Home Before Dinner

Chapter 37

7:07 pm

"You can't keep running in circles forever Mel! We'll get you soon!" Derick shouted. Sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him, Mel screamed, "Go find someone else already dang it!" The pug ran for his life, circling the block for probably the tenth lap. How much longer could he keep this up? Hearing the Flushed Pets hot on his heels, he didn't want to know the answer to that question.

Police sirens filled the air. Mel's ears perked up in surprise. What were the police doing here? He dared to look over his shoulder as a police cruiser skidded to a stop behind him. Unprepared for this, the Flushed Pets crashed into the side of the car. Shocked by all of this, Mel watched as the door opened, revealing his friends. Laying on the passenger seat, Buddy wagged his tail as he asked, "May we be of service?"

"Hurry up and get in the dang car!" Chloe spat. Mel didn't need any further orders as he hopped in. Slamming the door shut, the tabby cat yelled, "Get us out of here!"

"Hang on everybody!" Tiberius called, reaching down and hitting the gearshift. Gripping the steering wheel tightly in his talons, he spun. The police cruiser lurched forward before taking a hard right turn. The rear bumper smacked Derick in the snout on the way out. Rubbing his sore nose, the crocodile shouted, "After them!" The Flushed Pets gave chase.

"Tiberius, where did you learn to drive?" Mel asked, buckling himself and Buddy into the passenger's seat. Keeping his eyes on the road as best as he could while spinning the wheel left and right, the red tailed hawk answered, "I had a weird dream the other day where I hijacked a police car and a motorcycle on the same day."

"What dream involves you hijacking vehicles?!" Chloe gasped. Shrugging his shoulders, Tiberius remarked, "Like I said, it was a weird dream. Y'all forgot about me for years." Raising an eyebrow, Chloe retorted, "I forget you exist all the time."

"Ow! What the frick?!"

"You have a very forgettable face."

"I will turn this car around!"

"Can you guys stop fighting? It's not good for us children," Mel piped up. Whirling her head around, Chloe hissed, "You're not children!"

"No, I'm pretty sure we are compared to everyone else," Buddy joined in. Waving his paw in the air, Mel yipped, "Can we get McDonald's?" Rubbing her head in exasperation, Chloe muttered, "We're not going to McDonald's." When Mel and Buddy whined in protest, she added, "There's donuts in the glovebox."

"Yay!" Buddy and Mel cheered.