And we’d like Sophie to be our bridesmaid,” Victoria added excitedly.
All eyes turned to Sophie, who was so busy feeding Mango doggy choc-drops she hadn’t heard a word anyone had said.
“Here, boy,” she whispered. “These are yummy scrummy!”
Sophie’s dad nudged her gently. “Sophie, did you hear what Victoria said?” he asked.
Sophie jumped in surprise and looked up at the four faces all gaping at her. “What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I just asked you to be my bridesmaid!” laughed Victoria. “But if you’re not interested we could always ask somebody else,” she teased.
“BRIDESMAID!” yelled Sophie, leaping up into the air. “Of course I want to be your bridesmaid.”
Mango’s little golden ears pricked up. “Woof! Woof!” he yapped.
Sophie scooped him into her arms. “Mango wants to be a bridesmaid, too!” she said.
“He’s far too small,” said Victoria. “Anyway, I don’t think a dress would suit him!”
“We prefer our bridesmaids with two legs rather than four!” chuckled Ben.
Sophie tickled Mango’s velvet-soft pink tummy. “Never mind, Pudding,” she said, calling him by her favourite nickname. “You can come and watch the wedding.”
“Don’t be a naughty bridesmaid!” laughed Mum. “Not even sweet little puppies like Mango can go to weddings.”
“Why not?” asked Sophie. “Dogs are man’s best friend,” she said, quoting one of her dad’s favourite expressions.
Mr Rose ruffled his daughter’s soft blonde hair. “Quite right, Angel,” he said fondly. “But that doesn’t mean to say Mango can come to the wedding.”
Victoria and Ben were planning a really posh wedding. Ben and his best man were going to wear top hats, striped trousers and tails. Every time Ben said the word “tails” Sophie giggled and Mango wagged his own short little tail.
“Not his kind of tail,” said Ben, pointing at Mango’s little curly tail. “I’m talking about coat tails.”
“And what’s Victoria going to wear?” asked Sophie.
“I’m not allowed to know that!” said Ben.
“You’ll have to ask her that yourself.”
Sophie decided that the best way of having a secret conversation with Victoria was to go for a walk with her – and Mango, of course. With Mango on his lead they set off for the common.
“I made my dress months ago, before Ben proposed to me,” Victoria told Sophie.
“Wow! Did you know he would ask you to marry him?” Sophie asked.
“I knew he would – it was just a question of when he would,” Victoria answered confidently.
“I didn’t even know you could sew,” Sophie added.
“Oh yes, I love sewing!” Victoria exclaimed. “Before I started modelling I was at art school studying fashion design. We had to do everything there – from cutting out patterns to sewing – then we had to model the clothes we had made.
“Wow!” gasped Sophie, deeply impressed. “So what have you designed for your wedding dress?” she cried.
“Well, you know the glittery tops embroidered with beads that have been all the rage this winter?”
Sophie nodded. She knew exactly the tops Victoria was talking about because she’d seen her favourite girl band wearing them on TV.
“I’ve made one of those in padded cream silk, decorated with beads and embroidered with cherubs.”
Sophie’s big blue eyes opened wide in amazement. “Wasn’t that difficult?”
“It wasn’t difficult but it was very complicated,” Victoria admitted. “Then I made the skirt which is silver organza over white silk.”
“Have you got a veil?” Sophie asked.
“Yes, a very long one – and a diamanté tiara. Oh, and you’ll have a beautiful golden headband,” Victoria added.
Sophie was SO excited she danced up and down.
“Please, please tell me what else I’m going to wear, Victoria,” she begged.
“WOOF!” grumbled Mango, as Sophie’s legs got tangled up in his lead.
“Wait until we get to the common