The Adventures of Zelda: A Pug Tale

Chapter 12: Zelda vs. Jack Jack

"Are you ready to go see Tucker and Whitney?" Nate asks.

I run to the door with my tail wagging. I can't wait to spend time with Tucker and Whitney again. Tucker and Whitney live with Nate's parents. I met them for the first time a few months ago, and since then, I have been itching to return.

I love hanging out with other dogs, and I also love Tucker and Whitney's house. The downstairs has a long hallway for playing fetch, and the food is great. The best part is the fenced yard. I can go outside and run around without a leash.

Nate loads up a few bags for our visit while Hannah gets Lucy and Ben settled in the back seat of the car. I hop in the back seat with them. It's a long car ride, so I don't try to stay awake. I curl up and fall asleep, anxious to awake at Tucker and Whitney's house.

When I wake up, I am in Lucy's lap. She is sleeping, so I move to Ben's lap and look out the window. We are surrounded by other cars, and I don't know how much longer we will be on the road. I try to fall asleep again, but my heart is pounding with excitement. I stand on the front window and watch the cars.

When Nate turns us off the highway, I know we are close to our destination. We wind through the neighborhood and pull into the driveway. I jump from one side of the car to the other waiting for someone to open the door.

"Zelda, chill," Ben says.

"Ow," Lucy says when I land on her lap. Lucy opens the door.

"Lucy, no, Zelda isn't on her leash!" Ben yells. I jump out of the car and sprint to the front door.

Tucker and Whitney are waiting inside for me, barking like crazy.

"Hi Zelda," Nate's mom says. She opens the door. I run inside, and Tucker runs out. He jumps and licks the whole family, one at a time, while I jump on Nate's dad. He picks me up, and I lick his face.

The rest of my family walks inside, and I run straight to the toy basket and find a ball. I bring it to Ben. Soon Whitney and Tucker join the fun.

After an hour of playing, Tucker, Whitney, and I are spent. I rest on the couch with the crew. My eyes begin to droop, and I am almost asleep when something catches my eye.

In the hallway, near the steps, I see a hint of black fur peeking around the corner. I get up and walk over to the steps to check it out. Nothing is there-maybe I was dreaming. I return to my spot on the couch and relax for the rest of the night.

In the middle of the night, I hear a scratching noise in the hallway. Ben and I are in bed with the door shut. I get up and stand next to the door. The scratching is on the other side of the door, and the scent isn't Whitney's or Tucker's.

What is it?

I jump back on the bed and walk on top of Ben to wake him. He makes a noise, but he doesn't move. I try again, and he stirs.

"Zelda, what do you want?" Ben mumbles. I jump off the bed and walk to the door. "No, Zelda, it's time to sleep." Ben rolls over, and he is asleep again. I wait by the door and listen. The scratching stopped, so I jump back on the bed.

I spend the next morning searching the house for the source of the scratching noise. I start in the basement, inspecting every nook and cranny. I don't find anything unusual.

I head up the stairs and search the main floor, but I don't expect to find anything. Nothing would hide on the main floor with all the traffic and action. I creep upstairs and turn toward the gated room. I sneak around the corner and look through the gate. Sitting on top of a desk is a skinny black cat.

A cat! There's a cat here! A cat! I need to catch it!

I bash into the gate and try to knock it down. It isn't moving. I look at the gate. Maybe I can make the jump. I back up and go for it. As I lift off, I realize this is a bad idea. I can't make the jump. But it's too late, and I smash into the gate and tumble to the ground. I shake off my fall and bark at the cat. The cat sits still, glaring in my direction.

"Zelda, leave Jack Jack alone," Nate commands from the corner of the stairs. I'm confused.

Where was Jack Jack on my last visit? And why is he gated in a room?

"Let's go downstairs," Nate says. I follow Nate.

Later in the evening, I sneak away from the family and creep up the stairs. I peer into the gated room, but I see no sign of Jack Jack. I slip into our bedroom and look. Nothing. I walk down the hall, and I catch a faint glimpse of a new smell that has to be Jack Jack. My nose guides me to the opposite side of the house to Nate's parents' bedroom.

I see a hint of black peeking around the corner of the bed. Stealth isn't a strength of pugs, but I try my best to move quietly. As I inch closer, I know it is Jack Jack. He is distracted by something on the ground. His paw is swatting at a feather. He is playing with the feather, and he has no idea of my approach. I know sneaking up on a cat is a bad idea, but I have to try.

I am a foot or so away when I feel the urge.

I can't hold it in!

The huge sneeze showers Jack Jack with snot and alerts him to my presence. He turns to face me and his fur puffs up.

How do cats do that?

Jack Jack hisses at me.

I have experienced enough cat altercations to know what's coming next. It is the swat. I turn and sprint down the stairs before Jack Jack has the opportunity. I jump on the couch between Tucker and Whitney, hoping they will protect me.

I wait, but Jack Jack doesn't come down the stairs. I know he is waiting for me to return, so I won't go upstairs alone.

I manage to avoid Jack Jack for the rest of the visit, and the next day we return home. I hope he forgets about the sneezing incident. Otherwise, I need to learn some cat defense skills before I visit Tucker and Whitney again.