Dot sighed. Dad was giving up rather easily, she thought.

“No it isn’t Dad” she said patiently. “We just need to be more clever!”

“How?”

“Er… well… ” In fact Dot hadn’t got an answer. But she knew who might have one – Samson the Server! Only of course, she couldn’t tell her Dad that.

“Look Dad” she said. “Why don’t you go and have a nice gin and tonic?” (her Dad’s favourite drink when he came home in the evening.) “Leave it me and - ” Just in time she stopped herself saying Wizzie and Mr Mouse! “And… and I’ll, erm, think of something.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Wizzie wink at her and heard his tail go thump thump on the floor. He knew what she‘d been going to say all right!

Bill Com sighed. He felt a bit silly wimping out like this, but the truth was somehow Dot seemed to understand computers in a way he was sure he never would.

“All right Dot” he said, ruffling up her hair. Grown-ups NEVER learn kids hate that, thought Dot – but she smiled anyway. “Thanks a lot! You’re a star!” Bill scratched his head. “It’ll be difficult for you though… what I need is – a list of all the dog food companies who took part in the awards last year… and any companies who came on line with their own website since then who might want to join in this time. We’re looking for the BEST dog food website this time.”  He ruffled her hair again. Grrr thought Dot. “Good luck honey!”

As the door closed behind Dot’s Dad, Mr Mouse got onto his feet – his paws, that is. “So!” he said cheekily. “We gonna go help Daddy out, huh? Got any ideas kiddo?”

Dot shook her head and grinned. “Yes smarty pants!” she said. “We’re going to go and see Samson! He’ll tell us what we can do!”

***********************

“Zippadee doo dah – zippadee-ay!” went Mr Mouse as once again Dot and Wizzie followed him down the sparkling blue and green fibre optic pathways of the Internet – dark but somehow lit at the same time too. “Samson HERE we come!”

I LOVE this thought Dot as they flew along. It’s so exciting! But then she remembered the trouble her Dad was in and her face clouded over. If Samson didn’t know how to help…

But then up ahead, gleaming across the electronic haze of the net-sky, there was the smiling face of their best friend on the Net. Next moment, they landed with a thump in the middle of the computer complex that was Samson’s home. The big sunny smiling face beamed down on them all. Dot got ready. She knew what was coming next!

“Welcome!” boomed Samson and the ground shook again with the mighty power of his voice. “Nice to see you so soon Dot – but I thought you might be coming!” His smile grew even wider. “Your father has got a problem, hasn’t he?”

Dot gasped? How could Samson – but of course! He was their server so he’d know everything they were trying to do on the Net, whenever they logged on!

Samson chuckled, and the ground shook again. “Quite a problem. But – I think I’ve got the answer. Meet Squiffy!”