Accidental Hero

Chapter 4 The Boy in the Woods

            Things definitely seem better now that Trackers here. She's waiting by the door when I get home from school and follows me around everywhere I go. She sleeps snoring at the foot of my bed every night. Its like I finally have something in this world that belongs only to me. It's so cool how she seems to know when I'm sad and snuggles close. She's a freaking genius if you ask me and the best friend I've ever had. I love that dog more than anything in the world. I'd give everything I have to save her if she needed it. Everything!

         Mom let Abby come over to our house that first weekend. Abby has a pomeranian and knows a lot about dogs. She kinda helped me figure out what to do for Tracker although honestly it isn't too much. She's such a good dog! No messes in the house at all, not even once. She scratches on the door when she wants to go out. Picking up the poop is probably the worst part but I don't complain. Shes kinda a messy eater so we put her bowls in the laundry room where if I ignore the mess long enough, Mom will clean it up. Mom isn't complaining either surprisingly. I think she loves that dog too but not as much as I do.

           The freaky stuff happened yesterday. It was a beautiful sunny May morning and we decided to take Tracker to the little park for a run. Theres no fences there, just a big open field next to a duck pond. When Tracker hit the pond full stride with a big slash you'da  thought Mom had a heart attack. Golden Retrievers are water dogs used by hunters to fetch birds. I know this cause I researched everything I could about the breed as soon as we got her home. Mom wasn't "in the know" and started hollering her head off. Like a good dog, Tracker came running right back to her and then shook like a cyclone. I wish you coulda seen Moms face! Mouth hanging open, arms out at her sides, just stuck there getting covered in gunk from head to toe. Mumbling away about not bringing any towels she finally gave it up and just started laughing. Then she ran over to hug me (cause I was laughing so hard there were tears running down my cheeks) and I got covered in gunk too! We hadn't laughed like that in a long time. It felt soooo good. Somehow, that dog is helping us to heal.

          Great as that was, it's not what was freaky. That came later. We'd decided to walk some trails away from the pond to help the dog dry out. It was maybe mid day and the sunlight fell like dappled teardrops through the trees. Tracker had run just ahead of us, nose weaving little S's in the damp leaves when suddenly she stops. I mean not a muscle moved for like 30 seconds. Then with a single loud bark she charged into the brush beside the path. Mom hightailed it after her while I clumbsily tried to keep up. After about 10 minutes Mom screams "Morgan STOP!!"

           The tone of her voice was frightening and I hollered, "Mom, are you OK? What's wrong?"

           In a deadly serious voice she yells  "Go back to the car now! Get on my cell phone and call 911. Pay attention to the trail you'll need to help them find their way." She sobs briefly then continues "Theres an injured boy here and we'll need an ambulance and police."

          I just stood there for an endless moment trying to take it in. "I'm scared Mom!"

          "Go Morgan, go NOW! You can do it baby. Do it NOW!"

    Tracker ran over to my side, snapping me out it and together we ran faster than I ever have in my life. My senses seemed hightened, I could feel my heart pounding and everything around me seemed to come into sharp focus. Colors seemed brighter and details crisper. In this hightened state I told all I knew to the dispatcher. Thinking clearly I began to review my options. I wanted to run back up the trail but I knew Mom was right, they'd need a guide. I thought about the crime scene analysis books I had been reading. I realized if I ever wanted to be a detective I had to use my observation skills. I scanned the parking lot noting all the cars and people present. I tried to remember if I'd seen a boy playing around here earlier in the day. I tried to think of anything that could help.

          It seemed like a million years passed when they finally arrived. They kept asking me questions I didn't know the answers to. How old is the boy? What kind of injuries did he have? Finally I just screeched "Lets get going! I know its bad!
I know it because my Mom has never sounded like that before! We need to go NOW!" Still they took forever gathering supplies and a metal sled. Finally we set off down the trail. I became confused a little about where exactly we had gone off trail but Tracker knew right where to go. I kept calling for Mom and once the paramedics heard her voice they told me to go back to the car. Like hell! I wasn't going anywhere until Mom came with me.

        It wasn't long before she did just that. Looking strained and tear streaked she hugged me hard and silently we walked back to the car.  I wanted to ask her a million questions but she looked so drained I figured it could wait. The police had congregated in a flashing swarm in the parking lot. It was time for their questions. They separated us but let us stay within eyesight of each other. They asked me so many questions, some over and over, until I started to get pretty aggravated. I tried to pay attention to all the police jargon and procedures. Then my body seemed to deflate, like a tire with a slow screeching leak, and all I wanted was to go home. I heard them talking about a medivac helicopter and knew from the way they were quietly shaking their heads the boy was in bad shape. I heard one cop say "If it hadn't been for that dog he wouldn't have any chance at all."

          I looked down at our mud streaked, smelly mess of a dog and felt a surge of pride. I laid my hand on her head and whispered. "Good dog, Tracker, good dog."