Life Could Be a Dream

Chapter 17- The Customer

Chapter 17- The Customer

"Done!" Fudge sang proudly, putting the last of Doc's whitewalls back on.

Doc smiled at her. "Thanks, Fudge. You're a big help."

The five-year-old beamed.

"Now, let's take a look at your head, Miss Fudge!" Doc suggested, leading her over to the clinic. "I think I might be able to remove the stitches in a day or two."

So, he examined her carefully.

"Well, you've been very good about not scratchin'", Doc remarked.

"That's because you said you'd make me wear a dog cone."

"I was just kiddin'", Doc assured her with a teasing smile.

"Oh."

"Good news, kiddo", Doc announced a few minutes later. "I think I can remove your stitches the day after tomorrow."

"Yay!" she cheered.

"There she is!" Luigi exclaimed as he and Guido burst through the doors to the clinic.

"Hi, Papà " she shouted, jumping off the table where Doc was examining her. "Hi, Babbo!" She gave each of them a big hug.

"Ciao!" her fathers returned her greeting with a big kiss.

"Guess what! Uncle Doc said he'll remove my stitches the day after tomorrow!"

"That is good news!" Luigi declared, giving his daughter another kiss.

"Yeah, so, if the day after tomorrow, you could bring 'er in early, that'd be good", Doc spoke up. "Get it out of the way."

Luigi nodded. "We can do that. Grazie, Doc."

"Well, I think it's time Miss Fudge went home now", Doc added.

"I was just about to say the same thing", Luigi remarked with a smile. "Come on, Fudgie."

"Okay!" she agreed. "What's for dinner?"

Fudge awoke early the next morning. In fact, she could hear Sarge and Fillmore's early morning routine. The reveille sounded over Radiator Springs and the electric guitar started soon after.

"WILL YOU TURN THAT DISRESPECTFUL JUNK OFF?!" Sarge barked at Fillmore.

"Respect the classics, man!" Fillmore replied and, for once, he didn't add, "It's Hendrix!"

It didn't take Guido and Luigi long to get Fudge dressed in khaki shorts and a matching button-down shirt. They got a surprise when they headed out, they followed the others (again, Doc was the only one not there; in fact, he was leaving) over to the end of the now-finished brand new road. Only Lightning wasn't there.

"He's gone?" Flo asked in disbelief.

"Well", Sarge piped up, "we wouldn't want him to miss that race of his."

"I can't believe he really left", Fudge murmured, squirming in her position on Luigi's hood. She was trying hard not to cry.

"Yeah", Mater added. "And he didn't say goodbye."

Sally drove off, clearly very upset by the thought of Lightning being gone and she wasn't the only one. Sheriff was sniffling, making Fudge giggle a little bit.

"Oh, dude!" Ramone had also noticed. "Are you crying?"

"NO! I'M HAPPY!" he insisted (lying!). "I don't have to watch him every second of the day anymore! I'm glad he's gone!"