The final chapter.........
PUTTING BACK THE COLOUR - Pt.3
“I’ve just heard that the New Start Animal Rescue Centre is in dire straits” Meg spat out between her panting. “They just don’t have the funds to continue” she added. Desmond popped his paw onto Meg’s shoulder consolingly. The pack agreed that they would have to get their thinking caps on.
“What about a Fair? Everyone loves a Fair, don’t they Billy?” Zahli asked. “I did not! It’s all just porkies!” cried the Staffie, shuffling his paws in the dirt. “Come back to Earth!” Amy snipped, as she clipped her brother behind the ear. “Now we need some events that will be sure to draw the crowds in” Zahli stated. “I reckon we should have a cow milking contest” Ginnie offered. “What about herding some sheep?” asked Molly. “Why couldn’t we have some dung tossing, seeing there will be cows in the paddocks?” Jack put forward. “Oh yes, we could insert pretty coloured ribbons into those cow pats” Amy cried out.” “Of course I couldn’t get my paws anywhere near those smelly things though!” she added. We could have a dunking machine” Kyle said with enthusiasm. “And I know just who we can dunk too” Billy barked, looking in Teddy’s direction. “Pigs!” shrieked Meesha. “Mind who you’re looking at when you say that” Desmond said, sucking his tummy in tightly.
“You could toss those balls ‘til the cows come home, but you’ll never drown me” bragged Teddy, sitting precariously on the board of the dunking machine. Billy took careful aim & ‘SPLASH’!!! The Yorkie disappeared into the huge water tank. “I guess the cows are home” the onlookers announced, as Teddy shook himself furiously.
“I want the cow pat with the blue checked ribbon” Cheyenne said, as she lined up ready to toss the dung. Then taking the ribbon in her mouth, she started to swing the pat from side to side, gaining momentum with each swing. “Ok, toss!” yelled Desmond. The missile was launched & all eyes were upon it. “No, don’t! It’s not……………!” Desmond warned. However, Molly had already launched herself into the air, poised to snatch one of the ‘frisbees.’ The cow pat broke apart, sending little pieces all over the Border collie. “You won’t see me sitting next to her at dinner. Nor will I be sleeping anywhere near her, for that matter!” Amy retorted, covering her nose with her paw.
“Well hello cutie! You’re new in town, aren’t you?” Teddy asked the blonde creature. “Now you have gone troppo!” Billy spat out. “You’re chatting up a………..baby pig” he added. “I knew that!” the Yorkie retorted. “I was just seeing if your head was still in the clouds!” “Sorry Teddy, but I need to steal your girlfriend for a while” Kyle said with a wicked glint in his eye, as he led the piglets to the starting line.
“Now little darlings, just remember that it’s not whether you win that’s important, but it’s all about ……… ” Before Cheyenne could finish, Dakota cut in with “It’s all about the big stash of food you’ll get at the end of the race.” Still chortling, Kyle lowered the flag & the piggies………..just stood there! “Come on, you’re supposed to get your legs into gear now” cried Meesha. “Look! I’ll show you how it’s done.” she added. She then thundered down the track with the piglets following closely behind her. All of a sudden, Meesha got a whiff of the barbequed meat. She veered off the track, pushed through the crowd & snatched a sausage off the barbie. The piglets, now confused as to what they were meant to do, went in all directions! The blonde pig headed towards the apple-bobbing area. She was about to dip her snout into the bucket when “eek, eeeeeeeek, eeeeeeeeeeeek!!! She had caught site of Teddy who’d sauntered over to see what she was up to. The Yorkie boy went head-first into the bucket of water, his legs ‘swimming’ in the air. Billy B dropped his fairy floss in fright & galloped down the race track!! The ducks left off looking for worms & high-tailed it after him. “We have a close race now! Jack shouted, as the little pigs got back on track too. “And we have joint winners!” declared Jack, as Billy B crossed the finish line with a duck hanging off his tail.
The next event was the sheep herding. Floss eyed off the wayward sheep & prepared herself to do battle. She ran to the left of the flock, sending the wooly coated ones heading to the right. Next she inched forward. The sheep turned & headed the other way. The Border collie eased them back together. She had them heading for the pen. She was going to break the record! Then Floss saw it out of the corner of her eye! Jack, who had been amusing himself with the ball, had sent it rolling down the hillside. Without hesitation, Floss galloped across the paddock. “Oh we have wooly jumpers!” declared Kyle, as the sheep started darting in every direction. Meanwhile, Floss stood proudly with the prized ball in her mouth. The sheep continued their frantic darting about. Zahli looked up to see them heading straight for her. She sprang up to avoid becoming a skittle, but a wooly one went right under her, forcing the dog onto its back. Zahli held onto the ewe’s ears, her body bouncing wildly. Kyle grabbed his bagpipes & started to pump & blow. The instrument began their woeful groaning. The startled sheep came to a sudden halt, sending the Lhasa Apso sailing through the air. “Don’t worry Zahli. I’ll save you!” Billy bellowed.
Teddy, who’d been taunting the grazing cattle, had provoked those cows so much, that they had started to charge at him. “Mummy!” cried Teddy, as he desperately tried to outrun them. The Yorkie hit Billy with such a force that it knocked them both off their paws. “Oh thanks for the comfortable landing” Zahli said to the stunned pair as she stepped off their backs. The crowd’s applause filled the air. Then they threw huge sums of money into the collection boxes, declaring that they’d never had so much fun.
The dogs had helped so many people to find their joy again. In appreciation, Joseph pledged the interest from his investment to the Rescue centre. Those involved in the Community garden, promised that any money raised from the sale of surplus produce, would be donated to the centre as well. The animal rescue centre was thriving!
Looking up at the sky, Amy declared “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” All eyes gazed appreciatively at the brilliant colours of the perfect rainbow. “And just think, we had a paw in restoring that beauty” Meg announced proudly. “And we think you are the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!” the Mayor announced. He then hung a ‘Faithful Service’ medal around each of the dogs’ necks. The pooches, standing tall with pride, gave ‘hi fives’ to each other. “Now, what I want to know is……………” Before Dakota could finish his sentence, the pack added “When do we eat?”
The End.
