The Runaway Adventures ll: Snowbound in Park Avenue

Chapter 4: Sudden Plans

Over at Jim Dear and Darling's house, the subject of conversation was just the same as it had been across the street ever since Roger drove back with the dog carrier the prior morning. Breakfast began just as normal at Jim Dear and Darling's household as Jim Dear and Darling filled each of the ten dog bowls, each personalized to their dog, with matching colors to their collars and their names printed on them. As Jim Dear and Darling began setting down the food bowls, their dogs began to talk about the new arrival across the street.

"She can't be the same puppy," Danielle said, shaking her head firmly. "I don't get it. How could she go from fun to... Ugh, I don't know, not fun!" Danielle shouted, waving her paw in frustration.

"She probably needs some time to settle in," Lady suggested wisely. "It really can be scary, moving from one place to another. Why, when Jim Dear adopted me, I remember how terrified I was ... Leaving my old family, bumping along in Jim Dear's car in a hat box, and waiting to be opened up. But once I saw how much Jim Dear and Darling loved me, everything felt much better, and I've been happy with them ever since."

"Only because you've never caused any trouble," Scamp teased.

"Oh, you'd be surprised," Lady told him, her eyes twinkling.

"What?" Annette gasped, thunderstruck.

Nodding gently with a slight smile, Lady continued, "When Jim Dear and Darling first adopted me, Jim Dear didn't allow me to go on the furniture. He wouldn't even let me sleep on their bed! But with Darling's help, I coaxed him to change his mind, and in the end, he reluctantly agreed, telling me that it was just for the night. But I could tell that after sleeping with me once, they really liked it, so I slept on their bed every night until Tramp came along."

"Who'd have thunk, Mom's a troublemaker," Scamp snickered as everyone laughed and Lady smiled knowingly.

"We've all gotten into trouble at some point," Spunky smirked. "If being naughty was soot I'd be as black as when you first saw me. I can't tell you all the food carts I robbed and practical jokes I've played back in my day. And of course, Tramp and Peg got into trouble all the time, but I'll leave it up to them to tell you their dirty little secrets," he said cheekily as the others laughed as Tramp and Peg looked at each other, grinning sheepishly.

Puffball, gobbling up some chow, added, "I'm sure Two-Tone will be just fine. What can she not like? She's just moved into a great home, with a family, food, baths... Everything!"

"And she gets to be with her parents again," Angel exclaimed. "There's no feeling like that in the entire world."

"Yeah, I agree," Tramp pointed out. "She'll be better soon once she gets the swing of things. Besides, she's been locked up in that little cage bouncing along a rocking boat. It must've felt like the pound ..."

"Don't say that word!" Peg gasped, nearly choking on a kibble, her voice fearful.

"Mom, it's okay, you're home now, remember?" Angel asked.

"Oh... Sorry ..." Peg sighed, her breathing returning to normal.

"No, I'm sorry," Tramp said seriously. "I shouldn't have brought that up. I didn't think."

"It's not your fault. Just, you know... It's just a feeling that never leaves you," Peg explained. "There's nothing like being jailed up. Nothing."

"Yeah," Lady commiserated sympathetically. "Even one day is bad enough... You start wondering about the point of it all..."

Scamp then asked, "Why was Two-Tone wearing an earring?"

"It's probably a gang marking," Angel answered simply. "They probably all wore earrings to look tough."