Bolt and Penny

Back Home

"Well, I've tried every other breeder in the area. And all of them are busy or they aren't looking for a pure breed German Shepherd." Penny's mom tossed the phone book back onto the coffee table, and let out a sigh. Sitting next to her mom, Penny patted her on the back in a reassuring way whilst doing a victory dance in her head. "Don't worry mom, I don't need a car right now. Besides, my friend Kaylie offered to take me places with her at the college." Nodding, the older woman picked up her cup of coffee and took a sip. Leaning over the side of the couch, Penny picked up her electric guitar and tapped her mom on the shoulder, "Mom, can I play you a song?" Smiling, Penny's mom nodded, "Sure honey, what have you learned?" Begining to play the introducing chords to 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' by Metallica. 

Up in her bedroom, Penny was feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off her chest. Now that she knew that Bolt was safe from pestering breeders, she could sleep more soundly. Clicking on the lamp next to her bed, Penny reached over and grabbed a book from her shelf. Opening it to the first page, she read the first lines to Bolt, whose head lay nuzzled into her stomach. "Not long ago, in a faraway land. There lived a beautiful Princess." Bolt smiled, 'Yeah... Penny, my beautiful Princess...' As Penny continued reading the first chapter to Bolt, she could feel the rise and fall of his belly slow down, and his breathing become short and even. Closing the book, the redhead set the book back on her bookshelf and turned off the lamp. Pulling the covers over the both of them, Penny let out a sigh as she felt the warm air of Bolt's breathing. And it was like that, that they fell asleep. Bolt's nose nuzzled into Penny's soft stomach, and a warm blanket wrapped around them both. 

When morning came, Penny groaned in irritation. She had to get up for school, but she didn't want to leave Bolt's warm doggie hug. Throwing back the covers, Penny let out a sigh and gently stroked Bolt's soft head fur. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Penny called out. "Brenton City Police, open up. You're under arrest." With her heart dropping to her stomach, Penny scrambled to get up. "Hold on hold on, I'm coming!" Pushing Bolt off her body, Penny wrapped a robe around her and ran to the door. But when she opened it, she was shocked beyond all belief. With tears forming in her eyes Penny murmured the words, "Daddy?....."

"Hello, sunshine..." Thrusting herself into her father's arms, Penny began to sob as she nuzzled her face into his shiny badge. "How?.... How is this possible? I saw the crash on TV!" Penny cried. Her father squeezed her into him and then let her go. "I think, it's best if I explain things downstairs."

"You see Penny, after the crash, my body was so mangled up, the first responders thought I was dead. But when they got me to the morgue, they took my pulse again and found I had a faint heartbeat." Penny sat next to her dad, arms around him. "After they got me into the ICU at Los Angeles General, the doctors said that it was best if they transported me to the best hospital in the country. So they flew me in a helicopter to the UCLA Medical Center. The doctors there worked on me day after day until eventually, I was able to feed myself and move my arms." Penny sniffled and looked up into her dad's brown eyes, "But what about the funeral? I saw the casket!" Penny's dad held her close and let out a sigh, "I didn't want you seeing me like that, so I had the doctors say that I was dead on the scene. And then over the next few years, I slowly went through rehabilitation, and finally got my body completely healed." Penny knew she should be mad, but she wasn't. She could kind of understand where her dad was coming from. "So, after I was allowed to leave the hospital, I went back to the Police Department and got my job back. From there, I waited, I waited for your 18th Christmas to make it special for you. I'm sorry I did what I did, I just hope that you can forgive me." Penny hugged her dad closer and breathed in his natural scent. 

PENNY'S POV

With police chatter emanating from the scanner sitting between them, I sat in the front seat of the squad car with dad. "21-15 from Central." I saw him pick up the receiver and answer, "21-15 go ahead." With the scanner going again, central responded. "21-15, we have a domestic at 43 Willow Creek Lane, father and daughter fighting, none physical at this time. Caller is advising there are no weapons in the house." Clicking the receiver button, dad responded, "Clear central, show me en route." Silence reigned the car for the next few minutes before dad broke it with, "So, how goes your studies Penny?" Staring out the window I responded, "They're fine, I have straight A's." Nodding, dad whipped on the siren and began hauling ass to my high school.